<p>S is a sophomore and very interested in film. He has been taking classes in our area for two years and does alot of film work at his high school. USC is his dream school. We were out in California this summer and visited and he loved it. I know that its very hard to get into film production and when we went on the tour, they said something about applying for critical studies. If you are in critical studies, do you still get to do production work? Does he have to give a video of his work? Can some elaborate on the film program?</p>
<p>The film program is open to ANY student with an interest in studying film...NO prior work is necessary. In fact, most students do not submit any prior work such as reels, etc. They are looking at the essays - for passion, creativity, and other skills that would be useful as a filmmaker.</p>
<p>Crit studies students can still take some production classes...check the cinematic arts website for more details about the difference in classes needed between the two majors.</p>
<p>For undergraduate admissions to SCA (School of Cinematic Arts), USC will not look at films - presumably they want to select a class based on an application that is something anyone could do, regardless of prior opportunities to make films. Your son could apply to both Production and CS; many students do that, using one as a backup to the other. The apps are actually going to be different, and will be reviewed by different committees. I suggest he look at the applications on the website and think about the information they are asking for, because that will help him consider the 2 different tracks and what he might be doing the next couple years to prepare to apply. I have a feeling recommendations are very important in this process. He also will need to be admitted to USC itself, which is a parallel process. All told, the USC app was by far the most difficult thing my son had to do in the entire college application process, but it certainly paid off.</p>
<p>Crit studies and production students take very similar classes the first year or two, and CS students do take several of the intro production courses. Beyond that, my son has been told it is possible to get into other production courses by getting to know some of the profs, or just asking if the course isn't full.</p>
<p>Seconding Faux Nom's advice. Students applying in Production and Critical studies cannot submit samples of their work. (In other areas, such as animation, I believe they can.) Your S will be asked for a creative portfolio, which lists creative endeavors in any area. My understanding is that the film school really likes it when applicants are also creative in areas other than film, and that while a long-term commitment to film is obviously a good thing, a student who paints, or writes poetry, or does still photography, or writes songs for his garage band, will also be looked upon favorably. And given that the Production application centers upon a number of creative essays (beyond the standard USC admissions essays), and not on the reel, writing well is a key factor. The essays -- particularly for Production -- are different from other college essays, and it is definitely a good thing to take a look at the prompts sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>My kid applied in both Production and Critical Studies, and ultimately selected Production,which was designated as his first choice. Applicants who choose to apply in two SCA majors are asked to rank them, but it does not appear that the admissions committee for the #2 choice is prejudiced against the candidate. Students can transfer between majors once they get to USC, and they can also transfer into SCA after enrolling in USC as an undeclared or different major. (Rumor has it that this is difficult, but not as difficult as being admitted as a freshman, given that some of the SCA majors have a 4% admit rate.)</p>
<p>It is difficult to transfer from Critical Studies to Production, but not impossible. I have known a good number who attempted, but only a few that I could name personally who managed to transfer. Still, being in Critical Studies doesn't mean you can't work on Production students' films -- in fact, you will find this is a great avenue for networking which will help you as you start to forge a career based on your connection to the USC family. It's definitely worth applying to both (or applying to Production and Screenwriting, if that's your thing -- although there are even less screenwriters admitted than production students due to the size of the program). If you apply to Prod. and Crit., you might even hear from Production first and then later get accepted into Crit. Studies.</p>
<p>Another plus for incoming "crit studs" is that there is an increasing number of moviemaking competitions taking place at USC now, which you can participate in regardless of major, and which are completely separate from classes. So you can make your films with a group of friends, while many production students will be too busy to compete because they are busy with the films they have to make for their classes.</p>
<p>I'm a production major, in case you were wondering.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you're looking to do production design, that is the only position open to crit studs in the advanced undergrad production class, CTPR 480 (basically like making a studio film but mini).</p>
<p>The best advice, seriously, is to do creative things and try to get good grades, and START your ESSAYS the summer before you apply. :)</p>