Hollywood 101 is an introductory course in new media. It is taught by a professional instructor who holds a U.S. master’s degree in film and media arts and has hands-on television station experience (ABC4 & CW30). The course combines theory with practice. It covers the full process, from concept and shooting to screenwriting and directing. The goal is for students to become media creators with creativity, organizational skills, and the ability to express themselves.
What the Full Hollywood 101 Process Includes
- Concept and topic: Narrowing a vague idea into a shooting plan that can be carried out, with a clear sense of who the audience is and what the piece should convey.
- Screenwriting: Turning the topic into a shootable script, including scenes, characters, and dialogue.
- Shooting: Hands-on work with visual language, camera placement, lighting, and sound recording.
- Directing: This is the part that differs most from a typical film class. Students assign roles, keep the set moving, and coordinate the team. They learn that a director’s job is more about communication than about shooting.
- Post-production and screening: Students edit the finished piece, screen it in class, and receive feedback from peers and teachers.
Hollywood 101 Competitions and Real-World Practice
Hollywood 101 provides targeted coaching for students who want to take part in competitions or showcases such as the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the National High School Journalism Convention. Outstanding students may be selected for the WeIrvine junior reporter team. Team members interview people and report on key issues in the Irvine community. This is a chance to apply classroom training in a real setting, because the interview subjects and story topics come from actual community affairs.
Who Hollywood 101 Is For
Hollywood 101 is for grades 3 to 8, and no shooting or writing background is required. Children who like to express themselves and are willing to take on a role within a team benefit most, because many parts of this course are completed together with others.
What to Take After Hollywood 101
Students who want to go deeper into live-action technique can continue with Photography & Film 101. Students who want to strengthen their writing can continue with News & Screen Script Writing 101. Students who want to be more at ease in front of the camera can continue with Speech & Debate Intro.
Hollywood 101 Enrollment and Schedule
Creative workshops come in three enrollment units: full-year classes, term classes, and summer camps. This course runs as follows; dates follow the 2026-27 program guide.
- Term class: 7 to 8 weeks per term, with one finished piece per term.
- Switching direction: a creative workshop seat can move between directions, so a child can try 3 to 4 areas in a year, with finished work shown and discussed with parents at the end of each stage. To switch, confirm the transfer timing with a course advisor.
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Contact a course advisorHollywood 101: Frequently Asked Questions
Who teaches the course, and where does it meet?
An instructor holding a master's degree in film and media arts who has also worked in television newsrooms at ABC4 and CW30. The class meets in EDUBUS's Irvine studio, with an online section held in parallel, and pairs theory with hands-on production.
What does the course cover?
The full production chain: concept, shooting, screenwriting and directing, taught in the order real production follows. The aim is a student who can create, organize and present, rather than one who has learned a single isolated skill and cannot place it in a larger process.
Are there competitions or places to show the work?
Yes. Students who want to enter the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards or the National High School Journalism Convention receive coaching aimed specifically at those platforms. Taking part remains the student's own decision, and the course does not require it of anyone.
What is the WeIrvine junior reporter team?
Top students may be selected to join it, going out with the team to interview and report on issues that matter in the Irvine community. Selection follows from classroom work, so it is worth asking the teacher how the current term is arranged.
Which grades, and what comes afterward?
Grades 3 to 8. From there, students can follow the writing side into News & Screen Script Writing 101, which covers interviewing and script structure, or the production side into Photography & Film 101, which ends in a short film. Both are open to grades 6 to 12.
