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  1. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    Yes indeed! I say go for it. Spring admits are just as well thought of as Fall admits. I'm a Spring admit myself, and it's been great for me so far. There's literally no difference between the courses you'll take if you entered in Fall. Every class you would take in the Fall cycles in both...
  2. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    I'm not sure what the situation is for each of you on whether you committed or not. But I know a lot of people in my class (Spring admits) had deferred to Spring from the Fall when they first started, so I know it's technically possible. Whether or not that would be the best scenario for you is...
  3. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    I'm SA'ing for a 507 section in Fall, do you know who your professors are slated to be? It's possible you might be in my section. From what I understand, there are a few possibilities for how classes could take place 1. Classes could resume as normal, and if a new coronavirus resurgence starts...
  4. USC School of Cinematic Arts

    Reply to a question by sharkb8 on the film school 'USC School of Cinematic Arts'

    Little known secret. Grades barely matter. The USC application is hugely dependent on your Personal Statement If you come across as someone new, unique, and individual, you are the sort of person a film school wants, because you have perspectives that can translate into movies. Your personal...
    • sharkb8
    • Question reply
  5. USC School of Cinematic Arts

    Reply to a question by sharkb8 on the film school 'USC School of Cinematic Arts'

    I believe either Intermediate or Advanced Cinematography class has a project shot on film. Both classes happen in your 2nd or 3rd years of the MFA program, depending on when you want to take them. Production students choose their own classes after the first two semesters. For instance, I'm...
    • sharkb8
    • Question reply
  6. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    Sure I'm down! We just picture locked the project I was working on all semester (hence why I haven't been around for a couple months) but now that it's done I have time to respond to everybody and I have fresh knowledge of exactly what USC is doing during COVID!
  7. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    1. You can take electives if you'd like. However I wouldn't recommend it. Looking at things in terms of "credits" is very misleading. Both 507 and 508 are absolutely exhausting classes. You are making projects every week, because you're working in a trio, so you make a film, then produce your...
  8. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    There are a few parking structures on campus. If you get your parking pass early enough, you can park at the Jefferson street structure, which is about a 3-5 minute walk from SCA. But if you wait to get your permit, or you have to wait for loan money to come through so you can purchase the pass...
  9. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    So far nothing has blindsided me. I feel like I knew exactly what I was going to get, because I researched it all in advance. I made sure to be fully aware of how the loan situation would work out. For me that meant being aware of and committed to the concept of using Income Based Repayment, so...
  10. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    There are a lot of scholarships, but virtually all of them are partial scholarships. From what I understand, nearly everyone here has at least some sort of scholarship. So it's not hard to get one, but it is usually hard to get some of the bigger ones. Yeah I've heard this too. I believe it's...
  11. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    Basically yes. TA positions are reserved for critical studies students (PHD’s). But production classes (the ones for MFA’s) have SA’s “Student Assistants”. You aren’t allowed to be an SA in your first semester, and not many people do it in the second semester because the second semester is the...
  12. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    I have worked on dozens of projects in basically every capacity including Director, Producer, Editor, Director of Photography, Gaffer, Grip, PA, and Actor. A typical day in the life is actually pretty normal compared to most other schools. We go to class, do homework, have meetings, etc. The...
  13. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    I mean I tried to beef up my portfolio as much as possible, but my “awards” were just school awards from my undergrad at a tiny Catholic college. It didn’t really matter though. USC doesn’t really care about portfolio. Half of my class when they started had never done film before. USC primarily...
  14. sharkb8

    2nd Year USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Student, AMA

    Do it. Ask me things. And I will tell you answers. Yup.
  15. USC School of Cinematic Arts

    Reply to a question by sharkb8 on the film school 'USC School of Cinematic Arts'

    Virtually impossible afaik. Every single international student here who I know comes from a wealthy family. Their parents are paying a lot of money to let them be here. There are some scholarships USC offers, but they tend to be partial scholarships for merit, and the only full rides I've seen...
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  16. sharkb8

    Comment by 'sharkb8' on the article 'Q& A With Danni (aka IndecisiveElle), Chapman Directing MFA Student'

    This is so cool! I love seeing an explanation of how things function at different programs.
    • sharkb8
    • Article comment
  17. USC School of Cinematic Arts

    Reply to review by sharkb8 on the film school 'USC School of Cinematic Arts'

    Sibi is one of my Student Instructors. It's funny to come back to this site and see his name but actually recognize it now. I'll ask him to update his review next time I see him. Also I'll offer my own review at the end of this semester (I'd be amazed if it isn't 5 stars).
    • sharkb8
    • Review reply
  18. sharkb8

    Has anyone successfully gotten an interview or accepted to a top MFA program without having all the required recommendation letters?

    They told me the admissions team examines the applications before sending them on to the SCA, which happens a few weeks after apps are received. But they had me send an in progress transcript. You should call them and see what they’ll accept.
  19. sharkb8

    Has anyone successfully gotten an interview or accepted to a top MFA program without having all the required recommendation letters?

    Yikes, that must be stressful. Sorry you’re going through that. I’m afraid it’s not going to work to only send 2. When I applied to USC, they wouldn’t even send my application to the admissions committee until I verified my additional certificate. I had sent transcripts of my undergraduate...
  20. sharkb8

    USC MFA Film & Television Production Spring 2019

    I don’t think the Facebook group is USC sanctioned. It’s just a group Nidhi created to try to meet other people from this class. Nobody has been added to it in the time I’ve been in it. I still don’t know how many people will be in my class or if USC plans on giving us an official Facebook page...

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