<p>What exactly does the Film Production & TV application mean when it says create a narrative film? It says the video can be either live action, animation, fiction, or a documentary. Is this basically saying just make some type of short film? Is voice over required if it is a narrative film?</p>
<p>I have looked at many other visual samples that were submitted over the years and they were pretty much fictional short films.</p>
<p>@LookingUp8 You don’t have to include a voice-over. I’ve seen quite a few accepted visual samples with no dialogue or voice-over at all. From what I’ve gathered, I think narrative simply means that it should have a story that makes sense on its own. I don’t want to say anything for sure though, so I’ll leave a proper answer to someone more qualified.</p>
<p>That makes sense. I just want to be 100% sure about the directions before I get started. Thanks.</p>
<p>If someone has something else to add, please do.</p>
<p>@Platinum</p>
<p>My package came in January because I was considered for merit scholarship. The USC acceptance package was a huge, red portfolio type envelope and it was beautiful. There was just a letter inside written in ticker-tape font that said something along the lines of:</p>
<p>USC Status: Accepted</p>
<h2>Major: Writing for Screen and Television</h2>
<p>Congrats! You’re up for a scholarship</p>
<p>During the last week of March, SCA sent out their own package which was in a manila envelope and included a congratulatory letter and information on how to accept our spot for the fall. We’ve gotten a ton of stuff since then. They sent out a “suggested reading list” which was just 100 movies compiled by the SCA staff. The faculty is awesome and super helpful. They want everyone to succeed.</p>
<p>@hrabbit</p>
<p>The “suggested reading list” sounds awesome</p>
<p>I have one last question. How much would attending SCA’s 2014 summer program for film production(in which you earn college credits) help my chances at getting into the school when I apply?</p>
<p>Not sure about the summer program. I considered doing it, but it ended up being too much money. I took a class at my local community college instead. Some of the people I’ve talked to who were admitted came from the summer program, but I don’t know if that means everyone. If you can swing it financially, I’d say try it or look into other more cost-efficient options in your area.</p>
<p>@hrabbit
Could you perhaps tell us about the merit scholarship process? Did you get to do an interview?</p>
<p>@Layra</p>
<p>I did have an interview! I went in terrified and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the scholarship process. It was just a casual conversation between myself and some of the SCA faculty. They asked me about my activities and then we talked about television. It was kind of surreal.</p>
<p>All of this was a part of the grander Explore USC program. It was a two day event, kind of similar to orientation, but they gave us more attention because they were trying to sell the school to us. They took us on a walking tour, threw a spirit rally of sorts, talked about the selectivity of the class and then we had break out sessions by school. Plus, we got to sleep overnight in the dorms with a student host.</p>
<p>@hrabbit Thanks so much, that sounds great! Just another question. They told me that if you’re considered for a merit scholarship, you ought to visit USC in February and have the interview then. So the interviews are always part of the Explore USC program, or do you sometimes just go there, do it and leave?</p>
<p>Your interview is apart of Explore USC and you have to go to the interview in order to receive a scholarship. From my understanding, you can’t just go to the interview; you go to the whole program. In the package they send you, there’s information about registering for your Explore session. Trustee interviews are in February and presidential interviews are in March.</p>
<p>Alright, thank you!</p>
<p>Hey guys! I am a BfA production hopeful for the fall of 2014, and I’m a bit nervous! I kind of started late in the game when it comes to film making, and don’t have access to much equipment. But I hope that doesn’t matter and that I get points for creativity. ^^. Quick question, how much weight is put on your academics and how much is on your portfolio? I have a really good SAT score and plan on doing some subject tests, but my GPA isn’t great. 
well, let me take that back. It’s good for most schools, but compared to the 3.8 average at USC, it’s not great. How might this lower my chances? Also, how much might my hook up my chances? Last year I studied abroad in Italy for 6 months with the AFS program. Now, I am fluent in 2 languages and working on 4 others. Might this help me? I feel like I’m drowning and stressing out WAY to much in this admission process. Anyone else feel the same?</p>
<p>@herestohoping13. Don’t stress it! They put a lot of weighting on the Production supplement so a slightly low GPA is unlikely to affect your chances, especially if you have a good SAT score. To be honest, I don’t think studying abroad will be a significant hook as a lot of students do the same, but as long as you present yourself as creative, that’s all you can do.</p>
<p>It does feel pretty stressful, considering how much work has to be done for the supplement. That’s why I would suggest applying to some other film schools as well so you don’t feel too connected if you don’t make it in. Remember, USC Film Production is harder to get into than Harvard!</p>
<p>This is wonderful! It’s my dream to study at the School of Cinematic Arts, but I’m really nervous about creating my portfolio. I’m hoping to get into production, but Critical Studies would be good too. I have a low GPA/SAT, but that shouldn’t matter much, should it? Do they weight the essays you have to write for the regular USC supplement too?</p>
<p>Hey I’m a SCA production grad (BA). I worked in the admissions office and everything. If you guys have any questions about the school or the program let me know. I don’t want to read through the entire thread (out of laziness) but I’ll rundown some things so it might be helpful.</p>
<p>GPA doesn’t matter too much. If it’s decent like 3.0+, then don’t worry about it. Just at least have something acceptable. Anything lower doesn’t disqualify you, but from what I understand is that it just looks bad to the committee. </p>
<p>Your supplemental app is the most important. It’s all looked over and weighted pretty evenly. For your visual sample just make sure you tell stories with a beginning middle and end. It’s tough to do in 5 minutes. Look on youtube and most people don’t do it. But that’s why half the stuff out there is forgotten about. However, think about pixar shorts. They tell a complete story in 5 minutes. Remember this: somebody wants something and is having trouble getting it. That makes up a story. A gunfight isn’t a story. It might look flashy and interesting but audiences forget about it once they step out of the theater. </p>
<p>The way admission works is that USC, the general university, considers your USC app. Then SCA considers your Film production supplemental app. The university can reject or admit you. And SCA can’t reject or admit you. If the university admits you, but SCA rejects you then you enter as an undeclared. If the university rejects you but SCA admits you, I believe SCA can overrule the university and you’ll be admitted to both.</p>
<p>People say that SCA is harder to get into than Harvard. They told me that in orientation too. Truth is that numbers are not published. Only the dean and high ups know the actual number. When I was admitted the acceptance rate was 12%, I think. Low, but I think Harvard is still more exclusive. SCA is a part of a private school and imho it’s run a little business like so they approach everything with that mentality even when promoting. </p>
<p>If you get rejected please don’t call the admission office. I haven’t worked there in awhile, but tbh it’s annoying. No one is allowed to release decisions over the phone. No one does. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Even if we can see the decision in the computer, which 75% we can’t, we will say we can’t see it. The admission office either at USC or the SCA will not tell your decision over the phone until after ALL decisions have been released.</p>
<p>Production majors will have little to no free time. As you go up to the higher production levels, the classes and projects really drain your time. You will not have opportunities to do internships and probably not even double major, unless you want to stay for an extra year or so. Summer internships are possible, but for some they aren’t feasible because LA is expensive and USC doesn’t help you stay out in LA for the summer. Most industry intern positions are unpaid as well.</p>
<p>Critical studies offers students a lot more free time. The ones that I know have double majored, traveled, and got a ton of internships. That’s a positive but for some production majors, like me, I can’t understand why you would want to sit in a room and analyze a film when you can write and make one. I think the course work is boring for that major, personally. However, they tend to have more internships and better job prospects when graduating.</p>
<p>Job prospects after graduation are BAD. This is something to consider. I graduated and still can’t get a job. I was a production major, and was only able to do 1 internship during my time at SCA (I transferred into Production as a Junior). The executives I worked under put me up for a few positions. I got none of them. I didn’t even get an interview. When people in LA are looking to fill up positions, their friends tend to send over candidates. Typically that’s the best way to get a job. Sending it out to a posting can be like sending it into a black hole. Without a lot of internships, you don’t have a lot of contacts, which means less job opportunities. </p>
<p>SCA does have a career office. They don’t do much though. They list internships and some jobs. They also look over resumes. I’ve taken mine to them several times. They’ve helped, but I still haven’t been able to land an entry level position in the industry. Jobs in the industry pretty much comes down to luck. Being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. One guy I know got a job as a Writer’s assistant upon graduating, another got a job as an assistant to a VP of a sports network. Both were Critical Studies majors and were in the right place at the right time. I’m not at all saying that Critical studies have better chances of employment outright, but that most jobs are landed with luck. Me and my friends have yet to be so lucky. A few of my friends are working as waiters and trying to write.</p>
<p>Even with a degree from USC, the industry is harsh. Undergrad is tough because once you graduate with a degree in film, you’re stuck (imo). If you want to go to grad school then there’s only a few things you could go for and the grad film programs are nearly identical to the undergrad ones. If you want to go back to school and major in math or science, then you’re s.o.l. as you won’t be given any financial aid.</p>
<p>Financially the program is very difficult for people not well off, however most of the kids at SC seem to be financially set so it doesn’t seem to be an issue for them. Money for your films you have to pay out of pocket. It gets expensive. Some of my friends spent upwards of $4k for a 5 minute film. I did mine for $400, where I cut everything down to bare bones. It might seem crazy, $4k for a 5 minute film, but you quickly learn how expensive making a film is. Even when USC gives you the equipment. </p>
<p>I hope nothing I’m saying is coming off negatively. I liked the film program, it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about filmmaking, and what I like doing and what I don’t like doing. If you know in you’re heart that you want to do film then go for it. SCA’s motto is reality ends here and I think it’s a great motto. I think I went in with just my focus on getting into SC. I thought If I got in I’d figure out everything else, but there’s a world after SCA. Just don’t forget that. If you want to make movies you have to work your a$$ off and even that is no guarantee of anything. </p>
<p>gl to everyone on here. And I think the most important piece of advice is to remember: somebody wants something and is having trouble getting it. Watch youtube videos, very few if any use it, watch award winning shorts they use it. Use it for the supplemental application. Tell a story. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have good equipment or never used a camera. The first film I ever made was my video I sent in for my application. They can teach you how to use things, no one at SCA can teach you what an amazing story is. I ranted a lot, but… yeah… gl everyone.</p>
<p>@corvin</p>
<p>Your information was extremely useful thank you so much. </p>
<p>Having so much experience from the office, can you give us some application tips? What weight is placed on standardized testing?
How about the critical studies supplement?</p>
<p>No posting here since a while…
Anyway, just a quick question. Is it an enormous problem if my Creative Challenge A (WSTV) is 5 1/2 pages long? I know it’ supposed to be max. 5 pages, but I’ve been working on it since last October, and it’s a complete, well-rounded story now, and cutting it even more would not at all do it any good. So would it being half a page longer reflect really negatively on my app?</p>
<p>Layra,</p>
<p>I’m assuming you are applying to the Screenwriting Program. I am applying to their Film & TV Production Program, so I don’t know too much about that application.</p>
<p>If it asks for 5 page, write 5 pages. Not 5 1/2. I believe it is very important to follow their guidelines because if you were asked later to make a film 30 seconds long, it must be no longer than 30 seconds.</p>
<p>Hope this makes sense. Thanks.</p>
<p>OK, thanks. That’s what I thought, just wanted to know what others think. I’m done with everything else and this half page is giving me nightmares… :D</p>
<p>Hey guys! Hope everyone is doing well.
Just got back from filming with a few USC students. The stories I heard from them made me want to go so badly. Some of them spoke of the struggle between BA and BFA. I’m fairly certain I would end up being a BA. How do you all feel about this issue?</p>