<p>I want to go to USC School of Cinematic Arts.
What do I need to do to get in? And how should I set up my portfolio??</p>
<p>ALSO: when making films, should i write little scripts first or just film whatever? are they looking for technique or content when it comes to making films for the portfolio??? how many films should i make??</p>
<p>Here are my stats:
-9th grade
-Courses: Honors Lit, Accelerated Math 1, Honors Biology, AP Human Geography, Spanish II, Personal Fitness/Health, Technical Theater I.
-EC's: Lacrosse, Piano, Filmmaking, Tech Theater,
-Volunteering: Have had 6 hours service at Community Food Bank (sorted salvaged food to be packaged and sent to those in need)</p>
<p>What are they looking for in an applicant btw? What can give me an edge over other applicants? Do summer film camps help??</p>
<p>PLEASE HELP AND ANSWER MY QUESTIONS!! IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!</p>
<p>Second of all. You’re only in ninth grade? You still have three to four more years before you have to worry too much about any specific college. You may find that you change your mind many times in that period. I know I and my friends did. I was sure in ninth grade that I would go to William & Mary or Pomona. I didn’t even apply to William & Mary, and my love for Pomona cooled somewhat, while I fell completely in love with USC, a school that wasn’t even on my radar freshman year. One of my best friends has “known” since she was 10 that she’d be going to UVA, but this year, she actually liked other schools better than UVA at different points in the year. She is at UVA now, but my point is that even the surest of people have their doubts.</p>
<p>What I’m trying to say is focus on your high school life for now. You have four more years! Of course I’m going to echo the common sentiment of:
-take the most challenging classes you personally can handle (I learned the hard way about that “you personally can handle” part)
-Get involved!
-keep your grades high.</p>
<p>Since you’re interested in film, try to get involved with it as much as you can. I don’t know where you live, but try to spend time on film sets if you can. Volunteer to be an extra. If you can find work as a PA, take it! Life on the set is incredibly rough, I’m not going to lie, though it’s also quite rewarding. It’s not for everyone, though, and it’s nowhere near as glamorous as it seems and especially not as nice as the end product. If you already know this, though, then props to you. I’d say just concentrate on making movies. My roommate is a production major at SCA, hasn’t really been on a set, but she makes tons of videos all the time and knows that she loves it. Experiment. Try new things. If the product sucks, you don’t have to show it to anyone, but learn. Figure out why it didn’t work.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the specifics of gaining entry to the program, but I feel like that’s a good start. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>You might go over to the USC board. There are a lot more specific answers there. My daughter graduated in film a few years ago. But, things change quickly including admissions. </p>
<p>I’m an NYU Film Grad working in the business with friends who have gone to USC and UCLA Film School. You are a Freshman in high school?</p>
<p>Might I ask what your goal is in going to USC Film School? </p>
<p>As someone with an Honors Degree from NYU, I can tell you a film school degree, and what is taught in the school, is absolutely not helpful in launching your film career. </p>
<p>Point of fact nobody else will say: skip film school. If you want to work in the film business take courses in high school and start working right out of school. Get on a film set. </p>
<p>USC doesn’t teach much about the business. You make black and white films your 2nd or 3rd year and pay for films on top of tuition. You could easily take a workshop and learn much more. </p>
<p>Truth is nobody takes a film school degree seriously in the business, even from USC. When you graduate from USC you will be looking for entry level work, assisting, or getting someone coffee. While the young people who start working when they are 18 or 19 will have already moved up in the ranks. </p>
<p>You may meet other USC Grads but they won’t be able to help you get work directing or writing movies. That kind of work is only created through making your own projects and you can start that right now. You don’t need to wait until graduation or until you get a college degree. </p>
<p>I know when I was 15 everyone was in a frenzy to go to college and I spent a lot of money on school without looking past graduation and asking myself this question: what is my career goal and will my degree really be helpful? </p>
<p>And in the film world the answer is no. But my friends and I did not realize that until long after graduation. </p>
<p>If you’d like to know more feel free to ask.</p>