Courses
Course Information
UTLA is an intensive, immersive educational experience. In addition to their internships, students take in-person classes from professionals working in the entertainment industry. Coursework is taught in the evenings at the UTLA Center in Burbank, centrally located just minutes from the studios and iconic filming locations.
Learn more about UTLA registration requirements.
As someone who knew very little about the entertainment industry, I’ve found the UTLA classes incredibly valuable in supporting my internships. The guidance from my professors and mentors in each class has helped me develop a clearer path toward building a career in the film and entertainment industry.
Course Descriptions
Amy Lasser
To understand the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and figure out the best approach to your career path you need to meet the players and step into the worlds where they do their creative work, negotiate deals and innovate with the latest technologies. In this course, students will develop an understanding of industry culture and norms by doing a deep dive into careers in Hollywood across the industry. Class lectures and projects, Q&As, panels and exclusive site visits introduce students to the latest industry trends and career pathways.
Stuart Pollok
From the acquisition of original ideas, all the way through the production, marketing and distribution of completed films and television programming, How Hollywood Works is designed to present a foundational, business overview of the entertainment industry, including animation and music, to equip students with the skills to navigate this exciting and ever-changing industry. Through case studies, readings, class discussions and guest speakers, students will explore the commercial challenges facing content producers and distributors, financing, and the continual struggle between creativity and the bottom line.
- RTF Majors: Counts as 3 hours of Media Studies Requirement
- Media & Entertainment Industries Minors: Counts as 3 hours towards Requirement 3
Chuck Kim
Before an audience sees a film, TV show, or any production, an idea must be discovered and developed. This course examines the lifecycle of an idea from a creative’s perspective, whether it’s a screenwriter, development or marketing executive or a producer nurturing a story from logline to distribution. Through lectures and discussion with guest speakers, students will also learn to identify strengths and weaknesses of literary material as they practice networking and pitching.
- Media & Entertainment Industries Minors: Counts as 3 hours towards Requirement 3
All program participants will be required to complete a 3- or 6-credit internship. To earn credit for the internship, each participant will have to intern for at least 150 total hours for the 3-hour course or 300 hours for the 6-hour course, maintain a journal of their experience, assemble and present a portfolio of work samples, attend 5 two-hour evening internship classes that will address key information including job-seeking skills, networking skills, industry professions & salaries, and preparing for living and pursuing a career in Los Angeles, and complete final internship evaluations.
