Unofficial Transcript 
Min GPA Requirement 
Several Essays .svg)
Written Answers
Personal Statement 
English Test B2 
Online Application From 
Application Fee 
Parent/Guardian Consent 
Application is closed
The Film and Television Summer Institute – Writing for TV: Big Ideas for the Small Screen introduces motivated high school students to writing for television in Hollywood.
Credit
Residential
Accepts International Students
Financial Aid
Final project
This track mirrors the practice of professional writers in the world of episodic television and digital media by teaching students how to develop original series concepts and how to navigate the contemporary marketplace. In the process, students learn how to identify and capture the tone, characters, dialogue, and themes that make their story unique while collaborating in a workshop environment with their peers.
Students will write a beat sheet and outline for the first act of their original pilot episode, a series treatment, and the teaser of the pilot script over the course of the class, while getting the feedback and tools they will need to further write their pilot episodes and develop future TV show ideas after the program. The program culminates in a table reading of a section of their script by professional actors. Previous experience in screenwriting is not required, just a passion for storytelling!
Students meet three times a week in a small workshop environment to discuss ideas, break stories, and give feedback and notes on each other’s work. This program carries four units of UCLA credit. Please note that this is an intensive course and students are expected to spend a minimum of 25 hours-per-week writing outside of class meetings.
Due to the intense nature of the Film and Television Summer Institute – Writing for TV: Big Ideas for the Small Screen (In-person) and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.
Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions.
Intensive introduction to television pilot form, covering style and content, as well as covering how to analyze TV shows and the industry process of TV development. Students develop a beat sheet and outline for the first act of their original pilot episode, write the teaser of the original pilot episode, and create a series treatment.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE INDUSTRY
Professional Development
Students will explore the career of the screenwriter in the professional development workshop Writer as Entrepreneur. This workshop prepares students for a future in the industry by bringing in working screenwriters/TV writers to talk about their career paths and the experiences of being a writer in Hollywood.
Table Reading
Both on campus and online offerings of the Writing for Television finish with a table reading of a section of each student’s script by professional actors, a closing ceremony, and a networking mixer for students of our program. Friends and family are welcome!
On-campus students will also tour a major Hollywood Studio and have opportunities to connect with other Summer Institute precollege students.
Open for high school students enrolled in 9th – 12th grade in Spring 2023.
Students may bring their own laptop or use UCLA campus computers to complete their writing assignments and access the course website.
Students are required to use screenwriting software such as Final Draft (recommended) or a free web-based program such as Celtx to complete their assignments in proper screenplay format.
Unofficial Transcript
Min GPA Requirement
Several Essays
Written Answers
Personal Statement
English Test B2
Online Application From
Application Fee
Parent/Guardian Consent
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete the following:
1-Online Application Form
2-Three log lines for three original story ideas.
3-Personal Statement: Why would you like to participate in the program, and what do you expect to gain from the experience? (150-200 words).
4-Responses to the following essay prompts:
*What prior experience, if any, do you have in screenwriting? Include both academic coursework and extracurricular activities. Previous experience in screenwriting is not a requirement. (150-200 words);
*Submit a creative writing piece written in English that features a character from a TV show that you admire. Please specify the show name and character name at the top. (150-200 words);
*In a writing workshop, you are expected to give and receive feedback on your work and the work of your peers. What qualities do you possess that would make you a good collaborator in a writing workshop? (150-200 words);
*As a program that carries UC college credit, students are expected to exhibit maturity inside and outside of the classroom and to abide by the UCLA Student Conduct Code. Bullying, academic dishonesty, and disorderly behavior, among other violations, will not be tolerated. If you were to witness bullying or disrespectful behavior among your classmates, how would you respond? (150-200 words);
*Is it better to be perfect and late, or good and on time? (100 words or less).
5-An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
NOTE: Students should compose their responses to the essay prompts before beginning the online registration process. There will be text fields on the online registration form of which the response text can be copied.
Jun 25 - Jul 15
3 weeks
Residential
Jul 16 - Aug 05
3 weeks
Residential
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. 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.
Program Fee - $4,440.00
Registration Fee - $350.00
IEI Fee - $61.00
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students) - $50.00
Total Estimated Fees: $4,901.00
Financial Aid
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to qualified California high school students for summer study at UCLA.
Additionally, some Precollege Summer Institutes offer departmental scholarships to qualified and selected high school students.
UCLA is unable to offer financial aid to visiting international students. However, funding options may be available to you from private or governmental agencies in your home country. For information on funding your studies in the United States, please contact your local EducationUSA Office.
Unofficial Transcript
Min GPA Requirement
Several Essays
Written Answers
Personal Statement
English Test B2
Online Application From
Application Fee
Parent/Guardian Consent
Application is closed
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