The school is made up of six programs:
- Production - the biggest program (50 Students each semester) the theory is that you can be almost anything coming out of this program; director, editor, cinematographer, even producer or writer despite there being separate programs for these...however, of the people I spoke with today, the vast majority want to direct.
- Writing - 32 students each year, as odd and generalizing as it may seem you can really tell the writers apart from production people when you talk with them. There's a different pacing to the conversations, a little more wit, a little less energy(?)
- Peter Stark Producing Program - Not sure how many students, 32 again I believe. I actually didn't mean a single Starkie (as they are called) today. I thought they'd be the one's "networking" the most. Somehow I feel I should ingratiate myself with them as soon as possible.
- Critical Studies - 18 students each year, these guys are, I believe, the true film scholars. They STUDY film and it's form. I met a few of them, and I didn't really get into conversations where I could ask what they were going to be doing...I am pretty fussy on their actual program.
- Interactive Media - unsure of student count, this is a dressed up title for game making peoples. The first person I met was from Interactive Media. It somehow feels out of place to me already, though maybe there's more overlap than one might think. There is certainly room for improvement in the story telling aspects of some games.
- Digital Arts - 18 students each year, in my opinion these people are the ones with the most true talent at the school. I know their application process involves submission of actual artistic renderings which is more than I had to send. Apparently, this year is almost exclusively female due to some massive imbalance in previous years(?). I didn't get the full story exactly but that's what it sounded like.
Meet in the morning (everyone) at a theater on campus to be Welcomed to USC. We met several people from both USC at large and the Cinema School itself. We watched a short film that featured dozens of directors, producers, and people in the Industry who had affiliations with the film school. Most actually went here, but some (like Steven Spielburg) just told us how great USC is and how it's the best film school in the world (their words not mine, though it's certainly arguably the best).
Throughout the day they gave us a series of pats on the back on getting this far. It's odd though, somehow actually seeing people, working directors, on a short promo video tell me how great USC was and how it's such an opprotunity made me believe all the more that what we're all doing wasn't so crazy, and that maybe it was possible.
After the Welcome, we split into our respective departments and went to different rooms, mostly in the Lucas building (yes, as in Star Wars George). Apparently, everyone does different things but the Production people had a great series of three speakers talk to us. They allayed a lot of the fears I think everyone had, and cleared up a lot of issues. One of those issues being what the hell our classes are actually about.
They have revamped the initial production class that all production students have to take first semester (known as 507, as that's it's class number), and we will be the first class to go through this revamp. Where in previous years, I believe all students had to make 5 films completely on their own throughout the semester, now they have us make 4 films: One all on our own (write, direct, shoot, everything), One where we originate the idea for the film and act as writer/director with other production students helping out in support roles, One where we take pre-existing scenes, cast our own actors and shoot it our own way, and finally One where we act as a support role for another of our fellow production students' film.
In addition, we found out they also revamped the 508 class we'll be taking next semester. Where as once it was done in two man teams with one directing/writing the other shooting/editing and then swaping positions; the new system will make trios where the thrid man acts as a sound technician, allowing for there actually to be sound in that film where it was once completely silent. I believe all 507 films are still without dialogue but I am not completely sure.
We also found out what cameras we'd be getting to use this semester. They called it the Sony HD EX1, which I believe is this camera. And here's a link of the geekiest dude in the world telling you all about it, or one very similar.
After that meeting we actually had a break until 3pm which gave us over two hours to kill. A chunk of the production people went to lunch and had a huge meet and greet sorta thing. I assume the other chunk of people went to do something similar.
At 3 we reconvined at the same theater we started the day in with the rest of the film school. Here we were to attend our Saftey Seminar, without which we would not be allowed to film anything...ever. Here we were educated to the finer points of what is and isn't allowed while we are filming on and off campus. To cut to the chase (hey look a film metaphor), if we film on campus it's significantly easier than shooting off campus, and shooting with animals or minors requires additional cost and paperwork (and god help you if you want to have nudity and minors in the same scene together...also you're sorta gross).
That seminar let out at 5:30 and we all somehow attended a BBQ held for the film school, both graduate and undergrad (though I did notice the Grads were let in at least a half hour earlier than the undergrads). It was here that a bunch of people mingled (or networked) with each other, and to be honest, it was extremely enjoyable. Everyone at the school seems completely and totally good, interesting, nice people. I give USC credit for that right away. It seems difficult to do, but somehow they picked a group of people that mesh well. I don't know anyone all that well yet, and I'm sure issues will crop up with different people as we move through the year, but I didn't meet anyone today that I thought seemed malicious in the slightest...it's almost eerie.
Alright, I've been typing way too much for one day. I'm off to pour through the half dozen hand outs we received today.
Until next time.
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