<p>Thanks for all the great info! I was debating on CSU long beach or USC but now that I got my fin aid, USC it is! It seems like the opportunities they offer are so amazing and I don’t want to pass them up!</p>
<p>When I toured the SCA department their interactive media program looked so cool! I still can’t believe I’m going. What a dream come true!</p>
<p>Thanks again Dreams and good luck with whatever you decide to do!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I’m a production admit, is it possible to minor in animation?</p>
<p>@redcap:</p>
<p>Yes. There’s a cap to the number of upper-division SCA units you can take and have count toward your degree, but if you work with your advisor to work around/with it, no reason why not.</p>
<p>iheartbreakz - Annenberg House (on 27th street) is a bit further from the main campus but it’s not too bad. I want to say about a 15 minute walk. I took a class at the IML building which is in that area and that’s usually how long it took me to get there. But plenty of people live around that area and it’s basically next door to the Row, if you’re into that kind of thing. I’ve heard AH is a nice place to live.</p>
<p>gestey - congratulations!! I’m really happy that financial aid helped you out! The interactive program is indeed pretty awesome - I’ll be taking a class next year.</p>
<p>redcap - yep, I have a friend who is doing that. As Lencias pointed out, there is a cap to how many upper-division classes (400 level) you can take, but I know plenty of people who have been able to get that requirement waived!</p>
<p>Hey dream.</p>
<p>I’ll be attending SCA as a freshman this fall in WSTV.
What should I do to prepare? Any movies I should watch? Books I should read (for SCA in general)? Equipment I should get? (I’m in writing, but I’m interested in production, too.)</p>
<p>Your thread has been extremely helpful and reading it just makes me more excited for the fall :)</p>
<p>hrabbit - awesome! 
I think a good way to prepare is to read some scripts for your favorite movies which is what I did. Other than that, you’ll be watching a LOT of movies during the school year… I guess make sure you watch all the stuff that everyone always talks about - Scorsese, Tarantino, Coppola. I like to look up top 10/15/20/etc lists for suggestions on good stuff to watch. SCA also does really great screenings of independent/foreign films multiple times per week so definitely go to all of those - you’ll become so well-versed in movies here! I’d recommend watching some good TV shows if you want something to talk about that will always guarantee a conversation - Mad Men, Breaking Bad, you know the ones.</p>
<p>As far as books, I dunno. Do you mean fiction or non-fiction books about filmmaking? Jason Squire is a professor here who has written some cool books about the film industry. I’m a big proponent of reading in general, so read whatever you can get your hands on! As I mentioned, I really like to read scripts and I used to check them out at my local library but you can definitely find those online.</p>
<p>Equipment… I’m really into DPing and photography so I own a Canon DSLR (along with lenses, tripod, camera bag, cleaning equipment, etc) and I shoot a lot in my free time. I also own some China ball lanterns, extension cords, dimmer switches, lightbulbs, and gels in case I need to do any lighting/camera stuff but I’ve just kind of accumulated it over the years. You’ll have access to the school’s Sony HD cameras in production classes, and you can usually rent/borrow equipment if you want to do anything on your own or you want something extra. You don’t really need to make that kind of investment now if you’re not dead-set on doing a specific thing. However, if you definitely want to help out on student productions, I’d recommend buying a pair of work gloves (to handle lighting equipment)! I also bought a small tool belt, tape measure, flashlight, marking tape… just basic equipment like that so if a friend asks me to PA or grip on their set I can whip it right out. Does software count as equipment? If you don’t want to invest in Final Draft, I’d recommend downloading CeltX - it’s a free/awesome screenwriting tool and the majority of my friends use that. It’s a great investment. I also have the Adobe Creative Suite and I’m thinking of buying Avid - can’t do Final Cut as I don’t have a mac.</p>
<p>Other equipment… 16gb+ flash drives are useful. Also, external hard drives! You’ll need one for the introductory production class everyone takes but I’d recommend waiting until you actually take the class because they have specific ones you’re supposed to buy. I bought a separate one for class and for personal use because having a ton of footage on your computer adds up. Oh, and Netflix. Netflix rules. If my life had a tag line it would be “did you see that Netflix added [insert movie] to instant queue?!”</p>
<p>Racking my brain and can’t really think of anything else but I’ll definitely let you know if I do!</p>
<p>EDIT: oh, and write down any/all ideas you may have no matter how silly you think they are because when you are churning out a billion scripts at a time for class you’re gonna be looking EVERYWHERE for ideas.</p>
<p>To kind of follow up on hrabbit’s question, what are 5-10 movies you would recommend a production student should watch before starting at SCA so as not to seem completely lost when you get there?</p>
<p>Hi, another question. So, I want to apply to SCA WSTV, but if I don’t get in I want to do a year at another college somewhere in LA. My question is, that if I want to transfer there, do I need to apply as a transfer, or can I reapply as a freshman, since it’s 4 years anyway? Some schools let you do that, and it would make me available to the big merit scholarships only open to freshmen. Since I’m international, getting a merit scholarships is pretty much the only way I could attend.</p>
<p>Also, @hrabbit, congrats for getting in!</p>
<p>Dream, you’re the best.</p>
<p>As much as I like movies, I always feel like I’ve never seen enough. I’ll be interested to see your response to anar’s question 
Definitely gonna check out Jason Squires, too. (The Movie Business Book looks awesome!).</p>
<p>And thanks Layra! Hope to see you at SCA some day :)</p>
<p>What would be a useful minor as a film production student (aside from business)? I mentioned earlier that I was interested in animation but It’s not set in stone.</p>
<p>Hey everybody! Sorry for the delay - I just started studying abroad and it’s been a hectic week.</p>
<p>anar136 - hmmm… some personal favorites: Terry Gilliam’s Brazil (can’t recommend this movie enough - my #1 forever and always), Reservoir Dogs, Fruitvale (recent USC alum’s film that showed at Sundance, lots of people have talked about it recently), Battle Royale (really neat Japanese film), Ridley Scott’s Alien, John Carpenter’s The Thing (I may be a bit biased as I’m primarily a horror fan), Spring Breakers (kind of a toss-up, it’s gotten a bit of buzz among my friends recently just because it’s fresh in everyone’s minds - I personally really enjoyed it), Star Wars (though I’m sure you’ve seen it hahaha), pretty much all superhero movies/anything Joss Whedon… haha.</p>
<p>LayraSparks - you still apply as a transfer because some of the classes you take might count towards GE credit, so you wouldn’t necessarily need to enroll full time for four years. I have a few friends that did that. To USC, any student with previous college coursework is considered a transfer.</p>
<p>redcap - there are conflicting views on this… I believe you should minor in something vastly different from film that you are interested in personally, not something that you think pads your resume. With that said, my minor is Consumer Behavior which is kind of sociology meets economics.</p>
<p>Hi! Thank you for the answer! Sorry to bother you with this again, but what if I apply from a college abroad, more specifically England? I don’t think those courses can be transferred. It’s just that getting a full scholarship as a transfer is virtually impossible…
Oh well, anyway, you’ve been great help! And Brazil is one of my favorites too! :)</p>
<p>LayraSparks - I think it’s possible… I studied abroad in England and my coursework transferred over just like my community college courses. </p>
<p>USC has a record of articulation histories for all colleges/universities somewhere on their site but I can’t find it… I do remember seeing schools from outside of the country on there though. Maybe look around here - [USC</a> ARR : Articulation](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/)</p>
<p>Layra, if you attend another college or university, regardless of its location and regardless of the transfer-ability of the units/courses, you would then apply as a transfer at USC. The only way to apply a second time as a freshman would be to take a gap year.
[Transfer</a> Students - USC Undergraduate Admission](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/transfer.html]Transfer”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/transfer.html)</p>
<p>Yeah, I’ve seen those sites. Anyway, I was just a bit idealistic. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I found out last week that I was accepted into the BA Acting program at USC. I just finished my freshman year as a BA Acting major at Pace University so I’d be a transfer next year. As you can imagine, transferring is scary and at the moment I don’t know what is best for me. I need your opinion. Please tell what you think of the BA program at USC–please give positives and negatives. There is no better way for me to learn about this program than to hear from people who are on campus and are either a part of it or are friends with people who are. Considering your major, I thought you would have some good insight. Your help would mean the world to me. Thank you for your time.</p>
<p>Hey Dream,</p>
<p>Did you have a film portfolio when you applied? If so, do you think it was the strength of that portfolio that got you in?</p>
<p>kl92477n - I actually don’t know much, if anything, about the Acting programs… I have quite a few friends who are in them and enjoy them but I’m not the best person to ask. I think one of the best aspects is that you get to work with a lot of film students, if that’s what you’re into.</p>
<p>Manymade1 - I can’t remember if I applied for both Production and Critical Studies, sorry… I think I only applied for Critical Studies, in which case my portfolio consisted of writing samples. And yes, I think it was the portfolio reinforced by my good grades and test scores.</p>
<p>dreamupsided0wn, </p>
<p>Is it possible to take a leave of absence at USC SCA (MFA Film)? Are there certain classes required to take before you can take a LoA?</p>
<p>khanitez - I’m not sure… sorry! 
I’m sure it’s possible, but I have a feeling it would be a case-by-case basis. Ask an advisor for something that important.</p>