UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Student Services, Dept. of Film, Television and Digital Media
UCLA n Box 951622 . Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622
www.tft.ucla.edu
Length of program: Varies by program
Cost: Varies by program
Prerequisites: Varies by program
Degree/Certificate: BA; MA; MFA; Professional Certificate
Equipment/Facilities: UCLA has three sound stages, two
for student productions and one for teaching; three theaters,
including the 497-seat Freud Playhouse, not to mention the highest
quality film and video equipment. Sound is handled in the on-campus
recording stage in several different high-end formats.
Campus Amenities: Campus resources include prop and costume
shops for student productions and close proximity to everything
a moviemaker could need, from a coffee shop to a title house.
Faculty: UCLA faculty includes award-winning directors,
producers, sound designers editors, screenwriters and many others.
Students in the UCLA Professional Programs in Screenwriting and
Producing are taught by many of the same distinguished teachers.
Head of Program: Robert Rosen, Dean of the School
Famous Alumni: Allison Anders, Carol Burnett, Francis
Ford Coppola, Susan Egan, Tim Robbins
Post-Graduate Support/Services: The Theater, Film and
Television Alumni Network sponsors networking nights so that
alumni can reconnect while making new acquaintances in the industry.
Comments: The Professional Programs at UCLA are modeled
after their MFA programs in writing and producing. They give
non-degree students a chance to obtain a similar education while
working. The Screenwriting Program, for instance, runs for three
academic quarters. Classes are held in the evening and UCLA facilities
like the Screenplay Library are available for students’ use.
University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television
University Park . Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
www.usc.edu/schools/cntv . 213/740-2804
Year founded: 1929
Go to this school if you want: to study with top professionals
at the country’ leading cinema-television school.
Length of program: BA: Four years; MFA: Three years; PhD:
Three
Cost: Undergraduate: $40,318 per year (including room
and board); Graduate: $32,784 per year (including room and board).
Prerequisites: A strong academic background is required
for admission to all programs.
Degree/Certificate: Various graduate and undergraduate
degrees
Equipment/Facilities: USC has state-of-the-art classrooms
and screening rooms, Avid editing suites, lighting and visual
effects gear and over 150 digital cameras. There are several
sound stages and post-productions facilities as well as a digital
production center.
Campus Amenities: The 155-acre campus in University Park
is rich with architectural history and home to a vibrant cultural
community, in addition to its strong academic environment.
Faculty: Barbara Corday, Scott Fisher, Marsha Kinder,
Christine Panushka, Howard Rodman and Lawrence Turman
Notable Guest Instructors: Frank Darabont, Spike Jonze,
Jeffrey Katzenberg, George Lucas, Leonard Maltin, Gary Ross,
Fred Silverman and Steven Spielberg.
Head of Program: Dean Elizabeth M. Daley, Ph.D.
Avg. student age: Undergraduate: 20; Graduate: 25
Famous Alumni: Conrad Hall, Ron Howard, James Ivory, George
Lucas, Gary Rydstrom, Stacy Sher, Robert Zemeckis, Laura Ziskin.
Post-Graduate Support/Services: USC’ Office of Student
Industry Relations helps graduates and students find jobs and
internships.
Screenings: Yes, at the First Look festivals, held twice-yearly.
Vancouver Film School
200-198 West Hastings Street . Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 1H2
www.vfs.com . 800/661-4101
Year founded: 1987
Go to this school if you want: an intensive, hands-on
moviemaking experience that teaches you all aspects of film production
in one year.
Length of program: 48 weeks
Cost: $24,500 (includes equipment use, film stock and
processing)
Prerequisites: Post-secondary fine arts education or related
experience
Degree/Certificate: Diploma in Film Production
Equipment/Facilities: The VFS film campus houses everything
an independent production requires: digital video and 16mm camera
equipment along with the requisite rigging/lighting, a host of
Avid editing suites, a Pro Tools Studio, production offices for
students, budgeting software lab, several studio spaces and a
custom-built 70-seat theater.
Campus Amenities: 24-hour access, central location
Faculty: Ric Beairsto, Ricky Choi, Julia Courtenay, Dean
Emerick, Ty Haller, Don Hunter, Alan Goldman, Cindy Leaney and
others.
Notable Guest Speakers: Bryan Singer, William Walker,
Carl Bessai, David Nutter.
Head of Program: Bryan Wert
Avg. student age: 21-25
Famous Alumni: Gary Hawes; Sherry King-Bloxham; Tom Whelan.
Post-Graduate Support/Services: VFS has an alumni Website
with a job board and contact list at www.myvfs.com. Alumni also
pay reduced tuition prices for additional courses.
Screenings: Industry screenings provided upon request.
Writers Boot Camp
2525 Michigan Avenue, Bldg. I . Santa Monica, CA 90404
www.writersbootcamp.com . 800/800-1733
Year founded: 1989
Go to this school if you want: to write professionally
for film or television.
Length of program: Six days to 22 months, depending on
program
Cost: $595 – $6,900 plus corporate fee structure
Prerequisites: Varies depending on program
Equipment/Facilities: Writers Boot Camp offers classes
in Los Angeles, New York and online.
Campus Amenities: WBC has an 11,000 square-foot structure
in Santa Monica, CA housing classrooms, event space and workspace
for writers. There is also a classroom and event facility in
NYC.
Faculty: Writers Boot Camp has 10 instructors, all personally
trained by WBC founder Jeffrey Gordon. Gordon teaches as well.
Head of Program: Jeffrey Gordon
Avg. student age: 20s – 40s
Famous Alumni: Hank Azaria, Cindy Chupack, Emily Fox,
Jennifer Grey, Anthony LaPaglia, Jeff Leiber, David Levien, Laurie
Metcalf, Marti Noxon, Sinbad, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Steven Weber,
Peter Weller, Moon Zappa, Daphne Zuniga
Post-Graduate Support/Services: Alumni of the Career Development
program receive ongoing career support from WBC.
Screenings: WBC provides industry submission to writers
whose work reaches a professional level.
Comments: WBC is unique in its vocational, hands-on approach
to conceptual development. There’ a huge gap between having an
intellectual understanding of what comprises outstanding writing
and being able to apply that understanding to your own work.
What we do at WBC has proven extremely effective in bridging
that gap. MM
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