"Summer Film Educator"

Summer Film Educator

University of California Los Angeles

Requisition Number: JPF10881

Summer Program Dates: June 22 - July 10

Summer Instructor: Make a Movie: Story, Camera, and Collaboration

Description

Geffen Academy Educators approach teaching as an intellectual profession of the highest order, one in which knowledge is not only transmitted but created. Geffen Academy Educators possess a sophisticated and reflective understanding of their discipline and a record of achievement which demonstrates their ability to utilize and contribute to the robust connections we have with UCLA, a world-class research institution. Educators' innovation is guided by our school's mission to prioritize proven educational practices while also recognizing that teaching is a complex intellectual endeavor that defies rigid codification. We are committed to a humane working environment and also recognize that teaching goes beyond the life of the mind. Geffen Academy Educators seek to create trusting and caring relationships with their students and with their larger community.

Summary

The Make a Movie summer course introduces middle and upper school students to the fundamentals of visual storytelling through a project-based learning experience. Students explore how films are planned, shot, and edited, learning key elements such as narrative structure, shot composition, lighting, sound, pacing, and post-production. Rather than studying filmmaking only in theory, students apply concepts immediately by working in production teams to create an original short film.
Throughout the three-week course, students move through a structured filmmaking process: idea development, scripting, storyboarding, production planning, filming, editing, and final presentation. Students analyze examples from film and media, participate in critique sessions, and revise their work based on feedback. The course emphasizes collaboration, creative decision-making, and communication, skills that transfer across academic disciplines.

Under the direction of the Summer Program Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA, the Educator will design and deliver high-quality, in-person summer instruction. The primary teaching responsibility will be Make a Movie: Story, Camera, and Collaboration; depending on program enrollment and scheduling needs, the Educator may also have the opportunity to teach additional, thematically related summer courses. Courses meet daily for up to 90 minutes over the three-week program. Final teaching assignments and instructional responsibilities will be determined based on enrollment and overall programmatic considerations. All courses are taught on Geffen Academy's campus.

Job Duties

• Design and deliver a three-week filmmaking course for students in grades 7-12 that culminates in the completion of an original short film.
• Teach foundational filmmaking concepts, including visual storytelling, shot composition, camera movement, lighting, sound, and editing.
• Guide students through the full production cycle: idea development, scripting, storyboarding, filming, and post-production.
• Facilitate collaborative work in small production teams, helping students practice communication, role-sharing, and creative problem-solving.
• Introduce students to age-appropriate filming and editing tools and support hands-on skill development.
• Lead analysis of film clips to help students understand how filmmakers convey meaning through visual and audio choices.
• Conduct critique sessions that model constructive feedback and revision.
• Support students in revising and refining their films through multiple drafts and edits.
• Foster an inclusive classroom environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and respectful critique.
• Collaborate with Summer Program leadership and fellow educators to support a cohesive program experience.
• Establish and reinforce production norms that support equitable participation, clear roles, and respectful on-set collaboration.
• Teach and reinforce safe production practices (e.g., equipment handling, movement in filming spaces, appropriate use of school locations) in alignment with program guidelines.
• Support students in practicing ethical media-making, including appropriate attribution for music or assets and respect for privacy and consent.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• This list of duties is not exhaustive.

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10881