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Summer Programs

Spend your summer
earning college credit through individual classes or multi-course institutes.

Summer programs at TFT are rigorous, rewarding and fun! Come learn from our professional faculty and study in our classrooms, theaters, studios, soundstages and labs. It’s an experience you won’t forget! We offer individual courses both on campus and online that are open to UC and visiting students alike, as well as life-long learners. Many individual courses are also open to high school students.

Our popular summer institutes are an intensive experience that focus on a specific area of study, and are aimed at either high school students, college students, or professionals.

Pre-College Summer Institutes

Motivated high school students from around the globe can apply to a variety of institutes focusing on specializations such as acting, writing for TV, cinematography, animation, and costume design. These two- and three-week intensives offer students the preparation required for successful participation in a university program or a career in the performing or visual arts.

College & Professional Summer Institutes

A unique opportunity for college students and professionals to network and enhance their skills during two-week intensives. Participants are taught by UCLA TFT faculty and leaders in the entertainment and theater industries who will prepare you to be better equipped and confident in your professional pursuits.

UCLA Film & Television Summer Institute

The UCLA Film & Television Summer Institute offers students from around the globe an unparalleled opportunity to study filmmaking at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world – right in the heart of Hollywood.

Summer 2024 Film, TV and Digital Media Interest Form
Interested in exploring UCLA FTVDM this summer?
Click on the link below to get started.

Creative Producing

College students study the role of the creative producer or executive while engaging in entertainment industry internships. Six weeks. Session A (June 24 – August 2, 2024)

Film Production

College students and aspiring filmmakers (ages 18+) collaborate on short film projects as they learn the aesthetics, techniques and practice of filmmaking from beginning to end. Six weeks. Session A (June 24 – August 2, 2024); Session C (August 5 – September 13, 2024)

TV Writing

The TV Writing Summer Institute introduces students to writing for television in Hollywood. Six weeks. Session A (June 24 – August 2, 2024); Session C (August 5 – September 13, 2024)

Traditional Animation

Students and aspiring animators learn to write and draw their own animated movies. No drawing experience required, just limitless imagination. This online track is open to pre-college students. Six weeks. Session A (June 24 – August 2, 2024)

Sports Media

Students study the world of sports entertainment while engaging in live-sports industry internships. Six Weeks. Session C (August 5 – September 13, 2024)

Pre-College Digital Filmmaking

Pre-college students are immersed in the creativity and technique of cinematic storytelling through lectures and a hands-on overview of the production process. Three weeks.
Session A (June 23 – July 13, 2024)

Pre-College Writing for TV

Pre-college students are introduced to television writing for Hollywood, while developing their big ideas for the small screen. Three weeks.
Session A (June 23 – July 13, 2024); Session B (July 14 – August 3, 2024)

Pre-College Cinematography

This one-week intensive teaches talented and highly motivated pre-college students a variety of cinematic lighting techniques through a series of lectures and hands-on exercises. One week.
Session A (July 7 – July 13, 2024); Session B (July 14 – July 20, 2024); Session C (July 28 – August 3, 2024); Session D (August 4 – August 10, 2024)

Pre-College Media Parks

In this intensive program, pre-college students will explore theme park history, and the evolution of the relationship between moving image media (film, television, and video games) and theme parks. Two Weeks. Session A (July21 – August 3, 2024)

Private: UCLA Emerging Filmmakers

Learn more about our Emerging Filmmaker Program offerings in TV Writing for talented and highly motivated pre-college students.

UCLA Theater Summer Institutes

The Department of Theater’s Summer Institutes offer high schoolers, college students, and professionals with a unique opportunity to network, and enhance their acting, singing and dancing abilities during two and three-week intensives.

Summer 2024 Theater Interest Form
Interested in exploring UCLA Theater this summer?
Click on the link below to get started.

Acting & Performance

Prepare for a university theater program or career in the performing arts.

Augmented Reality and Theater Summer Institute

Elevate your understanding of where the industry is headed.

Camera Acting

Learn how to relate to the camera lens and approach script analysis.

Content Creation & Scriptwriting

Create stories that can be shared across all entertainment mediums.

Design Innovation – Costume

Bring stories to life through design.

Design Innovation – Lighting & Sound

Bring stories to life through design.

Design Innovation – Scenic

Students will learn the technical components of breaking down a script and the art of collaboration with directors while gaining hands-on experience such as model-building, perspective drawing, and scale measurement as means of realizing a design.

Musical Theater

Train with experts in preparation for your performing arts career.

Pit Orchestra Summer Institute

Intensive training for skilled student musicians in preparation for performing in a musical theater production pit orchestra.

Stage Management

Develop key production management skills for a career in theater.

Voice-Over Camera Acting

Tell a story with your voice.

TAPSII

Live. Breathe. Theater

Individual Summer Sessions
Film Courses

In our summer film courses, you’ll gain an understanding of stop-motion animation and digital cinematography; get an overview of the contemporary film industry; learn about the evolution of Disney features and more. Courses offered both in-person and online and carry the same unit value as their academic-year counterpart.

Individual Summer Sessions
Theater Courses

In our summer theater courses, you’ll have the opportunity to work on your acting skills, learn new dance routines, design for the stage or write a play. Courses offered both in-person and online and carry the same unit value as their academic-year counterpart.