Famous filmmakers often drop by to teach, and various donors have contributed a lot of money to the School of Theater, Film, and Television that may help the students pay for their movies. UCLA has a great film archive, and its ongoing screenings of rare films are unique among film schools. Students make two shorts in the first year, a 15 minute film the second and third years, and a 30 minute film the third and fourth years. Most students still shoot on 16 mm, and the school's DV equipment is largely used for documentaries. UCLA also has a respected animation department and a hypermedia studio for interactive and Web based media.
Good locations are plentiful, and the weather, of course, is beautiful all year round.
But even in this company town, some locals dislike film crews and students say it's common to have shoots disrupted by folks asking to be paid. USC offers specialized programs in producing, screenwriting, and production. That project is, in turn, pitched to faculty. If it's selected, the school foots the bill for the finished piece. The equipment is good and plentiful.