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Making it in the entertainment business is no easy task, but for more than a decade the Moody College of Communication has given UT Austin students the support and experience to launch their careers in the entertainment and media industry through the Wofford Denius UTLA Center for Entertainment & Media Studies. Whether exploring radio, television and film, music, journalism, new media, public relations, business, advertising or digital arts, students are provided an unparalleled, immersive educational opportunity. By spending a semester living, studying, working, gaining real-world experience and making lasting connections in the entertainment capital of the world — Los Angeles — students embarking on this journey have the opportunity to turn theory into reality.
Started in 2005, the UTLA program has since helped more than 1,600 students pursue their passions and jumpstart their careers. Each semester, students complete credited internships in their area of career interest, with distinguished partners like WME, Legendary Pictures, UTA, and MGM. Students also meet with accomplished entertainment professionals, are mentored by distinguished alumni, and visit studios and film sets. Finally, students participate in a rigorous curriculum taught by lauded industry professionals, with course topics ranging from story development, screen writing, film and television, and music, to new media and entertainment public relations.
In 2017, The Cain Foundation and Wofford Denius made a historic investment in the Moody College of Communication to create the Wofford Denius UTLA Center for Entertainment and Media Studies. The Center enables more students from across The University of Texas at Austin to live, work and learn in Los Angeles, and creates a strong link between Austin and the media and entertainment industries in Hollywood.
The facility in Burbank allows for additional support, resources, and space to accommodate UTLA students. The Denius Center builds on the Moody College’s history of innovative partnerships with the entertainment industry and leverages the highly ranked standing of its Department of Radio-Television-Film.
Wofford Denius (B.B.A., ’74), chairman of the Cain Foundation, moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a music attorney. “I hope this program will enable students to discover and pursue their passions and dreams by exposing them to the numerous opportunities available in the ever-growing and evolving world of entertainment.”
The Denius Center’s mission is to introduce students to the working world of the entertainment industry, and to the people and places who make things happen in Hollywood. Through a combination of working internships with prominent companies, courses taught by working professionals, and guest lectures by prominent industry experts, students get the chance to gain the skills and contacts that will make a career in film, television, music or new media possible. Every alumnus of the program comes to Hollywood with a real sense of where and what the jobs are, who to call, and how to present themselves. It is the goal of the program to translate theory into reality, to enable students to start their careers, and to offer real-world support as they begin their journeys.
The Moody College recognizes the significant role experiential learning plays in preparing students for their futures, and the UTLA program has a winning track record of further helping students accomplish their goals. Alumni of the program include executive producers, staff writers, respected talent agents and award-winning actors and directors. The Denius Center combines instruction with hands-on opportunities and helps create a springboard for success for aspiring students.
