Study cinematography at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world

Explore the concepts, creativity, and techniques of cinematic lighting using the latest technology
As of 3/28/2022, Cinematography Summer Institute is closed to new applicants.
The UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography gives high school students an unparalleled opportunity to study cinematography at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world. This one-week intensive workshop is designed for highly motivated rising juniors and seniors, and spring 2022 high school graduates. Students are immersed in the concepts, creativity, and technique of cinematic lighting through a combination of lectures and hands-on lighting exercises. Students will explore concepts such as composition, framing, blocking, lens choice, camera movement/placement, exposure, lighting techniques/equipment, shot design, and set protocol.
- Students work on UCLA sound stages with the latest digital cinema cameras and lighting equipment
- The program curriculum consists of a combination of lectures and hands-on lighting exercises
- All class exercises will be screened in a state-of-the-art theater during the certificate ceremony at the end of the workshop. Friends and family are welcome!
- This program carries two units of UCLA college credit
This is an intensive immersion experience for beginning to intermediate filmmakers designed to form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in lighting for film and television. Previous experience in cinematography is not required.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography Program Overview
Students will participate in person at UCLA, experiencing all that our campus has to offer during their summer program.
For participants in the Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography, living in on-campus housing is optional. Students who wish to live in UCLA residence halls alongside other program participants may sign up for housing at the time of registration. The total cost for housing, which includes room, board (two meals per day), student supervision, and evening and weekend activities, is an additional $702.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
Participants of the Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography will receive UCLA credit for the following course:
- Film and Television 75 – Lighting for Film and Television (2 Units)
This program offers an introduction to the concepts and practices of lighting for film and television through discussion and intensive hands-on, laboratory experience. Through lectures, discussions, workshops and group exercises, students will form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in lighting for film and television. This includes composition, framing, blocking, lens choice, camera movement/placement, exposure, lighting techniques/equipment, shot design, and set protocol. Letter grading.
Eligibility
To participate for the Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Open to students enrolled in grades 10th – 12th in Spring 2022 and Spring 2022 High School Graduates.
Students who do not meet the minimum program requirements should not register and should consider other summer opportunities.
All students will be required to successfully complete a safety training course before the first day of the program to ensure safe practices while using film equipment and sound stages. Students will be provided ample time to complete this training before the start of the program, and more information will be sent to students once enrolled.
Admission
The program has application requirements for admission. Applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks. See Application Requirements below for more details.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
- Responses to all of the following essay prompts:
- Why would you like to participate in this program, and what do you expect to gain from this experience? (150-200 words)
- What prior experience, if any, do you have in cinematography? Include both academic coursework and extracurricular activities. (Previous experience in cinematography is not a requirement. 150-200 words)
- Filmmaking requires creative collaboration at every stage. What qualities do you possess that make you a good collaborator? (150-200 words)
- An unofficial transcript confirming a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Optional: one letter of recommendation from a high school instructor verifying your ability to successfully participate in a disciplined and rigorous program.
Applying for the Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography can be done conveniently online with the following steps:
- Prepare all “Application Requirements” prior to starting the registration process.
- Access the Summer Institute Online Registration Form starting February 15 at 8am Pacific Standard Time (PST). Read all terms and conditions, then scroll to the bottom and select “Yes, Continue to Registration.”
- Provide responses to all required questions on both pages of the registration form and then “Submit”.
- Once your form is submitted, you will be directed to the Retrieve Registration page. Select “File Uploads” to upload application materials (see Application Requirements above for more information).
- Allow up to two weeks for the program instructor(s) to review your application after submission. An email will be sent to you with the official decision.
- If accepted to the program, follow the steps in your acceptance email to make payment of the $350 non-refundable registration fee* to reserve your space in the program.
A space in the program is not reserved until a valid payment of the $350 non-refundable registration fee* is made. If you are not prepared to pay after submitting the registration form, you may retrieve your registration at another time to make payment; however, this risks losing a space in the program if it reaches capacity prior to payment being submitted. An email with instructions to retrieve registration with your five-digit registration number will be sent within an hour after submitting your registration.
*The registration fee is required for each program and is not refundable under any circumstances including, but not limited to, drop for non-payment and withdrawal, even if you withdraw from the program before it begins.
If the program is full, you will not be prompted to make payment. If the program offers a waitlist and your application is accepted from the waitlist, you will be notified by email with instructions for how to submit payment. Please note if the payment is not submitted within 24 hours of receiving the email, you will be moved to the end of the waitlist.
If registering after May 1, full payment of the program fee and non-refundable registration fee will be required to reserve your space in the program. Additional fees, such as the document fee and IEI fees, will be assessed after enrollment.
For questions and assistance, please contact us at info@summer.ucla.edu.
Please have the following supplies for your Summer Institute:
- 7200rpm or SSD
- With either a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connection. USB 2.0 is supported, but not recommended, as it will be very slow for video editing.
- Examples of acceptable drives:
- Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 500GB – USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500B/AM)
- G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE ev RaW USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Rugged Bumper
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2022 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.
Summer 2022 deadline to apply: April 1.
The Nicholas Endowment Scholarship
The Nicholas Endowment TFT Summer Institute Scholarship for Film & Television is a need and merit-based scholarship opportunity for underserved/ underrepresented high school students enrolled in grades 9-12 in Spring 2022 who would benefit significantly from a UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute experience.
Both partial and full scholarships are available for high school students enrolled in UCLA Film and Television Summer Institutes including Digital Filmmaking, Writing for TV: Big Ideas for the Small Screen, Cinematography, Traditional Animation, and Media Parks: The Cinematic and Televisual History of Theme Parks.
For deadlines, eligibility requirements, and application information, please visit the Nicholas Endowment TFT Summer Institute Scholarship page.
Nicholas Endowment TFT Summer Institute Scholarship Application Online Form will be available February 15, 2022. Deadlines and acceptances are on a rolling basis.
As of 3/28/2022, Cinematography Summer Institute is closed to new applicants.
Program Dates:
August 7, 2022 – August 13, 2022
The schedule and syllabus are subject to change. Enrolled students will be given updated materials closer to the program start date.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
**OPTIONAL HOUSING FEE** = $702
Students living in on-campus housing will be charged an additional housing fee.
Program Fee | $1,960 |
Registration Fee | $350 |
IEI Fee | $61 |
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students) | $50 |
Meet your Instructors
Paul Cannon
Instructor, FILM TV 75 – Lighting for Film and TelevisionPaul Cannon is a cinematographer and instructor of cinematography based in LA. As a cinematographer, Cannon has worked with companies such as Netflix and MTV, and his work has screened at festivals such as Sundance and SXSW. He has been nominated for a number of cinematography awards, including an ASC Heritage Award. Most recently, the web series APRICOT premiered at Slamdance 2020, and the feature film THE LONG SHADOW won Best Louisiana Feature at The New Orleans Film Festival 2019 and will be distributed on digital platforms in April 2020. Commitments to teaching, mentorship, and support of diverse voices and stories drive much of Cannon’s work. He earned his MFA from UCLA, and continues to be an engaged member of the school’s filmmaking community.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography FAQ
Students will learn composition, framing, blocking, lens choice, camera movement/placement, exposure, lighting techniques/equipment, shot design, crew positions, as well as sound stage and set protocol.
Previous experience is not required. The Cinematography track is intended for beginning and intermediate levels. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Students should expect to complete about an hour of homework per day.
No, a laptop is not required.
- 7200rpm or SSD
- With either a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connection. USB 2.0 is supported, but not recommended, as it will be very slow for video editing.
- Examples of acceptable drives:
- Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 500GB – USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500B/AM)
- G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE ev RaW USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Rugged Bumper
Yes, all class exercises will be screened in at the end of the program. Friends and family are welcome to join!
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.