<p>For Rising Seniors and Current Grads:</p>
<p>Has USC's SCA been teaching how to make it into the filmaking business? Obviously they teach you how to make films but do they educate you in how you can get to the point where you make a profit from films?</p>
<p>For Graduates:</p>
<p>If so, have you found their methods useful? Are you finding success or have high hopes that you will?</p>
<p>Their are people saying that filmschools a waste of time.(<a href="http://www.filmschoolsucks.com%5B/url%5D">www.filmschoolsucks.com</a>) I myself don't believe that it is but I want to hear that from people that have been at the school for a nice period of time and have found it useful.</p>
<p>Manymade1, working in the arts is not like working in finance or engineering. There are no special routes, training, experience or education that can assure one will make it into the film industry. This is a business, frankly, for big risk takers who are willing to give up a lot, live on very little, and work other day-jobs in order to pursue the possibility they can someday make a living in film/tv.</p>
<p>OTOH, if you look up all the filmmakers you most respect and look up to, you may find many of them attended film school and felt the experience was crucial to their success. Obviously, people like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg believe in the power of film school because they both studied film as undergrads, and now have given hundreds of millions of dollars to build up USC’s film school for the future.</p>
<p>But just to make sure you understand–going to college is not like going to a vocational training program. You do not end up with a diploma and an automatic placement into a nice entry level job in your field. As I’m sure everyone is aware, the most desired industries are the hardest to break into. No guarantees. Just hard work, luck, talent, and, of course, you have to be ready/trained/prepared/educated in order to seize every opportunity.</p>
<p>You’re asking an Art vs Commerce question. </p>
<p>Film school teaches you how to make films, i.e., tell stories. If you’re good at it some of those stories will capture the imagination of the public and you will make money. There is no magic formula for making a profit from films (e.g., saw The Lone Ranger this past weekend and it’s obvious Disney doesn’t have a clue how to make a good movie).</p>
<p>If you’re concerned solely about profitability then you might want to consider a program like Business & Cinematic Arts in the Marshall School. That program focuses on the unique aspects of the business-side of the movie/TV industry.</p>
<p>@ madbean </p>
<p>Never really thought of it like that. Although I am aware that getting into film making is a big risk, but it’s the only thing I want to do, so I accept it.</p>
<p>@ vinceh</p>
<p>I wasn’t really trying to bring commerce into it. By profit I meant actually having it as a profession and getting paid for it. In other words, I don’t want to write scripts on the side that sit in my drawer for years. BTW, Lone Ranger was seriously bad.</p>
<p>I am a rising senior in high school and want to attend USC’s SCA Film & TV program. Here are my credentials:</p>
<ul>
<li>3.8 GPA</li>
<li>29 on the ACT (going to be taking the test two more times, though)</li>
<li>Will have taken 4 AP courses throughout high school and 1 Honors course</li>
<li>Vast amount of awards/recognition (some being in film and photography) throughout high school</li>
<li>Very knowledgeable about directing and editing since I have made films throughout high school.</li>
<li>Internship (2013 Summer)</li>
<li>Helped out with a professional short film (2013 Summer)</li>
<li>Enrolled in film program (2012 Summer)</li>
<li>Involved in a good amount of extra-curriculars: clubs, community service, sports</li>
</ul>
<p>I may be forgetting something, but this list is a good starter list.</p>
<p>I am extremely passionate about film and will do whatever it takes for success.</p>
<p>If I have a good application, do you think I have a good chance? What would you say is the most important aspect of the USC’s SCA TV & Film application?</p>
<p>I would appreciate any other comments about this program (or even USC’s BCA program - Business and Cinematic Arts joint program).</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>To all who are about to apply to SCA, here are some general thoughts on what they are looking for in an applicant:</p>
<p>1) The normal healthy college stats must be there. USC is a top university and all students, across all the Schools and majors, must be able to thrive (or survive) in the academic courses, as will as the film courses. Take a look at the entering freshman class stats and figure you are probably safe academically if you are in the middle 50%. Remember that goes from 25%-75%, so it dips down into the third quartile of admitted stats. GPAs and test scores that fall in the lowest 25% will likely be a case by case decision, and some other compelling situation will be needed in your app. While USC’s SCA admissions will generally disregard grades/scores in their creative evaluation of your application, the fact remains that the general USC admissions office must approve all admits. Be aware that SCA cannot/will not fight to admit many students when there are so many other talented applicants without red flags on academics.</p>
<p>2) The SCA supplement to your application is key to getting approved by the School. Each major has different requirements so study the website and pay particular attention to all essays, creative statements, submissions, creative resume, and/or portfolio requirements. In the past, students with a variety of creative honors/awards/output have been attractive to SCA. This may mean deep involvement and achievements in HS theatre, art, music, computer design, mobile games, creative writing, photography, arch, film making, animation, and more. Every year SCA admits students with limited film making experience, as they realize making films is an expensive and equipment-dependent project that is not available to all HS students. What they most look for is someone who can tell a story, someone with a unique point of view, someone with a strong commitment to working hard to accomplish difficult goals, someone with leadership ability, someone with outside-the-box problem solving skills, and someone who can express all of this with conviction in an authentic voice. When deciding what to write about in your creative submissions, keep that in mind. Show off those qualities. Don’t play it safe.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>