UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies: A Comprehensive Guide
UCLA Extension, a public continuing education institution, stands as a beacon for individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge, develop skills, or shift careers within the vibrant landscape of the entertainment industry. Headquartered in Westwood, Los Angeles, on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, it offers a dynamic and comprehensive approach to entertainment education. From its humble beginnings in downtown Los Angeles in 1917 to its current status as one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive continuing education programs, UCLA Extension has consistently evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.
A Legacy of Excellence
UCLA Extension's Entertainment Studies program boasts a rich history of producing successful alumni who have made significant contributions to the entertainment world. Its graduates have been nominated for and won prestigious awards such as Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars. Notable alumni include Bryan Cogman (Game of Thrones), Stuart Beattie (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra; Australia; Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), Zoanne Clack (Grey’s Anatomy), Doug Ellin (Entourage), Gavin Hood (Tsotsi), and Ava DuVernay, among many others. The success of its alumni underscores the program's effectiveness in preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the entertainment industry.
Program Overview
The Entertainment Studies program at UCLA Extension is located at the epicenter of the entertainment industry and offers dynamic professional training in the art and business of entertainment. Each year, the program offers over 250 individual courses and 11 specialized certificates, providing a wide range of options for students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals. Course disciplines span subject areas such as Business and Management of Entertainment, Film & TV Development, Producing, Directing, Acting, Cinematography, Post-Production, Film Scoring, Independent Music Production, and Music Business. The program also includes shorter programs, such as the four-course program in Music Supervision launched in 2018.
Core Tenets and Unique Features
Pascale Cohen-Olivar, Program Director for Entertainment Studies, emphasizes five core tenets that define the program: affordability, flexibility, networking, self-reliance, and creativity. These tenets are reflected in the program's structure, curriculum, and approach to teaching.
- Affordability: UCLA Extension strives to make its programs accessible to a wide range of students by offering competitive tuition rates and financial aid options.
- Flexibility: Recognizing that many students have work or other commitments, UCLA Extension offers courses in a variety of formats, including in-person, online, and live online (via Zoom). Classes typically meet once a week for 11 weeks, often in the evenings. Online classes are asynchronous and deadline-driven, allowing students to learn at their own pace.
- Networking: The program provides numerous opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals through guest speakers, networking events, and internships. Instructors are typically working professionals in the entertainment industry, providing students with valuable insights and connections.
- Self-Reliance: UCLA Extension encourages students to take a do-it-yourself approach to creating projects, emphasizing resourcefulness and problem-solving skills. The program focuses on helping students make the most of the equipment at their disposal, rather than relying on sophisticated, expensive equipment.
- Creativity: The program fosters creativity by providing a supportive and collaborative environment where students can experiment, take risks, and develop their unique artistic voices.
Other essential elements setting UCLA Entertainment Studies apart from other programs are accessibility to all (though Film Scoring requires prior musical training); a comprehensive array of courses is available year-round; a do-it-yourself approach to creating projects; hundreds of guest speakers share their experiences throughout the year; the value of UCLA Extension’s certificates; and a program curricula that is updated every five years.
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Course Structure and Offerings
UCLA Extension offers a wide array of courses within its Entertainment Studies program, catering to diverse interests and career aspirations. These courses are designed to provide students with practical, hands-on training in various aspects of the entertainment industry.
The curriculum includes foundation courses such as:
- Pre-Production and Production for Film and Television: This course covers the essential elements of pre-production and production, providing students with a solid foundation in filmmaking.
- Post-Production for Film and Television: This course explores the post-production process, including editing, sound design, and visual effects.
- The Language of Filmmaking: This course delves into the technical and artistic aspects of filmmaking, teaching students how to communicate effectively through visual storytelling.
- The Business of Entertainment: This course provides an overview of the entertainment industry, covering topics such as finance, marketing, and distribution.
In addition to these foundation courses, students can choose from a variety of elective courses in areas such as acting, cinematography, directing, entertainment development, and producing. These electives allow students to specialize in their chosen field and develop advanced skills.
Certificates
UCLA Extension offers 150 certificate programs in more than 20 different fields. These certificates provide students with a structured pathway to acquire specific skills and knowledge in a particular area of the entertainment industry. Certificates can be a valuable asset for individuals seeking to advance their careers or transition into a new field.
Instructor Qualifications and Compensation
Instructors at UCLA Extension are typically working professionals in the entertainment industry, bringing real-world experience and expertise to the classroom. Instructors are hired on a quarterly contract basis, and compensation is $3,000 per course, per quarter. Courses are typically 33 hours. Because Extension is a division of UCLA, all Extension degree-credit instructors and courses must be formally approved according to the regulations of the Academic Senate of the University of California. Eligibility to teach a course is contingent upon this formal academic approval.
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Additional Programs at UCLA Extension
In addition to Entertainment Studies, UCLA Extension offers a wide range of programs in other fields, including:
- Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB): A program that helps the legal community stay abreast of new developments and procedures in the field of law.
- UCLA Anderson Executive Education: A program that helps organizations and individuals work smarter, driving new knowledge into the workplace.
- Center X: A program that prepares and supports K-12 teachers and administrators committed to social justice, instructional excellence, and caring in low-income urban schools.
- School of Theater, Film and Television: Offers professional programs in producing, screenwriting, and writing for television.
- National Head Start Association: Develops educational programs to provide vulnerable children and families with the tools and necessities to succeed in life.
- Office of Continuing Medical Education at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA: Helps keep the medical community abreast of new and evolving medical concepts and advancements.
- The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior: A research and education institute devoted to the understanding of complex human behavior and neuropsychiatric disorders.
- UCLA School of Dentistry: Offers a continuing education program to help practicing dentists broaden and sharpen their skills.
- Center for Prehospital Care: Serves aspiring and experienced EMS providers, agencies, and healthcare professionals.
- Southern California Education NIOSH and Research Center: Embodies a coordinated, interdisciplinary set of continuing education activities that have a positive impact on occupational health and safety practice.
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCLA (OLLI): Offers learning opportunities for adults age 50 and over.
A Smoke-Free Environment
UCLA is committed to promoting and maintaining a healthy environment for its students, visitors, and employees. As such, the university is a smoke-free site.
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