Originally posted by NZ:
Film - that's why I'm hesitant in going to USC. I'm not sure exactly how it works. If they own my films does that mean I cannot enter my films at all into any festivals?
To the contrary. USC actually has an entire festival department that helps students submit.
Top of mind, I can think of a 546, Alberto Belli's ZOMBO, that just won a Student Emmy, another from the same semester, Christine Berg's GET SOME, that got into Cannes, and Gregg Helvey's thesis, KAVI won the gold at the Student Oscars (and got a nomination in the 'real" Oscars as well, though Kavi did not win). These are among many, many others.
The current structure means you split any awards with the school as well. For example, I won a $2500 prize for one of my undergrad films, and a couple of USC students also got prizes. Much like an agency, the cash went to the school, and they cut a check for 50% of the award to the students. I, however, got to keep 100%, but then again, I didn't get the big festival push that the others did.
I believe AFI pays the SAG actors before they pay the students, and thus one ends up with 25% of the prize.
It sucks, but it is what it is. Far too often, people build things up to where they think the school is making all this money off of your films, you're gonna get some big distrib deal out of your short, but I gotta tell you, that's not realistic.
It's something that USC is changing, the copyright thing, in light of the internet. They had a colloquium on it last semester. Times are changing, but even still, the copyright thing shouldn't be your dealbreaker. As others mentioned, you retain the IP, and any glory received is yours, all yours, and you can definitely expand the project however you seem fit...i.e. THX 1138.
Honestly, the USC and AFI model are far more comparable to the studio system, where you'll never, ever own your films.
I really envy that you're going to enjoy the sunshine in california, Great!!Though we are not going to the same place, I really wish to meet you some day in future
