School of Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media

We Make Art Work

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Stories Start Here

Learn structure, character, and dialogue as you craft scripts with Oscar- and Emmy-winning mentors. See your work produced on professional soundstages, collaborate with directors on festival films, and join writers’ rooms—you might even lead our summer web series as a showrunner. You’ll gain real-world experience in pitching, packaging, and production, and graduate with the portfolio and industry skills to launch your career.

Join us: On campus in San Francisco, online, or virtually via Zoom (select classes)

Companies that Employ Our Students

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.

See 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

Facility Highlights

    A woman with curly hair poses confidently as a film crew member records her with a boom microphone.

    Soundstages

    You dream it, we build it. We have eight soundstages, fully equipped with lighting grids. Standing sets include: a bar, restaurant, coffee shop, loft apartment, homes with bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.

    Two people reading scripts in an empty theater with rows of chairs and stage lighting.

    Black Box Theatre

    Our black box theater, located in the main entertainment schools building South of Market, is used for teaching and incubating one-person shows.

    A man adjusts camera equipment in a store with multiple cameras on tripods around him.

    Camera Room

    Our camera room offers equipment to students to use on campus or on location. We stock lighting equipment, digital and film cameras, and grip and electric equipment.

    Woman with arms outstretched joyfully shopping in a clothing store aisle.

    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.

    Three young adults work at computers in a classroom or studio with black curtains and ceiling lights.

    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.

    A person with black hair and black clothing is looking at and reaching for items on wooden shelves filled with various household objects and decorations.

    Prop Room

    Spaceship. Luxury loft. Detective’s office. Whatever you’re shooting, we’ve got the gear—sofas, sconces, rugs, artwork, hand props, relics. Whatever you need is already here.

    Person with tattoos, safety glasses, and a cap using a table saw, while another person drills wood in a workshop.

    Scene Construction Shop

    Flats, doors, windows: all pre-built and ready to shape. Our construction shop is stocked with saws, sanders, tools, and lumber. If we can sketch it, we can build it for you.