Internet access required. Materials required.
Low-Budget Filmmaking
FILM TV X 476.6
Learn techniques and theories examining all phases of the low-budget filmmaking process, from development to production to post-production, and how to translate a minimum budget into maximum quality on screen.
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
In Person
Starting at $835.00
As few as 11 weeks
4.0
What you can learn.
- Discover how to analyze and break down the screenplay
- Learn about financing the production, evaluating the marketplace, marketing, and distribution
- Learn how to apply creativity to a budgetary plan to maximize on-screen value
- Learn how to cast and select key production personnel
- Learn production design, music, editing, sound design
- Apply concepts learned to your own projects
About this course:
In this detailed exploration of low-budget filmmaking, learn techniques and theories examining all phases of the process, from development to production to post-production. The focus is on translating a minimum budget into maximum quality on screen. Topics include the script, financing the production, evaluating the marketplace, analyzing and breaking down the screenplay, learning to apply creativity to a budgetary plan to maximize on-screen value, casting, selecting key production personnel, production design, music, editing, sound design, marketing and distribution. Throughout the class, you are able to apply concepts learned to your own projects.Winter 2026 Schedule
Date & Time
Details
Format
In Person
Location:
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Notes
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Shoot from the Heart: Successful Filmmaking from a Sundance
by Diane Bell
ISBN 1615932887
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Tue Jan 6, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Jan 13, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Jan 20, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Jan 27, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Feb 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Feb 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Feb 17, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Feb 24, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Mar 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Mar 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Lecture
Tue Mar 17, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
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