Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment in Los Angeles

The most compelling stories are created by interdisciplinary teams that use their experiences in art, technology, and media to create narratives that span many entertainment platforms for a multi-dimensional audience experience.

Emerging technology and interactive storytelling platforms have taken storytelling beyond traditional mediums like books, movies, and TV shows. Storytelling now spans multiple media platforms to tell deeper, more complex narratives, build interconnected worlds, and invite your audience to participate actively in a story. A notable example is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which has created an interconnected world across films, TV, comic books, video games, theme parks, and more. This requires people with unique skill sets, such as engineers to build sets; computing professionals to create software or work on special effects; designers/illustrators to develop concepts and characters; business professionals to oversee operations/finances; communications/advertising/PR to promote messaging; lawyers to oversee contracts.

The Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment in Los Angeles program allows RIT students from all majors to spend a semester in L.A. learning about the power of multi-dimensional storytelling while immersed in the entertainment industry. You will take a minimum of 12 credits, participate in a professional experience, and engage in the entertainment industry in weekly excursions.

Los Angeles is the hub of entertainment industry jobs in the United States and attracts professionals from all over the world. It is one of the world's leading centers for creative industries, including film and television, special effects, theme parks, video games, music, and emerging media.

More about Transmedia Storytelling

Program Details

Term: Fall Semester
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Program dates: Late August to Mid-December
Open to all undergraduate majors.

Application deadline: March 1st

Highlights

• Get inspired in an immersive, hands-on study away experience exploring the Los Angeles entertainment industry.
• Connect with RIT's extensive alumni network in L.A. who are working professionals in the entertainment industry at companies like Disney, Universal Paramount, Warner Bros, etc.
• Take tailored RIT courses taught by industry professionals.
• Gain substantial experience through an industry internship or other professional experience.
• Hear from guest lecturers, take studio tours, and participate in other activities that give you insight into working in the entertainment industry in L.A.
• Participate in excursions and activities in the dynamic city of L.A., including visits to museums, beaches, landmarks, and more.
• Complete an entire immersion in Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment in one semester.

Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment in L.A. is an excellent fit for RIT students interested in working in any sector of the entertainment industry in a variety of roles, including (but not limited to):

• Interactive design/graphic design/experience design
• Digital media/new media
• Communication/advertising/journalism/marketing/public relations
• Computing/gaming/virtual reality/CGI
• Illustration
• Creative writing
• Engineering
• Structural design
• Data analytics/data science
• Economics/finance
• Entertainment law
• Business/management/entrepreneurship

Course Details

• Total Credits: Minimum 12
• Term credits earned: Fall
• No pre-requisites.
• Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.

Required anchor courses: All students will be required to take these courses.

• IDTL 500 - Transmedia Storytelling (3 credits)* - required course for all participants
• VISL 387 - Imag(in)ing the City (3 credits)* - required course for all participants

Optional courses:

• VISL 320: Contemporary Cinema (3 credits) (online asynchronous course at RIT main campus)
  Taking this course in addition to the two anchor courses would allow you to complete a full immersion in Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment. This class (and the two anchor courses) may also count towards a minor or certificate in Transmedia Storytelling, Production and Engagement.
• SOFA 557: Chasing Rainbows: Business and Innovation in Entertainment (in-person class in L.A.)
• You may also take any online synchronous or asynchronous courses offered at the RIT main campus in the fall.

Course Descriptions - note you cannot register for courses in SIS. The RIT Global office or College of Art and Design will register you for the courses.

Required Internship/Professional Experience 

• 8-10 hours a week of work/professional experience - 3 credits
• 16-20 hours a week of work/professional experience - 6 credits

By interning with L.A.-based companies, you'll gain new skills, meaningful industry contacts, and an insider's perspective on the entertainment industry. A wide range of L.A.-based companies hire interns from diverse majors, including major studios, production companies, post-production houses, theme parks, management companies, PR firms, advertising agencies, journalism outlets, web-based media channels, industry organizations, and more.

It is your responsibility to acquire an internship/professional experience. The RIT Office of Co-op and Career Services and College of Liberal Arts will help you identify potential companies and positions, offer guidance as you prepare your application documents, and provide coaching on strategic networking and other successful job search strategies. The internship component of the program incorporates working either 8-10 hours per week 3 credits or 16-20 hours per week for 6 credits during the semester in L.A. Potential companies for internship experience

To Apply

Applications for fall 2025 will open in fall 2024

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Student budget worksheet (OUTDATED): Transmedia Storytelling and Entertainment in Los Angeles, Fall 2024 (note: this is last year's costs used for estimate purposes only). An updated budget will be posted once available. You will pay your regular RIT tuition, a program fee (includes housing, excursions, etc.), and out-of-pocket expenses (flight, meals, etc).

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study away program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study away appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting, so they have time to prepare) 
• Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline to understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.