UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

Now introducing... PROFESSOR KEKE PALMER 🤩🤯

ICYMI in today's Hollywood Reporter, UCLA TFT and Keke Palmer are launching a five-year artist-in-residence collaboration called "From Blocking to Broadcast." Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, Palmer will visit campus for quarterly workshops covering pitching, distribution strategy, business ownership, career sustainability, and personal brand development, working directly with our students via CREW CALL — our Dean's Student Leadership Board — and their work organizing extracurricular panels on themes that students wish to learn about alongside their work with our faculty and staff in the classroom.

Palmer is an Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, singer, television host, and New York Times bestselling author. You may have seen her in recent projects: Peacock's comedy "The 'Burbs" and Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters." She is also the founder of KeyTV Network, a digital media platform.

In 2027–28, TFT students will develop and produce original multimedia projects — video podcasts, television pilots, music videos, musical or dance theater — that KeyTV will distribute to real audiences. At minimum, three student projects will be distributed annually through KeyTV's platform.

"UCLA TFT is a place where artists learn to be in practice, to experience trial and error, to take projects off the page," Palmer said. "That is also the mission of KeyTV. We know that education is key to democratizing opportunities."

You may have spotted Keke during her first campus visit back in February. We're so excited to welcome her back as a collaborator, leader and inspiration.

Read more on the Hollywood Reporter: https://ow.ly/iQFC50ZaFSv

🎬 What happens when industry leaders and emerging creators come together? TFT's first-ever Vertical Shorts Industry Panel + Student Screening!

In a conversation moderated by Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu and Real Reel co-founder Celine Zen, panelists from across the vertical storytelling industry shared insights into the future of the rapidly growing genre, the realities of building a creative career in the space, and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and other creators to get involved. Special thanks to Alex Montalvo (GAMMATIME), John Lewis (MUVPIX), Tommy Harper (VEYOU), Han Choi (VIGLOO), DJ Azul (ReelShort/Alta TV/Narval), Robin Tang (COL Group), actress Eli Jane, and Ashlin Yiu (Shorties Studios) for participating.

The event also featured screenings from three student teams in the inaugural Picture Start initiative, who showcased their original vertical shorts and offered a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and production process during a discussion with Film, Television and Digital Media Professor George Huang.

Join the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television for an engaging look at the future of vertical storytelling. This event features an industry panel on the creative and business dimensions of vertical content, from evolving audience engagement to new storytelling approaches in a mobile-first world and showcases the verticals made by UCLA TFT students as part of the Dean’s PICTURE START initiative, which touches new genres with our signature approach of independence, innovation and impact. Be part of the conversation shaping the next generation of content.

Friday, May 29, 2026
6:30 PM - 10:30 PM
James Bridges Theater
RSVP: tinyurl.com/picstartscreening

6:30 PM
PANEL 1: THE BUSINESS OF VERTICALS
Moderated by Celine Zen, RealReel
Speakers:
ALEX MONTALVO/Co-founder & CCO - GAMMATIME
JOHN LEWIS/Founder - MUVPIX
TOMMY HARPER/Founder & CEO - VEYOU

7:30 PM
PANEL 2: THE CREATIVE OF VERTICALS
Moderated by Dean Celine Shimizu, Dean UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Speakers:
HAN CHOI - Us Content Lead - VIGLOO
ROBIN TANG - Adviser, Content & Strategy - COL GROUP
DJ AZUL - Writer - DRAMA BOX, REELSHORTS
ASHLIN YU - Head of Development, SHORTIES STUDIOS

8:30 PM
PANEL 3: STUDENT SHOWCASE - VERTICAL PILOTS
Screening of 3 student Vertical pilots with discussion
Moderated by George Huang, UCLA FTVDM

9:30 PM
Reception

[Image description: Person holding a smartphone showing a smiling woman on video call outdoors with a coffee cup in hand. Below the image is text reading Picture Start Verticals Panels & Showcase. Friday, May 29. 6:30-10:30 p.m. James Bridges Theater. RSVP at tinyurl.com/PicStartScreening]

Always a pleasure to kick off a new week with Matcha with the Dean! Students, faculty and staff gathered over sips and snacks to mingle and meet with Dean and Distinguished Professor Celine Parreñas Shimizu. Plus, a special treat - a lesson in ballet by second-year musical theater student Aurora Castaneda-Pearson. What do you think, was TFT on pointe? 🩰

HAPPENING TOMORROW ‼️

Matcha with the Dean 🍵
Monday, May 18 | 10-11:00 a.m. | Macgowan 1154 (TFT Wellness Center)

Enjoy matcha and pastries with Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu!
Swing by, say hi and build community together.

Stick around for a twirl— Dancing with the Dean ballet fun kicks off at 10:45!

Open to all TFT students, faculty and staff.

As technology evolves, what does the future hold for live arts and entertainment?

That question took center stage at Friday’s AI + Live Arts Summit at the UCLA Nimoy Theater, where artists, scholars, and technologists came together to explore what’s next for live performance and why it’s critical to keep artists at the heart of the conversation.

Dean and Distinguished Professor Celine Parreñas Shimizu opened the Summit with a speech on how AI relates to the web of human creativity, the battle between the addictive pleasure of AI and the costs of technology this powerful, and how the torment of study is the one thing that AI can never replace. She asked, is live arts the vaccine to AI?

Additionally, we heard from changemakers like Scarlett Kim, a director and producer working to expand who belongs in the theater, both onstage and in the audience. Innovators like Rashaad Newsome shared how tools like motion capture, curated datasets, and AI can power projects like his own Being: The Digital Griot. Current students shared their perspective, highlighting the discoveries they've made in class and during the UCLA Hackathon held earlier this month. Plus, many more creatives and specialists joined in shaping a future where art can continue to thrive.

Thank you to the presenters, panelists, and guests who made the AI + Live Arts Summit possible. Learn more: bit.ly/tftailive

📣 FYI: AI + Live Arts Summit Lineup Update

Due to a scheduling change, will.i.am is no longer able to join us for the opening session. We appreciate his early support and hope to collaborate in the future.

We’re moving forward with a full day of thought-provoking work and conversation at the intersection of AI and live arts on May 8 at the UCLA Nimoy Theater. We’ll be examining the question: are live arts the antidote to AI?

Join us for conversations and presentations with artists and technologists like Kate Elswit (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama), Raza Ahmad (Niantic), Edgar Miramontes (UCLA Center for the Art of Performance), Kate Ladenheim (UCLA World Arts & Cultures/Dance), Michael Rau (Stanford University) and Scarlett Kim (artist/producer). Plus, a live demonstration of Being: The Digital Griot by Rashaad Newsome.

See you there!

RSVP: bit.ly/tftailive