Part two of FilmSchool.org’s interview with Brian Patrick Fagan, Director of UCLA TFT’s Professional Programs, shifts from admissions to the classroom. Fagan explains the unique features of Directing, Writing for Television, Screenwriting, and Acting programs; what makes instructors uniquely qualified; and how the curriculum differs from UCLA’s film MFA and BFA.
Read part one of the interview here:
BPF: Writing programs can be taken online or on campus. Producing is all online. Directing is online for 7 weeks then moves on campus for the final 3 weeks. Acting is on campus for all six of the actual acting workshops, with only one career development class taking place online.
Brian Patrick Fagan, Director of UCLA TFT's Professional Programs.
BPF: There is no difference between the online and on campus versions of the program, other than the classrooms themselves. In fact, all of the students, whether studying online or on campus, meet online on Monday nights together. And all are invited to meet in person, on campus, for our end-of-the-year certificate ceremony.
BPF: We are supportive of all genres of writing. Our main goal is not to tell students what to write, but to help our students use their own voices. It’s your story; we’re here to help you tell it in the most effective way possible. If by genre you mean horror, fantasy, action, etc., then our goal is to help you tell your story in a riveting way with great characters — and to help you decide which conventions of your genre are best for you to embrace and which to reinvent to make your story stand out based on your voice.
Read part one of the interview here:
Inside UCLA TFT’s Professional Programs: A Conversation with Director Brian Patrick Fagan (Part 1)
UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television's Professional Programs provide an intensive, career-driven education in half the time as a traditional MFA — and at a more affordable price point for many students.
Led by seasoned industry professionals in the heart of Los Angeles, these...
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Can you provide a brief overview of how online courses are structured?
BPF: Writing programs can be taken online or on campus. Producing is all online. Directing is online for 7 weeks then moves on campus for the final 3 weeks. Acting is on campus for all six of the actual acting workshops, with only one career development class taking place online.
Brian Patrick Fagan, Director of UCLA TFT's Professional Programs.
To that end, how do the online and in-person versions of the Professional Programs compare in terms of content and peer feedback?
BPF: There is no difference between the online and on campus versions of the program, other than the classrooms themselves. In fact, all of the students, whether studying online or on campus, meet online on Monday nights together. And all are invited to meet in person, on campus, for our end-of-the-year certificate ceremony.
How are writers of genre and unconventional formats supported in their courses?
BPF: We are supportive of all genres of writing. Our main goal is not to tell students what to write, but to help our students use their own voices. It’s your story; we’re here to help you tell it in the most effective way possible. If by genre you mean horror, fantasy, action, etc., then our goal is to help you tell your story in a riveting way with great characters — and to help you decide which conventions of your genre are best for you to embrace and which to reinvent to make your story stand out based on your voice.
What kind of guidance do Professional Program in Writing for Television students receive while developing a spec and two pilots?
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