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Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography

Study cinematography at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world

Explore the concepts, creativity, and techniques of cinematic lighting using the latest technology

The UCLA Film and Television Cinematography Summer Institute gives high school students an unparalleled opportunity to study cinematography at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world. This one-week intensive workshop is designed for highly motivated rising juniors and seniors, and spring 2024 high school graduates. Students are immersed in the concepts, creativity, and technique of cinematic lighting through a combination of lectures and hands-on lighting exercises. Students will explore concepts such as composition, framing, blocking, lens choice, camera movement/placement, exposure, lighting techniques/equipment, shot design, and set protocol.

  • Students work on UCLA sound stages with the latest digital cinema cameras and lighting equipment
  • The program curriculum consists of a combination of lectures and hands-on lighting exercises
  • All class exercises will be screened in a state-of-the-art theater during the certificate ceremony at the end of the workshop. Friends and family are welcome!
  • This program carries two units of UCLA college credit

This is an intensive immersion experience for beginning to intermediate filmmakers designed to form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in lighting for film and television. Previous experience in cinematography is not required.

Fees and Payment Info

The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. The program fee also includes the cost of UCLA Housing (for mandatory housing programs). 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. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.

Program Fee
$2,894.00
Registration Fee
$350.00
IEI Fee
$61.00
Document Fee (for first-time Summer Sessions students)
$50.00
Total Estimated Fees:
$3,355.00
* Fees only apply for certain student types

Meet your Instructors

Instructors for the UCLA Film and Television Summer Institutes are UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media faculty.

Ingrid Sanchez

Instructor

Ingrid Sanchez is a LA native, dual passport holder, award winning filmmaker who has worked on films in Los Angeles, New York, Amsterdam, France, and Belgium. She has lensed 3 features, a 6 episode mini series, over 25 shorts, and various music videos and branded content. In 2023, Ingrid won 3rd prize in Technical and Artistic Achievement in Cinematography for the Women in Media Altitude Awards, and Best Cinematographer for the LA Independent Women film award.  Her film, Sweet Tooth (2016), that she produced and lensed, played in festivals such as Fantasia Film Festival and the Netherlands Film Festival, and was optioned by New Line Cinema in 2017. Ingrid graduated from the UCLA MFA Cinematography program, with her thesis “Reflecting Skin” focused on representation of darker skin tones.  Ingrid is a recipient of the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship program, and has been awarded the Carroll Sax Award, the WIF Verna Fields Cinematography Award, and the Motion Picture Association Award. She holds a BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design with Honors. Prior to UCLA, she worked professionally as a lighting assistant in Amsterdam, Holland. Ingrid’s experiences in painting, photography, and stop motion animation gives her a unique way of playing with and creating emotion with light.