Academics

School of Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media

In the School of Writing, you’ll begin by learning the structure, character, and dialogue fundamentals necessary to become a professional writer for film and television. Guided by our Academy and Emmy award-winning faculty, you’ll craft full-length work that can catapult into production and onto the screen.

Your scripts may be shot on our professional soundstages, gaining the rare experience of seeing your work come to life while you’re still a student. You’ll also be encouraged to learn production fundamentals and even step into the director’s chair.

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Fast Facts

    More To Know

    You’ll collaborate with directors and producers on festival-bound thesis films, work in a writers’ room, and possibly take the reins as a showrunner for our summer web series. You study the Hollywood development process, learning how to option and package your work for industry use.

    AI tools become part of your workflow, helping you brainstorm, research, and refine ideas 24/7. You also practice pitching to executives and financiers and learn how to market yourself and your stories worldwide through social media.

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    Undergraduate
    BFA
    Graduate
    MFA
    Other
    Upskill Classes
    Pre-College

    Student Experience

    At the School of Writing, you’ll sharpen your voice while learning how stories come to life on screen. You’ll write scripts, collaborate across multiple filmmaking disciplines, and see your work produced. In the Production Hub class, you’ll build your portfolio by creating PSAs and commercials for real clients. You’ll also build in-demand skills like script supervision—experience that can lead to paid work in the industry right after graduation.

    Careers

    At the School of Writing, you’ll learn from Oscar- and Emmy-winning mentors while bringing your scripts from page to soundstage. You’ll graduate with a strong portfolio, on-screen credits, and real industry connections—ready to break into film, TV, and streaming with stories that get seen.

    • Development Executive
    • Screenwriter
    • Show Runner
    • Television Staff Writer
    • Director
    • Producer
    • Social Media Content Creator
    • Script Supervisor
    • Agent
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    Student Work

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    Study with Industry Professionals

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    Facility Highlights

      MPT - School Home - Facility Highlights- Soundstages

      Soundstages

      You dream it, we build it. Experience the excitement of working in front of the camera in our eight professional fully equipped quality soundstages with lighting grids, with new sets designed every week.

      2 people standing in an empty Black Box Theater

      Black Box Theatre

      Our black box theater—located in the main Schools of Entertainment building in SoMa is a space for teaching, rehearsing, and developing one-person shows. It’s a hands-on lab where students learn by doing, with room to experiment and perform.

      Student working on cameras in the Camera Room

      Camera Room

      Our camera room gives you access to the gear you need—on campus or on location. Check out digital and film cameras, lighting kits, grip, and electric equipment. It’s all pro-level and ready for your next shoot.

      Student with open arms in a room full of costumes and various clothing

      Wardrobe Room

      Our wardrobe room contains hundreds of articles of clothing—everything from contemporary to period fashions. We have an extensive collection of shoes, hats, streetwear, and evening wear. Open to all student filmmakers, the wardrobe room gives you the ability to dress the cast of your film in the style of your dreams.

      Editing Bays

      We have over 21 Mac editing bays and three private video editing suites available for student use, all equipped with Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, and the full Adobe Suite, including Premiere Pro and After Effects. We also have two private audio editing suites running Pro Tools and the Adobe Suite

      Prop Room

      Prop Room

      Spaceship. Loft. Detective’s office. Whatever the scene, we’ve got the props—sofas, rugs, lights, art, hand props, and vintage finds. Need it? It’s probably here. Ready to use, ready to shoot.

      Scene Construction Shop

      Scene Construction Shop

      Flats, doors, windows—pre-built and ready to customize. Our scene shop has the tools, lumber, and gear to make it happen. If we can sketch it, we can build it. On-site. On schedule.

      Online Learning

      Our flexible online program delivers the School of Writing’s curriculum to you—wherever you are, on your schedule. You’ll learn from the same award-winning faculty, using the same time-tested curriculum as on-campus students. You’ll join table reads, workshops, and guest lectures, and have the opportunity to see your work produced.

      Through on-stage iPads and Zoom, you can step in as a script supervisor or producer during on-campus shoots, working with the same crews and actors as your in-person peers. It’s a powerful way to collaborate, create, and network from anywhere in the world—while building a reel of festival-ready work.

      Online Learning Program

      Production Hub

      Production Hub is where filmmakers across disciplines team up to create real work for real clients. You’ll produce documentaries, PSAs, commercials, branded content, and more. The goal: polished, professional results that air on TV, stream worldwide, and win awards.

      NXTUP Film Festival

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      Students & Alumni

      Always Creating. Always Moving Forward.

      At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation. It accelerates. From day one, students bring bold ideas and leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés. And when they graduate, they launch into creative careers.

      This is where passion meets purpose—on campus, in studios, and on global stages.

      Our alumni are out there now winning awards, leading teams, and shaping culture.

      Read More Success Stories
      Grishma Kalote – McHugh

      Grishma Kalote – McHugh

      “The Academy helped me be a better writer and understand structure, which is essential for any writing. It provided the tools and real-world experience I needed, and the portfolio-building class was especially helpful in preparing me for the industry. I would definitely recommend the Academy of Art.”

      BFA Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media, Writer and Head of Production at Easy Games

      Christopher Ewing

      Christopher Ewing

      “The Academy gave me the time to really learn my craft. Being on set helped me understand what life is like in the industry, and it gave me a base to launch my career. Almost every major opportunity I’ve had came through a connection, and the Academy taught me how this industry works while giving me the space to grow as a writer and director.”

      MFA Directing & Screenwriting Alumni, Creative Director at Hulu

      COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OUR STUDENTS

      Pixar, TCM, and NBC Universal logos

      Focus Features, Austin Film Festival, and A=E Studios logos

      Related Programs

      Motion Pictures & Television

      Cross-disciplinary by design, we teach every frame—writing, editing, design, production. Eight pro soundstages are your studio, with Oscar- and Emmy-winning instructors as mentors. A casting director connects you with talent, while you learn to market your work and harness AI. Free use of stages, edit bays, and shops; remote students direct via Zoom. You’ll graduate with a reel that proves your skill. This isn’t school—it’s your launchpad.

      Acting

      At our school of acting, you don’t just study—you do. You’ll train under working performers on professional soundstages, mastering voice, body, imagination, and impulse. Our core training in Meisner, movement, scene study, and camera is personalized with Alexander Technique. You’ll collaborate with writers, directors, and producers, expand through electives from improv to stunts, and dive into full days of rehearsal, auditions, and filmmaking—graduating with a reel that proves you’re ready for the business.

      Communications & Media Technologies

      If video is your thing, this is your school. At our STEM-designated Communications & Media Technologies program, you’ll master storytelling across streaming, branded content, AR/VR, AI, and broadcast. From day one, you’ll create portfolio-ready work using pro studios and AI-driven tools, collaborating with companies like Apple, Adobe, and CBS. You’ll graduate with a reel that opens doors—proof you’re ready to lead in today’s media-first world.

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