UC Davis Pre-College Program: Film and Media

Jump head first into screen media in this exciting, hands-on course. Whether you watch YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, TikTok, Instagram or some combination of these channels, we all experience some form of visual media on a regular basis. This course gives you an opportunity to get firsthand experience with film and television production, while also developing critical media literacy skills.

Experience the creative joy of producing a short film and how to analyze intentional and unintentional messages on screen by learning the ins and outs of film production and analysis. Taught by a veteran of the feature and television animation industry, this project-based course is designed to teach you how films and TV are made, so that you walk away with a new appreciation for and understanding of media of all types.

Gain insights from industry professionals, participate in immersive film-related group activities and film screenings, and engage in dynamic classroom discussions on a variety of topics including media impacts and messages. You will also have the opportunity to write, produce and screen your own short films.

Topics include:

• “The Filmmakers Toolbox”
  • Mise-en-scéne (everything on screen as expressed meaning)
  • Cinematography (camera angles, movement, framing, lighting), editing, sound design, music, performance, etc.
•  Genre
• The production pipeline (pre-production, production and post-production)
• Critical/analytical topics such as reality and representation, male/female gaze, afrofuturism, history of Hollywood and the portrayal of API people

When you understand all that goes into screen productions, you will never look at film or television the same again.