| type="text/javascript"> ch_client = "articlealley"; | | | | year. |
| ch_type = "mpu"; ch_width = 590; ch_height = 250; | | | | Cinema 310 and 480 are the core production classes |
| ch_color_title = "006699"; ch_color_site_link = | | | | of the program where students are put into either |
| '006699'; ch_non_contextual = 4; ch_noborders = 1; | | | | teams or crews and produce their larger productions. |
| ch_vertical ="premium"; ch_sid = | | | | While Cinema 310 consisted of non-synced sound and |
| "590x250_Article_1st"; var ch_queries = new Array( | | | | 480 was a larger more sync-sound production, things |
| ); var | | | | have evolved over the years. Both courses have a |
| th)); if ( ch_selected < ch_queries.length ) { | | | | âscreening' in a sort of festival at the end of |
| ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected]; } I attended | | | | the semester where students show their films to |
| the undergraduate film program at The University Of | | | | each other and family and friends are invited to view |
| Southern California and then proceeded with my film | | | | them. The very best of these can often be used as |
| education at New York University where I graduated | | | | portfolio pieces to gain representation although usually |
| with a BFA. During my time at USC I attended | | | | they are not of the quality or length of the graduate |
| numerous classes and worked on several productions | | | | level films. |
| of friends that were in the program. In this short | | | | The facilities of the school of Cinema/Television at |
| essay I'll try and give an overview of what I view as | | | | USC are outstanding. George Lucas, one of the |
| the strengths and weaknesses of the program as I | | | | school's notable alumni, has made numerous |
| see them. | | | | substantial donations to the school and recently |
| The Location | | | | donated $175 million to build a large expansion of the |
| The USC School of Cinematic Arts is located on the | | | | school. In addition, Steven Spielberg and others have |
| main campus of the University of Southern California | | | | donated money for facilities. The current school is |
| which is located just south of downtown Los | | | | built like a small studio with notable buildings including |
| Angeles in an area bordering what is considered | | | | The George Lucas Instructional Building, The Steven |
| southwest LA. For those unfamiliar with Los Angeles | | | | Spielberg Music Scoring Stage and The Marcia Lucas |
| and USC, the school consists of a well maintained and | | | | Post-Production Building. |
| manicured campus that is enclosed as an | | | | The Professors |
| âoasis' from the surrounding areas of east | | | | USC has a very good and dedicated staff of |
| LA which are not nearly as nice. | | | | professors consisting of both full-time as well as |
| Traditionally, the west side of Los Angeles is what | | | | adjunct faculty. Most professors have an extensive |
| people think of when they think of the beaches and | | | | history of working in the feature film and television |
| nicer suburban areas as well as Hollywood and | | | | industries with several having been nominated for |
| Beverly Hills which are just east of the ocean | | | | Oscars and Emmys. In the past, the school has had |
| communities but west of USC. While those living on | | | | numerous famous faculty including Irving Thalberg, |
| campus enjoy a nice environment, it is generally | | | | Alfred Hitchcock, D.W. Griffith and Darryll Zanuck. |
| accepted that venturing too far away from the main | | | | After Graduation |
| campus is not the best experience with many if not | | | | USC has a very powerful and large alumni network |
| most students choosing to leave during the | | | | with numerous alum working in virtually every area of |
| weekends as the school does have a strong | | | | Film and Television Production. Only NYU is |
| commuter element to it. | | | | comparable in numbers and quality of alumni in the |
| The Curriculum | | | | industry. Smart students utilize this resource to gain |
| The USC Undergraduate Cinema Program is | | | | informational interviews and internships to ease the |
| structured in three tiers, the 200, 300, and 400 level | | | | transition into the work world after graduation. |
| with each tier of courses increasing in complexity and | | | | Internships are available through the school at virtually |
| generally relying on the successful completion of | | | | ever studio and numerous post production companies |
| those levels below. While you have a choice between | | | | as well as agencies and other areas. Internships are a |
| several options depending on your area of interest | | | | great way not only to make connections but to |
| there are some required classes including the | | | | âexplore' different areas of the industry |
| âcore' classes of Cinema 310, generally taken | | | | before deciding on a career path. |
| in junior year and Cinema 480, generally taken senior | | | | |