Photos by CATHY JUN/Daily Bruin Jimmy
Dodson teaches Pre-Production and Production for Film and
Television 404, a film class that is part of the UCLA Extension
certificate program.
By Chris Young
Daily Bruin Contributor
For anyone interested in learning about the film industry, UCLA
Extension offers opportunities to explore the field, ranging from
learning up-to-date production techniques to talking with feature
film directors.
Since classes take place during the evenings and weekends, UCLA
Extension courses can be taken in addition to a busy class schedule
or a full-time job. UCLA Extension also offers six highly
recognized certificate programs.
“People come from all over the world to take the UCLA
Extension certificate because it’s so comprehensive in the
content it provides,” said Jane Kagon, Associate Director in
UCLA Extension’s Department of Entertainment Studies and
Performing Arts.
The certificate program allows students to focus on different
aspects of the film industry, from business and management to
interactive media and the Internet.
“So many people in the Los Angeles community and the
entertainment community know about UCLA Extension, and the program
that (the certificate) has a lot of prestige,” Kagon
added.
The certificate programs cost between $2,000 and $8,000 to
complete, and usually take two to three years with night
classes.
While in a certificate program, students get advice to help plan
their curriculum, along with internship opportunities and chances
to network with professionals in the industry.
 Photos by CATHY JUN/Daily Bruin Mario Del
Bello listens in during Pre-Production and Production for
Film and Television 404, a popular core UCLA Extension class.
“If a student takes a full program, they will have a breadth
of knowledge that is the best overview and hands-on experience that
anyone can get. And what that allows them to do, both in terms of
their own self-confidence and expertise, is go into film and
television knowing all there is to know,” Kagon said.
UCLA Extension classes also offer students the advantage of
learning from professionals working in the field.
“Most people are really interested in teaching; they want
to give something back,” said Jenny Frankfurt, manager in the
Department of Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts.
In the past, classes have offered guest speakers such as Jerry
Bruckheimer, Jay Leno and Mel Brooks.
“One of the pluses of being in this program is that you
are really exposed to people in the profession working at the
highest levels who see ahead of the curve, because they have
to,” Kagon said.
If people are not interested in participating in the full
certificate program and just want to take a couple classes in film,
UCLA Extension offers classes that range from acting and directing
to cinematography and film scoring. Popular core classes included
Pre-Production and Production for Film and Television 404 and
Post-Production for Film and Television 404A.
Also popular among students is Sneak Preview: Contemporary Films
and Filmmakers x404.2. Students view movies before their official
public release and get to talk with guest speakers such as the
movie’s director, actors, writers or producer.
“For an undergraduate who wants to know more about the
film industry, those classes give a comprehensive picture of what
the industry is about,” said Steven Nily, manager in the
Department of Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts.
The students in UCLA Extension range from undergraduate students
to professionals already in the entertainment industry who want to
advance or change positions. According to Kagon, UCLA Extension is
a good learning resource for people not yet in the industry.
“The students will be sitting side by side with people
already in the field, which lets them gain exposure to the
industry,” she said.
The classes offer opportunities to network with the teachers and
other students, Frankfurt said. Sometimes the teachers even
directly hire people who have taken their classes.
“Extension’s classes can allow students to break in
early in the (job hiring) process,” Frankfurt said.
Whether students want to get exposed to the entertainment world,
expand their skills, get training in up-to-date techniques and
developments, or just be able to network, UCLA Extension offers a
lot of possibilities.
FILM: For more information on UCLA Extension
film classes, visit www.uclaextension.org/entertainmentstudies
or call (310) 825-9064.