<p>I know that UCLA's TFT program is really good for those who are pursuing acting -- but I really want to know if it is a good place for technical theatre as well. I am hoping to be a professional lighting designer one day, as well as a more well-rounded techie. What I am interested in knowing is how much hands-on design work the students at UCLA actually get to do, how much individual attention they get, and if outside work/internships are encouraged. The hands-on stuff is really important to me because the more experience I have in creating my own designs is the best way for me to learn/improve. Would UCLA be a good place for me? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>UCLA TFT is ranked the <em>best</em> in the nation for undergrad theater. (That is what is proclaimed in their PR literature.) It is at one of the most prestigious universities in the country/world with a legion of networking, internship, and industry connections. It is at “ground-zero” for entertainment, and in a very nice area with a walking village surrounded by great weather and close to the beach. If you are in-state, it is much less expensive than anything else comparable. It is also very large which presents many opportunities, yet also creates bureaucracy and a less personal environment. However, in TFT, that is not the case. It seems like a very tight-knit community where you will spend much of the next four years with your “company.”</p>
<p>The caveat is, do you have other choices? Which other colleges are you comparing? Is it close enough or far enough from home? They do accept AP and CC credits if you have them. The MFA students will always get more opportunity wherever you go, yet there will be plenty of work for eager undergrads if they prove their skill, talent and responsibility, especially because of the Film & TV departments in TFT.</p>
<p>You probably have already studied this, however here is their website for Tech/Design:</p>
<p>[Design</a> / Production Specialization (BA in Theater) | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television](<a href=“http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/undergraduate-design-production/]Design”>http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/undergraduate-design-production/)</p>
<p>I thought Associate Dean Rich Rose from the auditions was cool.</p>
<p>FRESHMAN
Freshman: Tai Chi, Intro to Design, Intro to Design Lab, Intro to Performance, Approaches to Interpretation, Theater and Performance, Play Reading and Analysis, Writing I/English Comp & Rhetoric</p>
<p>SOPHOMORE
Disney Imagineering, Graphic Representation of Design, Scenic Design Technology,
Drawing/Rendering Computer Assisted Design, Lighting Design Technology,
Sound Design, Costume Construction, Sound Design Technology, Stage Management Techniques, Writing II requirement </p>
<p>JUNIOR & SENIOR YEARS
Lighting Design Sequence</p>
<p>FACILITIES
Billy Wilder Theater (Hammer Museum),Black Box Theater, Classroom 1330, Color Correction Suite, Coral Tree Walk, Costume Shop, Critical Studies Screening Room,
Design Room Theater, Design Studio, Directors Guild of America Theater, Digital Media Lab (Bullpen), Documentary Lab, DVD Duplicator, Editing Classroom, Film to Video Transfer, Final Cut Pro Suites, Flatbed Suites, Freud Playhouse, FX Room/Group Edit, Geffen Playhouse , Green Rooms, James Bridges Theater, John Candy Room, Lab for New Media, Little Theater, Macgowan Hall, Melnitz Hall, Mix 1: Pro Tools Room, Mix 2: Soundtrack Pro, Production Office, Production Screening Room, Prop Shop, Re-Recording Stage (Re Re), Scene Shop, Scoring Stage, Murphy Sculpture Garden, Seminar Room, Sound Stage 1/2/3, Staff and TA Offices, Tech Office, Thesis Edit Suite, TV Studio 1/2/3,
Writers Guild of America Theater, Writing and Critical Studies Seminar Room</p>
<p>Hope some current students, professors, parents, or recent grads can weigh in!</p>
<p>All of the places I got in are very different from each other. I’m just waiting for two decision letters, and all of my financial aid offers before I decide between NYU, Emerson, BU, NW UCLA, CalArts, and UBC (Vancouver–Hollywood North). The only downside to UCLA (and NW) for me is that they are not BFA programs. But that almost doesn’t matter because I want to minor in another area and be able to take high quality general ed classes in other disciplines.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses so far! </p>
<p>" The caveat is, do you have other choices? Which other colleges are you comparing? Is it close enough or far enough from home? "</p>
<p>I live in Northern CA, so going to college in Southern CA is both close enough and far enough from home for me, if that makes sense. Out of the SoCal schools that have accepted me, my top choices are UCLA and Chapman University. </p>
<p>I know that between those two schools, UCLA is the one with the bigger name, but what worries me most is not having many opportunities to work/design, or feeling depersonalized in such a big program, you know? I’m assuming that Chapman has a smaller but still high-quality program, but would that necessarily mean more opportunities for undergrads? Also, I’m also wondering how well-known Chapman’s theatre program is and if attending its program will give me a heads-up in the theatre industry.</p>
<p>You probably have already done all of this but if not, do a search for theaters at UCLA, especially the Geffen Playhouse! Have you seen performances at UCLA or the Geffen? Check where the alumni are working. Go to Admitted Students Day at all the places you might attend and ask lots of questions. Tour the facilities. Are there AutoCad/Vectorworks theater and/or rep plots. Do these things for all the schools you are considering. Good Luck.</p>
<p>UCLA Freud Playhouse Technical Specifications
Proscenium theater/capacity ranges from 479 to 586.</p>
<p>Company Switch-400 amp, three-phase, five wire, 120/208V fused company switch. Connection via bare leads. Switch can be fused to 225 amps and controls 100 amp disconnect. Power Distribution Panel-Portable 100 amp, single-phase, 208V power distribution panel connected to company switch via a 100’ long cable. </p>
<p>Panel: one 70 amp, one 50 amp and one 30 amp single phase, 208V receptacles with separate circuit breakers and one 60 amp stage pin plug, four 20 amp Edison and two 20 amp stage pin plug 120V receptacles with separate circuit breakers.</p>
<p>Additional Power-225 amp, three-phase, five wire electrical service available. Connection is via Cam-Lok or bare leads.</p>
<p>ETC Obsession II Console 750 channels Version 4.4 Net 1, remote focus unit, dimmer remote unit, and remote video monitors. DMX network allows distribution of 2 sets of DMX signals to the booth, beam area, stage left and right portals; grid and will accept DMX inputs from the booth, beam area and stage left and right portals</p>
<p>An ETC Sensor dimmer-per-circuit dimmer rack, 270 load circuits. 252 dimmers for 2.4 KW circuits and 18 dimmers are for 6.0 KW. Circuits located at the grid can be dropped to any counterweight batten to make it into an electric.</p>
<p>House lighting-Permanent recessed houselights are controlled by ETC Sensor SR-6 dimming rack; can be controlled via control stations around the theater or via control channels of the Obsession console.</p>
<p>Inventory is as follows: (there were pages of this–I edited it down.) Colortran, Par 64, Fresnel, CYX, Par 64 Cans, Strand Iris 2 Cyc lights, Strand Pallas ground row, Rosco screen, black & white scrims, Muslin Cyc, video projection system, grid, catwalk, spot motor system with handheld remote, truss…</p>
<p>And this is just one performance venue of many. Sounds dreamy!</p>