USC Film Production for Fall 2011

[HI FILM]

I live in LA , it should come to me first. Postman hasn't come yet today. I will let you know as soon as I get my rejection

 

[saintman]

@ HI FILM
It makes more sense if they decide to e-mail!!

 

[HI FILM]

Sure. But They still use letters. I dont know why.

 

[saintman]

It would be cool to get rejected via postal mail after all this waiting & ****! Guess have to wait some more!!

 

[Aglick]

@jconverse. Where in AZ you from. Im in new orleans for school but Im from mesa. Also, I feel your pain, but you got to assume that they have their **** together. After all, they wouldn't be ranked #1 in the world if they didn't know how to pick applicants. Just have faith and know if your worth the acceptance, youll get it, if not do what it takes to get there and hopefully that will only make you a better person along the way. That is the mindset I'm of.

 

[usc_hopeful]

Originally posted by saintman:
Its hard for me to say this but at this point of time I aint hoping much, just hoping that they would be mailing their decision soon so that I can get my life back!

By the way many have confirmed here that USC people have started mailing people; so did anyone receive anything in the last 2 days? Probably they are sending postal mails to make it worse!!

@ usc_hopeful

Did they call for an interview, how did it go? I've been told most of the people who sit for an interview get through.

Best wishes to all ..

They did, I got an e-mail notice to arrange a time, and had a 20 minute or so casual conversation. I thought it went pretty well at the time, of course after a few days you start second guessing your answers. USC was always my reach school, and I know how hard it is to get in, so I'm keeping my expectations realistic. But I don't think any of us should be giving up hope yet : ) It's still early in the decision making process!

 

[SurferJon]

Hey guys, quick question. Does anyone know if USC's classes are going to teach us about the nature of the film industry, such as about business practices and whatnot? For my last quarter here at UCI, I have the option of taking either a class on "The Blockbuster" or a class on "Writing for Television." Not sure which I should take...

Here's their descriptions, btw:

FLM&MDA (S11) 190 THE BLOCKBUSTER STEIMER, L.

This course examines the history of the blockbuster film via an analysis of marketing tactics, exhibition strategies, financing options, and distribution patterns. In this course we will consider the manner in which the blockbuster inherits from previous formulas like the ?prestige picture? and tends towards the ?high concept? paradigm. We will also examines the specificities of the reception contexts for particular films and address the question of why films that were designed to be blockbusters have failed. This course necessitates a knowledge of film terminology but the approach to the films that we screen is more inclined to an analysis of films as products than toward formal analytics. Topics addressed in this class include: product placement, audience research, marketing: trailers, posters, tie-ins, soundtrack and score design, release patterns, casting considerations, and the tendency of producers to green light ?pre-sold? properties.

FLM&MDA (S11) 190 WRITING TELEVISION DAUCHAN, D.

A writing-intensive class, in which the TV drama format will be used to explore character, story-telling, and scene-development. Using The Wire as a model, we will compare and contrast its' n...ovelistic presentation to more traditional approaches. Weekly writing exercises and in-class free-writes will culminate in a television pilot treatment, teaser & first act.

Maybe I should make another thread for people who have gotten in so I don't clog up this thread with questions? What do you guys think?

 

[Suskind]

Hello everyone! I've been accepted to USC Film Production for Fall 2011 and I'm now wondering how a short film is made in the graduate first year production course such as CTPR 507 or CTPR 508?

Is it a (self-chosen or assigned) group that collaborates on a project, or does each student work on their own project, with help from their classmates?

Thank you!

 

[saintman]

Congrats Suskind! When did you get to hear the good news? Did you sit for an interview or you received direct acceptance?

Best Wishes ..

 

[Suskind]

Thank you, @saintman! I was never interviewed and I was one of the first to hear about my acceptance, according to this board? I just got an email letting me know that I'm in on February 23rd.

 

[Procallout]

Originally posted by Suskind:
I'm now wondering how a short film is made in the graduate first year production course such as CTPR 507 or CTPR 508?

Is it a (self-chosen or assigned) group that collaborates on a project, or does each student work on their own project, with help from their classmates?

Thank you!

Unless things have changed, there are a lot of chances to direct your own project(s) in 507/508. Basically you should direct at least one of your own scripts in the 4 shorts made in 507, but in terms of the group project, those scripts are chosen by faculty. In 508 you will write and direct, but there are lots of limitations on those (no sync, only 5 & 1/2 mins). I think the groups tend to be self chosen.

 

[SurferJon]

Hey guys, in the second packet USC sent me, I noticed this:

"Your admission to the School of Cinematic Arts is contingent on your receipt of an admittance letter from the University's Director of Admission. If you have not already received it, you should received the letter by March 04, 2011."

Not sure if that's just for me or for everyone...

 

[Suskind]

@Procallout

Thanks a lot! Lessons in collaboration, I bet.

 

[Creartive_Mind]

Hey can anyone tell me how important sticking to the 1000 word limit.... I have around 100 words extra in my SOP do you think that could be a problem ???

Anyone else with extra than 1000 words get in... ???

 

[xenophilius]

Originally posted by SurferJon:
Hey guys, in the second packet USC sent me, I noticed this:

"Your admission to the School of Cinematic Arts is contingent on your receipt of an admittance letter from the University's Director of Admission. If you have not already received it, you should received the letter by March 04, 2011."

Not sure if that's just for me or for everyone...

I got that too. I'm pretty sure they're just referring to the forms that were in the first packet. Nothing to worry about.

Originally posted by Creartive_Mind:
Hey can anyone tell me how important sticking to the 1000 word limit.... I have around 100 words extra in my SOP do you think that could be a problem ???

Anyone else with extra than 1000 words get in... ???

Mine was 1,500. The word count doesn't actually matter that much I don't think. It'd be silly if it did. I think they just don't want you to send something insanely long and boring.

What do you guys think?

I'd definitely do the writing one. The Blockbuster one sounds like BS, unless you want to be a producer maybe, but the writing one sounds like fun, and you might get a good script out of it that you can send to agents and so on. (If you do a good job, that is.)

 

[Mirpanda]

Originally posted by Creartive_Mind:
Hey can anyone tell me how important sticking to the 1000 word limit.... I have around 100 words extra in my SOP do you think that could be a problem ???

Anyone else with extra than 1000 words get in... ???

I didn't go over the word limit for the ps, but I did go over the page limit for the dialogue scene. I couldn't cut the extra half page without sacrificing the integrity of the scene.

I'm with Xenophilius. The word limit is there to encourage concision- a tight and focused personal showcase. If it's good, and exceeds the typically desired length for good reason, then it's okay.

 

[Mirpanda]

Hey Suskind! Congratulations and welcome to the board!

 

[Suskind]

@Mirpanda! Thank you and thank you! Are you for sure planning on attending USC?

 

[Suskind]

Also, I agree with @SurferJon, maybe there needs to be another thread for any questions about the school itself and not the admissions process?

 

[mongoose]

Quick question for you all ---- did anyone submit an outline as a writing sample? (Option 1: An outline for a four-minute film that contains no dialogue. It can be fiction or non-fiction. The story has to be communicated visually.)

I'm just wondering if the word "outline" means something specific in terms of formatting. Thank you!