Semester in LA

Courses

SiLA is a full semester program running 15 consecutive weeks in the fall and spring, and 10 weeks in the summer. You’ll be expected to maintain full-time status, enrolling in a minimum of 12 SiLA credit hours in spring or fall and 6 credit hours in summer.

  • Fall 2023

    Fall 2023 Course Schedule

     

    Required Courses

    Los Angeles Internship
    COLL 232 & MEDI 335 – 6 credits (must be taken concurrently)
    This course supports your hands-on internship by offering valuable insight into work-life balance, the expectations of the workplace, and what your next step should be upon completion of the internship.

    Los Angeles Speakers Series
    CINE 362 – 3 credits
    The Los Angeles Speakers Series gives you the opportunity to meet today's movers and shakers in an intimate setting as they talk about their personal path to success and their work. It will also provide opportunities to network with industry professionals.

    Choose 1-2 of the following:

    Pitching Hollywood
    CINE 409 – 3 credits
    The most important part of any successful career is the ability to present ideas clearly. This course will examine how entertainment professionals pitch their stories and provide students with tools to present their own creative work. Students will engage in repetitive pitching of various types and lengths before an audience.

    Writing the Television Pilot: Long Form Limited Series
    TELE 440A & TELE 483 – 4 credits (must be taken concurrently)
    Limited series have seen a surge in popularity with such acclaimed shows as “The Queen's Gambit," "When They See Us," and "Chernobyl.” This advanced level writing course is devoted to the analysis and writing of this television format. You’ll examine the unique qualities of the limited long form series: story, research, themes, relationships, and cliff hangers. Simultaneously you’ll outline and write your own creative piece: pitching ideas, developing characters, conducting research, and workshopping first drafts. This class requires Departmental Approval.

    Advanced Topics: Negotiations for Film and Television
    MEDI 382B – 3 credit
    Think negotiating is all bluff and bluster? Think again. While lawyers typically negotiate production and distribution deals, it’s imperative that content creators understand the underlying deals needed to produce and exploit their entertainment material. This class, taught by the former Executive Director of the Producer’s Guild, specifically focuses on the art of negotiating such deals. You’ll be asked to engage in multiple sample negotiations. 

  • Spring 2024

    Please note that there will be no Spring Break! Instead, you’ll complete 15 consecutive weeks, allowing you time to return to Chicago for Commencement.

    Spring 2024 Schedule: academics/semester-in-la/sila-2024-spring-schedule.pdf

    Required Courses

    Los Angeles Internship
    COLL 232 & MEDI 335 – 6 credits (must be taken concurrently)
    This course supports your hands-on internship by offering valuable insight into work-life balance, the expectations of the workplace, and what your next step should be upon completion of the internship.

    Los Angeles Speakers Series
    CINE 362 – 3 credits
    The Los Angeles Speakers Series gives you the opportunity to meet today’s movers and shakers in an intimate setting as they talk about their personal path to success and their work. It will also provide opportunities to network with industry professionals.

    Choose 1 of the following:

    Los Angeles Internship
    COLL 232 & MEDI 335 – 6 credits (must be taken concurrently)
    This course supports your hands-on internship by offering valuable insight into work-life balance, the expectations of the workplace, and what your next step should be upon completion of the internship.

    Los Angeles Speakers Series
    CINE 362 – 3 credits
    The Los Angeles Speakers Series gives you the opportunity to meet today's movers and shakers in an intimate setting as they talk about their personal path to success and their work. It will also provide opportunities to network with industry professionals.

    Choose 1 of the following:

    Pitching Hollywood
    CINE 409 – 3 credits
    The most important part of any successful career is the ability to present ideas clearly. This course will examine how entertainment professionals pitch their stories and provide students with tools to present their own creative work. Students will engage in repetitive pitching of various types and lengths before an audience.

    Digital Entertainment Strategy & Marketing

    MEDI 382A –  3 credits
    Art - whether it's a film, TV show, or music - deserves to be seen or heard by people. Great marketing helps make that happen. This course prepares students to understand the basics of Entertainment Marketing. Creatives of any major will explore the essential skills and pathways necessary to market and brand their work. With digital being a huge portion of today's marketing plans the class includes business-focused decisions regarding digital strategy, content creation, publicity/influencers, and social media (distribution, platform algorithms, legal guidelines, analytics).

    Advanced Topics: Negotiations for Film and Television
    MEDI 382B – 3 credit
    Think negotiating is all bluff and bluster? Think again. While lawyers typically negotiate production and distribution deals, it’s imperative that content creators understand the underlying deals needed to produce and exploit their entertainment material. This class, taught by the former Executive Director of the Producer’s Guild, specifically focuses on the art of negotiating such deals. You’ll be asked to engage in multiple sample negotiations. 

     

    Qualified writers may choose one of the following:

    TV Writing - Drama
    TELE 483-01 and TELE 486-01 – 6 credits
    Television Drama Roundtable is actually two courses taught as one. You’ll analyze a number of one-hour episodic dramas currently in production while simultaneously writing your own one-hour television spec.

    TV Writing - Comedy 
    TELE 483-02 and TELE 487-01 – 6 credits
    Sitcom Writing Roundtable is actually two courses taught as one. You’ll analyze a number of half-hour situation comedies currently in production while simultaneously writing your own half-hour comedy spec.

  • Summer 2024

    During the summer session, only the Internship and Speakers Series classes are offered. Both are required. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summer Career Exploration workshops are currently on hiatus. Check back for more information soon.

    Required Courses

     

    Los Angeles Internship
    COLL 232 & MEDI 335 – 6 credits (must be taken concurrently)
    This course supports your hands-on internship by offering valuable insight into work-life balance, the expectations of the workplace, and what your next step should be upon completion of the internship.

    Los Angeles Speakers Series
    CINE 362 – 3 credits
    The Los Angeles Speakers Series gives you the opportunity to meet today's movers and shakers in an intimate setting as they talk about their personal path to success and their work. It will also provide opportunities to network with industry professionals.

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