Hi all,

My name is Jing and I'm from New York, soon to be relocated to California! I just wanted to thank all the posters who took time to write on this site. I got a lot of really useful info out of it.

As for all the newly accepted, congrats and see you all soon!

Jing

Jayimess,

I've read that the University funded 546/547 for Production students (who want to direct) is roughly equivalent to the holy grail. Is it your experience that this is true? Are the REALLY promising people getting into those classes? Do you know anything about how you apply to direct a film in those classes? Do you pitch your idea on a screenplay they accept? Do you show your previous work?

Sorry to lambaste you with questions, but I've always been concerned with getting to film school making a bunch of little movies and never getting the chance to make the Student Film! if you catch my drift?

Thanks.

What I Know About 546

Directors submit their reels, producers submit something, screenwriters (actually, anyone in the dept) submit ten page scripts.

Two weeks later, the finalists for all three categories are posted, and the finalist scripts are placed on the SCA website (password protected) for the other candidates (and everyone else) to read.

People start pitching to each other in a preliminary effort to make teams, then the meeting happens, wherein all of the directors' reels are screened. After that, the three applicant pools meet with each other all week long, and whatever trios arise pitch to the faculty a week or so later, and four are chosen.

The holy grail? I don't know. But people want them...why wouldn't you? They do four every semester, so it's not like there's not lots of opportunity to catch one while you're there, but there are no guarantees.

As for editors, DPs, sound, production design, I believe that the producer and the director "hire" the c rew from other students who want to fill those positions and enroll in 546.

Jayimess,

I'm getting ready to apply to the Peter Stark Program, any insight you can give me as to what kind of people they seem to have accepted? I did major in film for undergrad, but I do not want to do the production side. I've been out of school for 5 years, did some pa-ing, interning, and lots of management jobs, but in my heart, I know USC is where I belong. I think I needed the past 5 years of crap to really make me chase my dream.

Just looking for some insight as I prepare my application and fly out for an interview.

I can't offer much advice for an aspiring Starkie. Ace the GRE, and make sure everything you send them is perfect and polished. They do mostly seem to have a lot of industry experience when they come in...I know people that worked at Fox News, Adult Swim, Dreamworks, for Roger Corman, and other production companies and agencies.

Check out johnaugust.com, then search for Stark stuff.

Just so you know, though, you will do a lot of production your first year, and if you're lucky, your second as well.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the info, anything is good right now, and if I do get to do alot of production, that will be so much fun! Just don't ask me to load a magazine. As DP on my senior film, it took me 2 hours the first time! However, I am awesome at syncing sound, due to a crystal sync malfunction on our camera, followed by many hours in a tiny room using ProTools. I enjoy anything and everything having to do with making movies, so it's all good!! I can't wait to get out there and interview and see the campus!

Just wondering: have any incoming Trojans received anything significant in the mail?

Like, a bill? Or program information? Or orientation info? Or anything?

The sum total of what I have received from USC:

-My department admissions letter.
-The "Welcome Graduate Students" packet from USC admissions.
-A packet from the USC Health Center.

Oh, and I got about 17 blank e-mails with subject lines encouraging me to register for grad student orientation.

Anybody else?

--IA

Icarus,

I've received the same items, including the e-mails telling me to register for orientation, even though I already had.

My only additional items are financial aid documents.

As a side note, I'll be in LA Thursday and Friday of next week (june 26 and 27) looking for a place to live, and am debating whether it's worthwhile to make a stop at USC.

I also pretty much received the same stuff + F1 Visa forms - I'm international.

Just wondering, what are people who are moving to LA doing in terms housing? On campus, nearby, or out of the way?

I won't be in LA until the 16th of Aug, so need to do some pre-planning.

Hey Guys - I'm in the same boat as far as info from the school. I'm starting to get a bit concerned because when I log into the USC portal it says we register for classes on 7/1. According to Jayimess, they register for us, but I'd still appreciate a heads up.

Same info for me, minus the Health package. I sent in some loan requests and have yet to hear anything back about those yet. Also, is anybody in the process of getting their USC card?

Hey now, I didn't say they register for you.

What happens is this:

Your first semester is planned out for you. For instance, last fall, I had 507 on M/W @9am, Directing Actors on Th @10am, and Screenwriting on T@4pm and F@10am.

I had no say in this matter. Not the classes taken, the professors, nor the times.

USC's SCA utilizes a system called departmental clearance, AKA D-Clearance. Once your schedule is set, your department will D-Clear you, and only the others chosen to be in there with you, for those classes and only those classes.

Registration is simply a formality that enables you to apply for a football season ticket and get one more step closer to feeling like a Trojan after you print out your schedule and post it on your fridge...or at least that's what it meant to me, lol. However, I would go ahead and do it as soon as you get your schedule, just to get it over with.

July 1st or not, it won't be a problem for y'all to get your classes at all. Your spots are guaranteed.

If you're really freaking out about these things, then just call the division office, I guess. Might light a fire under someone?

Though I suppose they're working very hard.

Jayimess, if I may, I've had a couple of questions come up as I've been anxiously prepping for the Fall semester, and I was hoping I might bother you with them (or anyone else who might know the answers):

Do you have a sense of how many Screenwriting students take the CTWR 533ab and/or 553 courses? I ask because I see that 553 qualifies as an advanced project for the Production students, and it'd be great to take a course or two with students from different disciplines/backgrounds.

AND re: the 507, what sort of equipment was available to you? I mean, the camera's a given, but what sort of lighting or support gear (if any) is generally made available to 507 students?

Thanks in advance.
-Adair

You'll be integrated with the other disciplines, don't worry. The class makeup varies each semester, but plenty of my classmates are taking 553 this year.

507, we had access to two very basic light kits and a boom mic... They teach students how to use all equipment.

You'll also integrate with students from other disciplines in 507, 516, and crit studies, not to mention 546, should you get one.

Jayimess,

Had a question. How does USC handle spring admits? Are students who are admitted in the spring...umm, looked down upon (for lack of a better phrase)? What are the advantages/disadvantages between entering in the spring verse the fall? I remember you answering this question before but wanted some more info.

I was admitted to USC in the spring ('09) and to Chapman in the fall ('08), both in film production. I was heavily leaning toward USC but wanted to know if there’s a disadvantage with entering in the spring. By that point, all others have already started working together, I’m assuming. Where does that leave spring admits?

Thanks!

Well, Christian, nobody looks down on anyone, no matter what semester they come in.

There are two ways of looking at spring admission:

1, I'm a semester behind all those Fall 08 admits;

or 2, I'm a semester ahead of all those Fall 09 admits.

Either way, there's no asterisk on your diploma.

Some benefits: You get summer break to work out your 508s with your partner, instead of just winter break like fall admits.

There's only four classes of 507 instead of ten or twelve or whatever, so you kind of get the Avid lab to yourself.

You get a lead on those first fall 546s because the fall admits aren't eligible.

You can get SA gigs for that first fall.

It's kind of the best of both worlds...you're in the same class as the Fall 08s and the Fall 09s, to a certain point...but you're like the big brother/sister to the 09s, and quickly on even footing with the 08s.

The only disadvantage I see is that to a certain extent, you aren't integrated with the Stark or writing students until their second semester because you're wrapped up in 508 while they're attacking their first semester...but I kicked it with spring admits this entire weekend...so we know each other, and I plan on crewing on several of their films this fall.

I wouldn't turn it down based on the spring admission, if that's what you're asking me...if USC is where you want to be. Chapman has an excellent and increasingly respected program.

I don't think you can lose in either situation.

Best of luck.

Thanks Jayimess. I guess the only thing I'm really concerned about starting in the spring is the contacts with the Stark and writing students. I'll just have to work a bit harder on my networking. Thanks again!

I also wanted to ask how the new film complex is coming along. What new resources will the complex bring? I also heard USC plans on building a mini-backlot on campus! Would love to hear more. Thanks!

The new complex will be open when you start in Spring...it's opening in December. It's gorgeous, though I've only seen the outside.

It's rather a bummer that they'll be tearing down the current complex, but they'll be putting up even more stuff...I'm wracking my brain, can't recall backlot talk, but perhaps I just wasn't listening hard enough.

It's not that I actually heard talk of a backlot...I was just overlooking the USC construction map:

http://cinema.usc.edu/assets/013/6464.pdf

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like USC is going to dominate all other film schools with their future construction plans (not that it doesn't already)!