Fall enrollment is open, and closes September 28. Check out the Academic Term Calendar for more information.

Pre-Production and Production for Film and Television

FILM TV X 404

This survey course presents an overview of the real-world aspects of producing as practiced in the various sectors of filmed entertainment from script development through pre-production and production.

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READ MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Online
Live Online
In Person
Starting at $835.00
As few as 11 weeks
4.0
View Course Options

What you can learn.

  • Learn the producer’s role interfacing with the writer, director, and key personnel
  • Understand how to pitch and sell ideas
  • Acquire the skills to breakdown a script
  • Manage a schedule and budget
  • Prepare for critical on-the-set issues facing the producer

About this course:

This survey course presents an overview of the real-world aspects of producing as practiced in the various sectors of filmed entertainment, from script development through pre-production and production. Topics include the producer's interface with the writer, director and other key personnel; pitching and selling ideas; script breakdown and scheduling; budgeting; and all the critical on-the-set issues facing the producer.

Fall 2025 Schedule

Date & Time
Details
Format
 
-
Thursday 6:00PM - 9:00PM PT
Wait List
See Details
Instructor: Eben Davidson
405252
Fee:
$835.00
In Personformat icon
Location: UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Internet access required. Materials required.

Refund Deadline
No refunds after October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Producer to Producer : A Step-by-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing by Melanie Dobson
Michael Wiese Productions
ISBN 1615932666
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Thu Sep 25, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Oct 2, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Oct 9, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Oct 16, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Oct 23, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Oct 30, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Nov 6, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Nov 13, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Nov 20, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Nov 27, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Dec 4, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
Lecture
Thu Dec 11, 2025
6:00PM PT - 9:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center 112
-
Tuesday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Available
See Details
Instructor: John Duffy
405251
Fee:
$835.00
Live Onlineformat icon
Location: Remote Classroom
Updating...
See Details
Notes

No Meeting Nov. 11th
Internet access required. Materials required. 

Refund Deadline
No refunds after October 05, 2025
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Tue Sep 23, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Sep 30, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Oct 7, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Oct 14, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Oct 21, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Oct 28, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Nov 4, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Nov 11, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Nov 18, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Nov 25, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Dec 2, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Dec 9, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
-
This section has no set meeting times.
Wait List
See Details
Instructor: Amotz Zakai
405050
Fee:
$835.00
Onlineformat icon
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Internet access required. Materials required. 

Refund Deadline
No refunds after October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
The Big Picture by Edward Jay Epstein
Random House Publishing Group
ISBN 9780812973822
The Big Picture : The Fight for the Future of Movies by Ben Fritz
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
ISBN 9781328592743
A Quick Guide to Careers in La La Land by Mike Clattenburg & Amotz Zakai
©2020

Winter 2026 Schedule

Date & Time
Details
Format
 
-
Monday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens November 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
Instructor: Jeffrey Deverett
406432
Fee:
$835.00
In Personformat icon
Location: UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Internet access required. Materials required. 

Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Mon Jan 5, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Jan 12, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Jan 19, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Jan 26, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Feb 2, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Feb 9, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Feb 16, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Feb 23, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Mar 2, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Mar 9, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Mon Mar 16, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
-
Tuesday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens November 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
Instructor: Bridget Terry
406266
Fee:
$835.00
Live Onlineformat icon
Location: Remote Classroom
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Internet access required. 

Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Tue Jan 6, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Jan 13, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Jan 20, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Jan 27, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Feb 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Feb 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Feb 17, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Feb 24, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Mar 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Mar 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Lecture
Tue Mar 17, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
-
This section has no set meeting times.
Future Offering (Opens November 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
Instructor: Amotz Zakai
406439
Fee:
$835.00
Onlineformat icon
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Internet access required. Materials required. 

Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
The Big Picture by Edward Jay Epstein
Random House Publishing Group
ISBN 9780812973822
The Big Picture : The Fight for the Future of Movies by Ben Fritz
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
ISBN 9781328592743
A Quick Guide to Careers in La La Land by Mike Clattenburg & Amotz Zakai
©2020

This course applies towards the following certificates & specializations…

Entertainment Studies
Filmmaker Adjusting Light
Cinematography
Two cinematographers using a camera
Acting
acting-ce0425

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