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Entertainment Studies Student Productions

Film Set

Student Productions at UCLA Extension

Student productions are an integral part of the Entertainment Studies program. Learn what will be expected of you as you prepare to produce a short film for class.

Rights and Responsibilities

UCLA Extension does not own the content you make.

As a result, you retain all rights to your intellectual property but you are required to fund your project and provide your own short film production insurance. You are also required to purchase your own, independent short film production insurance to cover all aspects of your film. UCLA exclusively provides the insurance required to secure your FilmLA permit at a student rate. You are still required to secure your own production insurance. Your instructor can clarify the type of insurance that will be necessary for your specific film production.

Filming is allowed on the UCLA campus, but University permission is required, and students are responsible for following all University protocols.

Filming with a Steady Cam..

Student Film Production Workflow

Click below to learn the steps for producing a student film within the Entertainment Studies program.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Entertainment Studies office at (310) 825-9064 or entertainmentstudies@uclaextension.edu.

In order to receive a student film production letter, you must be enrolled in a current course that requires a short film to be produced, and be making the film for class, under the supervision of your instructor.

We are not able to provide film letters unless you are making a film under the supervision of an instructor for one of the following classes:

  • FILMTV X 476.39 - Making Your First Short Film
  • FILMTV X 476.95 - Directing Workshop I: Composition and Movement
  • FILMTV X 476.95b - Directing Workshop II: Storytelling
  • FILMTV X 478.481 - Documentary Filmmaking Workshop
  • FILMTV X 476.12b - Advanced Filmmaking Workshop: Production and Post-Production

If your class does not appear on the list but you are enrolled in an Entertainment Studies course, a copy of your transcript may assist you in obtaining various student film rates from vendors and the UCLA bookstore. View your options for accessing official and unofficial transcripts.

The Student Film Production letter can be used to obtain a film permit on or off campus.

If you are enrolled in one of the eligible classes and want to obtain a film letter, please send us an email at entertainmentstudies@uclaextension.edu with your:

  • Name
  • Student Identification Number
  • Project Title
  • Director’s Name
  • Names of any Producers

A letter will be provided after the final refund deadline for your course has passed.

Before receiving a letter, you will be asked to fill out a form providing information about your film and sign a Student Filmmaker Code of Conduct, signaling your agreement with the terms and acknowledging the responsibility you have as a student filmmaker representing UCLA Extension to conduct yourself professionally, responsively, and respectfully in your interactions with others and at the locations at which you may be filming, as well as to comply with any COVID-19 safety guidelines required by local public health officials and UCLA.

Insurance is mandatory for all student productions.

UCLA Extension provides liability insurance that exclusively covers your FilmLA or on-campus permit application, depending on where you will be filming. This coverage does not constitute the required production insurance.

Production insurance secured by the filmmaker is required and can be found through various insurance brokers. 

We do not recommend a specific vendor. This must be obtained for nearly any aspect of film production: equipment rentals and film location permits, etc.

As a UCLA Extension student, you are eligible to shoot your film projects on the UCLA campus.

In order to obtain a film permit to shoot on campus, you need to contact the UCLA Events Office.

You will need to provide your Film Letter from our office along with a BruinCard or Driver’s License, Student Film Warrant Form, notated script pages, Location Confirmation Form, complete listing of expected production equipment, and a $105 film permit processing fee. Other location specific fees may apply as well.

Please Note:

Filming is not allowed at the UCLA Extension Metro Centers: Extension Lindbrook Center, Extension Gayley Center, Extension DTLA, Extension Woodland Hills, and any other non-UCLA campus classroom location. Unfortunately, UCLA Extension does not have any available space for auditions, rehearsals, film editing space, or production locations. We also do not provide equipment for use or rent.

Filming at UCLA

Watch this video for an overview of the rules for working with UCLA's Event's office and filming on the UCLA campus. 

0:00
 

how I learned to stop worrying and get a film permit scene one take one marker

0:22
22 seconds

look hey smacks right how's school going school's keeping me super busy seems like the work never ends I'm actually scouting locations for my horror film

0:31
31 seconds

right now I'm scouting right now - weird how we ran into each other Paul were doing the exact same thing have you

0:38
38 seconds

started the permit process I was planning on going gorilla you don't want to do that here's why

0:46
46 seconds

where'd that camera come from a ton of groups shoot on campus and they all go through the events office TST studio

Chapter 2: Why get a permit

0:54
54 seconds

twenty-two FPS the film fraternity and students from other schools all use them the events office issues permits but they can also help you in all kinds of

1:02
1 minute, 2 seconds

other ways trust me getting a permit will make things way easier I'll show you how first off you're going to meet with the insurance

Chapter 3: How to get a permit

1:10
1 minute, 10 seconds

manager or your advisor to set up the insurance you should probably and by probably I mean definitely do that before filling out the warrant filling out the warrant shows that you've met

1:19
1 minute, 19 seconds

with your professor and that they're aware of the process this guarantees TF T's involvement and shows the events office that your project is registered with the department and don't forget to

1:27
1 minute, 27 seconds

list all your locations on the warrant okay and obviously you want to scope out your locations before filling out the warrant right of course I knew that

1:35
1 minute, 35 seconds

no you didn't know I didn't the events office wants us to contact them twice

Chapter 4: Contacting the Events Office

1:43
1 minute, 43 seconds

you have to contact the events office the first time to make sure the location you want isn't already being used by someone else over the dates of your shoot you can either go in person to 168

1:52
1 minute, 52 seconds

Kirk off or if walking is not your thing you can just email them if the events office can't schedule a particular location they'll refer you to the department they can so if I wanted to

2:01
2 minutes, 1 second

shoot it soon in an evil laboratory the events office will help you find the most evil lab available on campus I'd really like to flood the lab with a ton

2:08
2 minutes, 8 seconds

of light but I'm worried about the power and this one soon might involve a lot of blood the next step is contacting the

2:17
2 minutes, 17 seconds

building manager remember that warrant you filled out earlier you're going to email that warrant and a location confirmation form to the building

Chapter 5: Location Confirmation

2:25
2 minutes, 25 seconds

manager the location confirmation can then be brought to the building manager in person to sign off on the building manager is going to go over the special

2:33
2 minutes, 33 seconds

needs for your project you know simulated weapons smoke electricity special effects the fun stuff the fun stuff that could go

2:41
2 minutes, 41 seconds

horribly wrong so Joe I just need one location confirmation form for all my locations don't be a dingus max obviously you need a separate form for

2:49
2 minutes, 49 seconds

each location and even if you get approval from the building manager you need final approval from the events office they'll determine how involved they need to be and take a more active

2:57
2 minutes, 57 seconds

role in approving the needs and scheduling like if there needs to be a meeting with the fire marshal wow that's a lot to do good thing you ran into me

3:04
3 minutes, 4 seconds

that was so convenient a little too convenient super super important to find

Chapter 6: Before Shooting

3:13
3 minutes, 13 seconds

and lock down your locations way before you start shooting you might find that one locations too expensive and you don't want to be scrambling around trying to find another one last minute

3:21
3 minutes, 21 seconds

plus your director and DP need time to work through the shots and troubleshoot any potential problems give them plenty of it and you've some things to figure

3:30
3 minutes, 30 seconds

out to what power source can you use where will you set up and hold lunch where can you hold actors and stage equipment or do I have the body you

3:38
3 minutes, 38 seconds

should know the answers to these questions way before you start shooting

Chapter 7: Conclusion

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3 minutes, 47 seconds

take the signed warrant and location confirmation forms back to the events office along with a copy of your script a copy of your student ID card of

3:54
3 minutes, 54 seconds

insurance and a letter from your advisor 40ft students the warrant serves as the letter once that's done at long last

4:01
4 minutes, 1 second

you'll get your film permit just make sure to do this at least five business days before the shoot remember how we want to give everyone

4:08
4 minutes, 8 seconds

plenty of time finishing this process five days before filming is really going to give everyone peace of mind which we

4:16
4 minutes, 16 seconds

want yes and if there are any additional costs that need to be budgeted based on your production needs this will give you time to do that and then you're all set

4:24
4 minutes, 24 seconds

for your first day of filming no more stress well until you start shooting that is I can't solve all your problems free max but if you have any more

4:32
4 minutes, 32 seconds

questions check out the UCLA portal it's got a lot of helpful information Thanks I don't know what I would have done without you no problem but this

4:41
4 minutes, 41 seconds

knowledge carries a heavy price what is it do you want to be the sandwich Wrangler

4:47
4 minutes, 47 seconds

for my shoot this weekend yeah I think I can handle that great okay I'll be in touch