Wofford Denius UTLA Center for Entertainment and Media Studies

Wofford Denius UTLA Center for Entertainment and Media Studies A semester-in-Los Angeles program for University of Texas at Austin students.

Last week, UTNY hosted its first-ever alumni reunion, bringing Longhorns back together in Midtown for an evening of nost...
05/22/2026

Last week, UTNY hosted its first-ever alumni reunion, bringing Longhorns back together in Midtown for an evening of nostalgia, connection and Texas-themed food and drinks! 🤘🗽

It was especially exciting to welcome back so many alumni from our inaugural Fall 2019 class. Nearly 700 alumni have experienced a semester of professional, academic and personal growth through UTNY.

We’re looking forward to creating even more opportunities for alumni to engage with current students. If you’ve completed the program and want to be part of future events, fill out the survey in our story!

Hannah Holub, UTLA alum and contestant producer at “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price is Right” invited Spring 2026 UTLA...
05/08/2026

Hannah Holub, UTLA alum and contestant producer at “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price is Right” invited Spring 2026 UTLA students to attend a taping of the iconic show last month. Students showed off their costumes and experienced the excitement firsthand as Wayne Brady and the crew filmed an episode of “Let’s Make a Deal”!

Submit your application to UTLA by this Sunday, May 10 for a chance to experience an unforgettable Spring 2027 semester. Do we have a deal? 🌴

Last month, Spring 2026 UTLA students took a trip to Venice to visit alum and Deep VooDoo chief creative officer Jennife...
05/07/2026

Last month, Spring 2026 UTLA students took a trip to Venice to visit alum and Deep VooDoo chief creative officer Jennifer Howell. During the visit, AI production lead Frank Lucatuorto demonstrated the company’s cutting-edge AI software and face translation technology. The deepfake VFX studio founded by Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park aims to utilize AI ethically while following the guidelines of the SAG and WGA to support the creative work of directors, actors and producers.

“Having knowledge about AI makes you more marketable. You can learn just by experimenting.”

If you’re interested in learning how you can utilize new and innovative practices in your own creative work, then apply for UTLA’s Spring 2027 cohort! Through the program, you have the opportunity to connect with well established industry professionals and further your knowledge of the media industry. The deadline to apply has been EXTENDED to May 10. Link in bio to apply and learn more! 🌴

Beth Goodnight, owner and production designer of Goodnight & Co., gave our Spring UTLA cohort a tour of the massive desi...
05/06/2026

Beth Goodnight, owner and production designer of Goodnight & Co., gave our Spring UTLA cohort a tour of the massive design studio last month. The studio employs artists from 10 different unions to design and build sets for events like the Oscars and large studios like Amazon and Netflix.

From 3D printers to saws that cut intricate designs, students had the opportunity to witness what it takes to create an entire set. With 30+ years of experience, Goodnight’s advice to young creatives is to become a PA and learn every job on a crew, emphasizing that “opportunities come when you’re willing to go all in.”

Are you ready to go all in? Apply for the UTLA Spring 2027 cohort! The deadline to apply has been EXTENDED to Sunday, May 10. 💙

Let’s hear from a senior who’s living the dream of working in Los Angeles! Say hello to Valeria Guajardo Galván, who is ...
05/05/2026

Let’s hear from a senior who’s living the dream of working in Los Angeles! Say hello to Valeria Guajardo Galván, who is pursing a BA in Theatre and Dance with a Performer’s Process Emphasis and a minor in Media and Entertainment Industries!

Valeria has always known she wanted to pursue film, television and theater. Since her freshman year, UTLA was a part of her plan. When it came to gaining experience, building connections and ultimately beginning her career in LA after graduation, this program checked all of the boxes!

Valeria was also inspired by her older sister, who participated in the and subsequently moved to New York five years ago. “I knew I wanted to take advantage of this program and fully prepare myself for the industry...She built a life and career for herself [in NY], and that showed me how impactful these programs can be.”

This semester, she interned for , which has worked on films like Anyone But You and Easy A (one of her favorite movies). The company also collaborates with studios like Disney and Sony! She was also an intern at ’s company, , located on the Universal Studios lot!

Across both internships, her responsibilities included reading and writing coverage for scripts, TV pilots, pitch decks and books. One of the coolest moments? Watching an unreleased film and giving feedback! From hands-on work, classes, and industry connections, Valeria emphasizes that the experience has been “everything she hoped for and more.”

“If film and television are your passion and something you really want to pursue, I think you have to do the program. Whatever year you choose to do it, it’s such a valuable experience to figure out if LA is right for you.”

The next step for Valeria? She will be heading to Los Angeles later this year to pursue her career in the industry, building on the strong foundation of alumni and professional connections she developed through the UTLA program.

If you want a stepping stone to a thrilling career in entertainment, this opportunity is for you! The deadline for Spring ‘27 is TONIGHT! 🎥💙🌴

Last month, Manager and Producer at Entertainment 360 and UTLA alum Kevin Rowe screened his film Straight Circle for our...
05/04/2026

Last month, Manager and Producer at Entertainment 360 and UTLA alum Kevin Rowe screened his film Straight Circle for our Spring 2026 UTLA cohort! Rowe spent time talking to students about the film’s production and development process with director Oscar Hudson.

When discussing independent filmmaking, Rowe encouraged students to find their market and focus on the development of the film from start to finish. “You can’t ignore the market, but with good creative, the commerce will come.” Rowe’s advice to emerging filmmakers is to take all the help you can get when it is offered!

If you’re looking to expand your knowledge and immerse yourself in the creative industry, apply for the Spring ‘27 UTLA cohort! Applications are due tomorrow, May 5! 🌴

Congratulations to our incredible 2026 Spring UTLA cohort and graduating seniors for an incredible semester full of conn...
05/01/2026

Congratulations to our incredible 2026 Spring UTLA cohort and graduating seniors for an incredible semester full of connections, growth and fantastic work!

From hearing industry professionals discuss their experience to conversing with alumni from our program, we are grateful to have such talented and creative students who strive to develop their skills beyond the bounds of the classroom. Special thank you to UTLA alumna and Blumhouse VP of TV and Original Programming Julia Balleza for speaking at our end of semester event this past week!

Students, your work ethic, curiosity and dedication to your profession is widely admired by internship supervisors from major studios and independent companies alike. Whether you are staying in LA or pursuing a career elsewhere, we can’t wait to see how you will use the skills, connections and experiences you’ve gained through the UTLA program. It was an honor watching you grow! 💙🌴

Los Angeles is a city that has so much to offer, whether it’s meeting new people in the industry or exploring career int...
04/28/2026

Los Angeles is a city that has so much to offer, whether it’s meeting new people in the industry or exploring career interests. Someone who can attest to this is Vanesa Trejo, who graduated in 2023 and now works as a VFX Production Coordinator at Netflix! 

Vanesa said she’s always wanted to work in the entertainment industry and found LA to be the best place for that. Originally from Dallas, Vanesa knew the UTLA program would be “the smoothest way for her to make such a big move from Texas.” 

“The program was so valuable because it gave me experience working in a professional setting while in school. It was a great way to slowly make the shift from being in school full time to graduating and understanding how it is to join the workforce.” 

She was an intern at both Starburns Audio and C3 Music Management, which provided her the opportunity to work in audio for the first time. From designing social media posts at Starburns to attending concerts for work with C3 Music Management, she was able to not only expand on her prior knowledge but also jump into new experiences!

One thing she learned during her time at UTLA was to embrace more of the unexpected. “I’ve been very much a planner most of my life, but the program helped me be more adaptable to try new career interests, meet new people quickly, and try to create a life somewhere I had never been before.”

UTLA has created a strong community for Vanesa, as she says she is great friends with students who were a part of the program! She is grateful to UTLA for providing her the support needed to move to LA and start making her career dreams come true. 

If your dream is to move to LA after graduating from UT, this is your sign! Apply for Spring ‘27 by May 5! 🧡🌴

From exploring Los Angeles to gaining valuable experience in the entertainment industry, the UTLA program gives students...
04/21/2026

From exploring Los Angeles to gaining valuable experience in the entertainment industry, the UTLA program gives students the chance to do it all! Just ask Maddie Dau, a Katy, TX native who is now a Post Production Assistant on an upcoming Sony Pictures feature film! 

Maddie said she always knew that she wanted to live and work in Los Angeles, CA postgrad, so this program was the perfect fit for her. After spending Fall 2024 working in Hollywood, her decision to move to LA after college was solidified. 

Keeping herself busy, she interned at both London Alley as a production intern and The Playtone Company as a music supervision intern. Her favorite part of her work experience was working on a music video set for one of her favorite K-pop artists! 

“Both internships gave me the opportunity to learn more about how a production company works. At London Alley, I learned about how music videos and commercials are made, from pitching to clients, working on set, to post production. At Playtone, I got to shadow and support a music supervisor and learn about music licensing in film.”

Through the program, Maddie met some of her best friends, which included people she met during her internship. A UTLA memory that sticks with her is spending a day in Malibu with people from her cohort! To anyone thinking about applying to UTLA, Maddie says “Do it!” 

“It is such a great opportunity to explore the entertainment industry and meet people. There are so many UT alumni who are willing to help. Living in LA can be scary at first, but once you become familiar with the city, it is so amazing!” 

If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to jump into the industry, be sure to apply for Spring ‘27 by May 5! 🎥🌴

If you’re looking for a first-glance into the entertainment industry, is the best way to test the waters! Thang Tran, a...
04/17/2026

If you’re looking for a first-glance into the entertainment industry, is the best way to test the waters! Thang Tran, a senior, is currently in LA for Spring ‘26 and is thriving!

Ever since he found out about the UTLA program his freshman year, he knew it was a wonderful opportunity to see what this field is all about, especially as someone with no prior industry connections. So far, he says his experience has been “nothing short of amazing!” 

“The friends I’ve made to the experiences I’ve had with the program has already taught me so much about this mysterious industry... The mentorship and advice from UTLA alumni and professors have been so valuable! Getting this information from people actively in the know beats any research I could have done online.” 

Thang is currently interning as a Producer Intern for Walt Disney Company’s internal trailer house called The Hive. Here’s all that he’s accomplished through this opportunity: 

Received an internship extension offer from Disney for an additional 3 months! 
Ran into Disney’s new CEO while grabbing lunch with a coworker!
Got merch from movies The Hive did trailers for, like Avatar 3, Hoppers and Zootopia 2!

It is safe to say that Thang has made the most out of his time in LA! When he’s not working or in class, he’s exploring as much of the city as possible, whether it’s scoping out the best matcha spots or going to a museum. 

Next steps for him this semester? Seeing more of California, finding a mentor in his workplace, and setting up a strong network that can help him stay in LA or return post-grad! 

If Thang were to give advice to those looking to apply to UTLA, he would say to “seize this opportunity and allow yourself to see whether or not it’s your cup of tea!”

If there’s one thing he’s learned throughout this experience, it’s that “there are so many opportunities for other people to tell you ‘no,’ so start telling yourself ‘yes!’”

This is YOUR sign to say “yes” to spending a semester in LA! Apply by May 1 for Spring ‘27! 🧡🌴

Address

100 E. Tujunga Avenue
Burbank, CA
91502

Telephone

+17472831756

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