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Film and Television Summer Institute – Digital Filmmaking

An unparalleled opportunity to study filmmaking at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world

Gain hands-on experience in cinematic storytelling from concept to post-production and learn story structure, cinematography, and editing

The UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute shapes the filmmakers of tomorrow from the heart of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world.

The Film and Television Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute gives high school students from across the country and around the globe an unparalleled opportunity to study filmmaking at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world. The program is a three-week, intensive production workshop designed for highly motivated rising high school juniors, seniors, and 2024 High School graduates.

Students are immersed in the creativity and technique of cinematic storytelling and challenged to create entertaining narrative projects.

  • Students use the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media’s latest editing software and digital cinema cameras
  • Students work collaboratively on projects that are filmed as daylight exteriors on location across the UCLA campus
  • The program curriculum consists of a combination of lectures, practical camera exercises, guest speakers, and post-production labs
  • This workshop carries 3 units of UCLA college credit
  • Program activities include film screenings, guest speakers, and a visit to a Hollywood studio
  • All films 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 is an intensive immersion experience for beginning filmmakers designed to form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in making a film. While previous experience in digital filmmaking is not required, this is a disciplined and rigorous program and requires a significant time commitment. Please refer to the program schedule for details.

As of 2/26/2024, the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute is closed to new applications. Interested students are encouraged to apply to the Cinematography Summer Institute.

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. The program fee also includes the cost of UCLA Housing (for mandatory housing programs). 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.

 

Program Fee
$5,267.00
Registration Fee
$350.00
IEI Fee
$61.00
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students)
$50.00
Total Estimated Fees:
$5,728.00
* Fees only apply for certain student types

Meet your instructors

Instructors for the UCLA Film and Television Summer Institutes are UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media faculty.

Sarah Jean Kruchowski

Instructor

Sarah Jean is a writer/director who has also written for Lifetime, Bad Robot and Sony. In 2017, Sarah Jean directed two episodes of ABC’s 20/20: IN AN INSTANT.  In addition, she’s written and directed commercials for Cheerios, Hamburger Helper, Delta, Mott’s, President Brie, and 3M, as well as several shorts, which have played around the world at prominent film festivals and garnered several awards such as the Barbra Streisand Fellowship for women filmmakers, IFP Fresh Filmmaker Grant, and Hollywood Foreign Press Donor Award. As well as, a residency at the Screenwriters Colony, Comedic Episodic Lab, in partnership with the Nantucket Film Festival. In her spare time, Sarah Jean dabbles in experimental animation, runs her cats insta account and continues unsuccessfully to learn French.