Los Angeles Film Studies Center

Hollywood is the largest influence in the international film industry.  Come evaluate this cultural powerhouse by studying at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center!  Core courses help students explore the role of faith in the entertainment industry; students also create a festival-ready piece in a Hollywood Production Workshop.  All students experience an internship for at least 20 hours a week in some aspect of the film and television business.  The program takes advantage of its prime location in the middle of L.A.’s film production scene and provides students with the latest filmmaking technology for their projects!

Explore course offerings.

Goals and Objectives
The Los Angeles Film Studies Program attempts to expose students to the workings of mainstream Hollywood, to help students reflect on what it means to be a Christian in the film industry, and to equip students to deal with ethical issues in the industry.

Internships
Students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours a week of practical experience in the film industry. LAFSC participants have interned with Focus Features ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"); Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's company; Lightstorm Entertainment; and VH-1:Behind the Music. One Messiah student did his internship on the set of "Hard Copy."

Requirements
Students must have completed two full years of college and have at least a 2.75 GPA to qualify for the program. Students are required to attend all Messiah-run pre-departure orientation sessions the semester before studying abroad as well as half-day reentry retreat upon returning to campus the following semester.

Credits
Students earn sixteen elective credits through the seminars and internships. Communication and Radio, Television, and Film majors are encouraged to attend the Center. Courses taken will appear on Messiah transcripts with letter grades. Please refer to the grade conversion chart .

Participation in this program does not meet cross-cultural requirements. 

Required courses include: Internship: Inside Hollywood (6 credits), Hollywood Production Workshop (4 credits), Faith and Artistic Development in Film (3 credits). Students choose one elective:  Narrative Storytelling (3 credits), Professional Acting for the Camera (3 credits), Professional Screenwriting (3 credits), Independent Study (3 credits).

Costs: 2013 - 2014  $18,585, plus $300 deposit
Fee covers tuition, housing, educational excursions, pre-departure, and re-entry orientation.  Meals are not included.  Note: additional fees students may encounter include local transportation and meals. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Los Angeles. 

For comparison, a typical semester in Grantham for 2013-2014 is $19,655.

Application Deadlines

A $50 application fee must accompany your application.

“The most rewarding & interesting part of my experience at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center was working as an intern for 20th Century Fox Music. I was able to attend scoring sessions for "Family Guy", "The Simpsons", and "A Night at the Museum", where I had the chance to observe and meet legenday composer Alan Silvestri, of "Forrest Gump" and "Back to the Future" fame.”

--Joel Brandon