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

Students can choose between two sessions to participate in person at UCLA, experiencing all that our campus has to offer during their summer program.

For participants in the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute, living in on-campus housing is mandatory. The total cost for housing, which includes room, board (two meals per day), student supervision, and evening and weekend activities, is an additional $1,521.

For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.

Participants of the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute will receive UCLA credit for the following course(s):

• Film and Television 72 – Production Practice in Film, Television, and Digital Media (3 Units)

This program offers a hands-­on overview of the production process, from conceptualization to post production. Through lectures, discussions, workshops and group projects, students will form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in making a film. This includes story structure, the principles of cinematography, and editing. Letter grading.

Eligibility

To apply for the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute, 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 apply 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 2 weeks. See Application Requirements below for more details. Early application is strongly encouraged.

To participate in the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute, students must apply and receive acceptance into the program.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete the following:

• Responses to the following essay prompts:
  • Why you would like to participate in the program, and what you expect to gain from the experience. (200 words or less)
  • What prior experience, if any, do you have in digital filmmaking? Include both academic coursework and extracurricular activities. Previous experience in digital filmmaking is not a requirement. (200 words or less)
  • Filmmaking requires creative collaboration at every stage. What qualifications do you have that make you a good collaborator? (300 words or less)
• An unofficial transcript confirming a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• One letter of recommendation from a high school instructor verifying your ability to successfully participate in a disciplined and rigorous program.
  • Please either upload the letter after submitting your registration form OR have recommender email the letter to info@summer.ucla.edu (PDF format with your 5-digit registration number included)

NOTE: Students should compose the statement of purpose before beginning the online registration process. There will be text fields on the online registration form of which the response text can be copied.

Application for the Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute can be done conveniently online using the steps below.

1. Access the Summer Institute Online Registration Form starting February 15. Read all terms and conditions, then scroll to the bottom and “Continue to Registration.”
2. Complete the first page of the online registration form by answering all mandatory questions, then, select “Continue” at the end of the first page.
3. Provide responses to all questions on the second page of the online registration form, including your statement of purpose (see Application Requirements above for more information).
4. Submit your registration form.
5. Once your form is submitted, you will be directed to the Retrieve Registration page. Select “File Uploads” to upload your transcript and optional letter of recommendation or have your recommender send their letter to info@summer.ucla.edu along with your five-digit registration number (see Application Requirements above for more information).
6. Allow up to 2 weeks for the program instructor(s) to review your application. An email will be sent to you with the official decision.
7. If accepted to the program, follow the steps in your acceptance email to make payment of the $350 non-refundable registration fee and reserve your space in the program.

A space in the program is not reserved for you until valid payment of the non-refundable registration fee* is completed. Those who are not prepared to pay after program acceptance can submit their registration form and retrieve registration at another time to make payment, however you risk losing a space in the program if the program reaches capacity prior to the ability to pay.

For questions and assistance, please contact us at info@summer.ucla.edu.

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.

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.

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.