UNCSA LA Trip, Class of 2017

We are the graduating class of film students at University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Now that we are approaching the end our four year journey, we face a new adventure: transitioning into the professional film world. Our first step begins with the "LA Trip", which is our chance to see the heart of the film industry up close.


At the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, we undergo a very rigorous four-year program. From the moment we arrive in our first year, we're preparing for production, and learning the skills to develop our own material for the screen. Every year, we crew on a variety of projects that are all entirely student-run. Students assume positions ranging from production assistant, to set painter, to camera operator, to line producer, to director, and everything in between. Each year, we gradually assume bigger projects and more responsibility. In our senior year, we make our thesis films, which shoot over the course of two weekends in the fall semester with crews that average about 60 people from every class.


The LA Trip is our chance to see the film industry ourselves. Every day of the week is jam-packed with events such as alumni meet-and-greet programs, screenings of our films, face to face meetings with industry contacts, and tours of big film studios. Many of us are planning to live out in LA right away, so it's also our chance to scout out the area for a place to live, or just find out where to have fun.


We graduate on Saturday, May 6th, and the very next day we fly out to LA. The trip's official dates are May 7th to the 14th (Sunday to Sunday).

On average, the breakdown of funds per person comes out to about $1,200:
Airfare round trip: ~$500
Hotel Room (4-person room for 7 nights): ~$350
Meal expenses/contigency funds: ~$350

This opportunity is once in a lifetime. Even for those who aren't planning on living or working in LA, the trip is worth it for the industry contacts our faculty sets us up with and the chance to screen our thesis projects. It's what brings us face to face with the reality of the world of filmmaking.

Our class is about 70 people who are going on this trip, and we've already made a huge effort to fundraise throughout the year inbetween our own personal and school projects. Our facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/UNCSATripToLA/

Every little bit helps, and we thank you for taking the time and consideration!