<p>My S received a very generous scholarship package from LMU (accepted for film production)but also was accepted into USC's School of Cinematic Arts for production, with parents required to pay full freight. Does anyone have any experience/knowledge re: how graduates of LMU's film production program are perceived in the hiring industry and whether the very large debt that will be required to attend USC is worth it?</p>
<p>I got aid from LMU, half scholarship from Chapman, both accepted to film production. I was accepted to spring semester to SCA. I am going to SCA; don’t know yet what my aid package is, but expect not to get anything :(. I think LMU is an up and coming school. There are many, many advantageous to their school, campus etc. Their dean just moved to take on the deanship at UCLA, so not sure who is going to take over. She graduated from UCLA so dream job for her. It is going to be a hard call. USC has incred. facilities-LMU does not at this time have the equipment that SCA has. LMU does not have the connections that USC and Chap and UCLA have. I have been told that kids out of SCA often have jobs before they graduate. But it all comes down to the student. It’s hard to know whether in 4 years whether the USC ed is worth the expense. I am going to minor in something practical (at my parents request) as my fall back, but something that will integrate well with film work. You might want your son to talk to some current students at both schools. We met with the head of the film prod. school at LMU-A Jesuit priest (you could not tell he was a priest) who was great!!. But, people at SCA were also friendly and willing to say hi. It is going to be a hard call. </p>
<p>PS. Michael Cera’s BFF graduated from LMU and has been doing entry level directing, production and acting. You can find them on youtube and see his senior project. Can’t recall his name, but just type in Michael Cera’s (Juno fame) and you will see the link and in the background LMU buildings.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight and good suggestions. You’ve picked USC over LMU and Chapman even though you won’t start until Spring? That says volumes.</p>
<p>we’re in the same boat for theater, full price usc versus scholarships at LMU and Chapman. Love to get feedback on whether the cost is worth it.</p>
<p>My D is at USC – she was a spring admit transfer and trying (for the 2nd time) to get into SCA. She is very happy at USC and amazed at the opportunities she has seen while she’s been there. It is VERY competitive to transfer in as a SCA major, so one more thing to think about in case your child decides to try to go somewhere else with the thought of later transferring into USC SCA (tho it might be a compromise–or your S might get her bachelors with full scholarship & then try to get a grad degree from USC?)</p>
<p>filmwriter, you ask a very tough question–whether attending USC film school will give a grad a significant advantage in being hired by Hollywood as to be worth the high cost. There is no definitive answer, I’m afraid. Here are some things to weigh…</p>
<p>1) What does your son hope to do with his career? If he wants to be a producer, studio executive, agent, or one of the up-and-coming indie production types–he’ll have unparalleled opportunities to network, meet industry heavyweights, and attain internships at USC. SCA sponsors everything from a cool dinner program–where USC celebrity alums host small dinner parties of SCA students for the purpose of inspiring them, trading insider tips, and stories of how they got ahead, to offering many undergrad internship opportunities. The vast alum network of working professionals in Hollywood puts the school ahead of any other (if gaining employment in Hollywood is the ultimate goal). I’ve heard that every BFA grad last year who majored in screenwriting had a professional job upon graduation. That’s pretty impressive.</p>
<p>2) Is your son the type to work every system, make his own luck, schmooze with everyone who may have a brother-in-law who works on a tv series? If so, he may well be able to make his own connections in life (an incredibly useful skill for filmmakers!). Does your family have close friends with the people who run Disney or Sony? If so, he may not need USC’s connections to real insiders quite as much. However, if he is a little less connected and/or gunning to make connections with film heavyweights, USC will teach him how to do it and help get him started.</p>
<p>3) Gaining admission to USC’s film school is like getting into Harvard–incredibly competitive and among the best education of its kind available. The prestige matters to some students (and employers) more than others. And the level of talented peers in such programs often attracts like-minded students with whom to collaborate and, in future years, to form production companies and win Emmys.</p>
<p>4) Will he blossom from mentoring? At USC, there are academy-award winners teaching film production, not to mention that most of the instructors are all recently or currently working professionals. </p>
<p>5) But finally, no school can guarantee a job in the film industry. No matter how much or how little the parents pay. Talent and drive and perseverance and luck may all trump the name on the diploma, after all. If cost is a real and serious issue, go with the affordable choice. Spielberg did just fine after attending CSU Long Beach. (Although he wished he had attended USC) ;)</p>
<p>Well put Madbean. This is the reason I am going to USC. I know someone who went to their grad school and loved it. He had a degree in something else, completely unrelated, for undergrad. Did not go to undergrad at USC. We have a family friend who went to Chap. He is working in the industry and is doing well. “Hollywood” is going through signficant changes right now. Some would say that they have lost their souls to big budget, trickster films etc. I think we may be in for big changes over the next few years. I think that given so many young people going into the industry are getting degrees and advanced degrees should impact the level of professionalism “behind the scenes.” Producers etc. are looking out for the bottom line-It is a competative business, like any other business. No hard and fast answers. </p>
<p>Good luck on his decision.</p>
<p>Thanks Madbean. All good points. We have no serious connections in the industry and although S is very driven, I don’t know how much contact one can make on one’s own, especially if you don’t know the ropes on how to do that. We knew USC had a great program, amazing facilities, and famous alumni, but we didn’t realize they make that much effort to connect the students with the alumni and industry with a dinner program or mentoring.</p>
<p>Currently, my D is an undergrad student trying for the 2nd time to transfer into SCA (she’s undecided at USC). She’s taking a course which regularly works with Microsoft and has gotten our D very excited. She cut back on her other activities so she can spend more time on this course because she finds it very exciting to get live feedback from Microsoft at every class (they have a regular videoconference I believe). She will minor in SCA if she’s not allowed to major in it and has found it fascinating. </p>
<p>For me as a parent, it’s very rewarding to see my D so engaged and excited about school and its post-U implications. </p>
<p>Have heard of other classes where they get directors to come and speak with the students at USC as well.</p>
<p>As an illustration of the sorts of events that happen all the time, here’s an email my son received today:</p>
<p>Hello all,
Our next Warner Bros lunch is slated for Friday, April XX, 12:30p-2:00p. The guest for this event will be Bruce Rosenblum, President, Warner Bros Television and Greer Shepard (The Closer, Nip/Tuck). It will be held in the executive boardroom of WB commissary.
This is an excellent opportunity for students to interact with Bruce Rosenblum Greer Shepard and garner information pertaining to the business side of television.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>