Hello everyone. I’m currently having a degree in film production in Costa Rica. However, my biggest dream is to apply for a master’s degree at USC Cinematic Arts. The matter is that I have encountered so many problems through the curriculum of my academic degree in Costa Rica. The main problem is that there is no accountability from teachers to designate tasks to group members when working for a film project. So, whenever the same group members delegate the diferent task positions for the crew, everyone wants to interfere in the positions from the others. Also in many cases, you have to make an agreement with all the crew to decide wether or not your story should take place or not, and if it doesn’t takes place, there is no more possibilities to explore your own vision. Therefore, I feel there is no emphasis to the individual whatsoever without a proper distribution of crew positions . I have this fear that if I apply to USC Cinematic Arts and I get accepted I will encountered this same problems. If this is true or not, I will like to know, how collaboration works if you want to obtain a film production degree at USC Cinematic Arts.
I think you’re unlikely to find a concrete answer here.
But, quite frankly, the way your professors operate sounds 1) the way all graduate schools operate and 2) the way life works in general. If you become a producer or director of a film, there’s no higher power that is going to force your crew to do the work that you want or need them to do. YOU are responsible for motivating that crew to work for you in order to complete the tasks necessary. If your crew doesn’t work with you, then you can’t explore your vision, period. There’s really not such a thing as independent/individual work - every project is going to require the cooperation of multiple people (sometimes with competing interests). So perhaps your program wants you to learn these people management skills when you’re early in the game rather than later when it counts. (And FWIW, other graduate programs work that way, too. Professors give you a group project, assign groups or allow you to select your own, but it’s up to the group members to manage the workload and decide who does what.)
Also, if you are already getting a degree in film production, why would you want another? Are you currently getting an undergrad degree?
Thank you for the advice! I’m almost finishing the undergraduate degree but I will like to get a master’s degree in the overseas so that I could become more competitive in my country when I come back.