What is USC MFA Film Production really like? AMA with Current USC Film Production Student

[pmj]

Hey everyone - I just finished my first year in the program (was a dream come true, 10/10 would recommend).

I wanted to extend myself/my experience to you all and answer any questions you may have about what Year 1 is like. Feel free to ask here or hit up my DM’s

 

[vichobarraza]

Hey everyone - I just finished my first year in the program (was a dream come true, 10/10 would recommend).

I wanted to extend myself/my experience to you all and answer any questions you may have about what Year 1 is like. Feel free to ask here or hit up my DM’s

I would like to know how demanding the program is, specifically in terms of time commitment. Is there enough time to eventually work as a Teaching Assistant or do an internship?

If I were to have a TA position or an internship, would there still be enough free time to maintain an active social life?

On the other hand, can I choose the number and type of courses I want to take? Also, if I’m more interested in directing and screenwriting, would I be able to take more classes related to those areas?

Is there anything you would recommend for the first year of the program, specially for foreign students?

 

[pmj]

I would like to know how demanding the program is, specifically in terms of time commitment. Is there enough time to eventually work as a Teaching Assistant or do an internship?

If I were to have a TA position or an internship, would there still be enough free time to maintain an active social life?

On the other hand, can I choose the number and type of courses I want to take? Also, if I’m more interested in directing and screenwriting, would I be able to take more classes related to those areas?

Is there anything you would recommend for the first year of the program, specially for foreign students?

I’m so sorry for the delay, here ya go:

You aren’t allowed to TA in your first year, and it’s for the better. I refer to the first year as bootcamp. It’s pretty intense - totally manageable and whatnot, but being on campus for 13-15 hours was something that happened quite a few times. 507 and 508, the main production classes in your first year, are huge time consumers. Especially 508, it’s an incredibly demanding course. In fact, you know how AFI is known for being really rigorous? Well, I just met up with a friend from AFI recently and we talked about our first years and they didn’t know how I survived the last semester haha. It’s a chaotic pressure cooker by design, but it’s also a really fun experience in its own way. You also have zero say in what your class schedule is for the first year. It was especially hard because I was/am holding down a job, but thankfully it was understanding of my schedule and there’s much more of a balance with that and school going into year two. However, people who didn’t have a job were equally as consumed, so it was a universal thing.

As for social life, it takes a hit, but again that’s mostly a year 1 thing. I didn’t see people outside of the program for weeks on end at times, but eventually found time to make it happen. It’s a commitment, and the first year is no joke.

They say you’re taking 3 classes in the first semester and 2 in the second, but you’re actually taking 7 in the first semester and 6 in the second. 507 is counted as one class but you have a specific class for each discipline with a specific teacher for that class (Producing, Sound, Editing, Cinematography). So that’s 4. They made directing its own class, so that’s 5. Then you have Visual Expression taught by Bruce Block (incredible class), that’s 6. Then you have a screenwriting class, where you spend the semester writing the film you will shoot in the following semester for 508. That’s 7 classes.

As for the second semester, 508 is 5 classes (directing, producing, sound, editing, cinematography). Then you take Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis (another great class). That’s 6.

So imagine all of those things, with assignments for each one, and bigger assignments on top of that. It’s a lot, and it’s 100% worth it. The social life will return.


After that, the program becomes à la carte. You can take whatever you’d like within production, and I believe we have 5 screenwriting classes we are allowed to take as production students as well (I’m signed up for one this fall, pretty excited about it). So like you, I’m more interested in those areas. So I have a directing class I was able to get into this semester (was super lucky, registration is anxiety inducing for that class lol, it’s incredibly popular), a writing class, and a critical studies class (you have to take 6 units of critical studies, and this satisfies 4 of them for me, and the subject is Scorsese so I jumped on it. The subjects change each semester so if it is ever one you’re interested in, grab it). Also, a side note: save the final 2 units of critical studies for your last semester. If you happen to take all 6 early and then fulfill your requirements for everything else, you’re done with the program and can’t take anything else. So if you want your full 3 years worth, it’s a hack I’ve been told to do and I will be doing it.

As for recommendations, I’d say just come in with the expectation that it’s going to be a lot, but it’s all doable. Everyone has done it before you - minus the people who couldn’t handle it. We lost 6 students in the first year. But honestly, it’s just a matter of time management. I’d say communication is the biggest thing. You’ll be placed in different trios each semester (for 507 and 508) and will have to do everything with those people, so the sooner you guys set up a line of communication, discuss how you communicate, have a plan of attack for the semester, etc - the better you will be. The majority of people who had issues in year 1 had them because they didn’t have a group that communicated well, or they didn’t take the time to learn the ways in which their group communicated and adapted to those styles.


Feel free to ask anything else!

 

[Chris W]

salsa schedule

 

[pmj]

Fixed - can you tell I’m hungry?

 

[Chris W]

Ha I'm sure. Great write-up! Makes me want to go back to film school lol. Sounds like a blast.

 

[pmj]

Ha I'm sure. Great write-up! Makes me want to go back to film school lol. Sounds like a blast.

it’s actually a lot of fun, despite all of the stuff that sounds daunting above. It’s honestly not daunting, you just need to be mentally prepared to commit that much of your time and of yourself to the process the first year

 

[JGSFilms]

Were you a waitlist student? If so, how was your experience waiting for the call? How different might the experience be starting in the spring vs the fall?

 

[pmj]

Were you a waitlist student? If so, how was your experience waiting for the call? How different might the experience be starting in the spring vs the fall?

I was! It was…stressful, if I’m being honest

I know of a few people who got off of it during the summer, around late June and mid July, I think 2-3 of them. Then 4 of us in the waitlist group chat we had going (there were about 21 people in it at the time) all got a call 2 weeks before classes started, so mid August, checking in on our status and telling us they expect some movement to happen and can’t guarantee anything, but just want to see how ready we were. I told them I was local and ready. 3 of the 4 got calls to get off the waitlist, but they all asked to defer since they were out of state. So even though I was local, I was lower on the list apparently.

When that got shared in the chat, I called the woman back roughly a week after the initial call. Her tone was much more neutral, kind of brushing me off and it felt like they had given those spots that were passed on by the people I knew to some waitlisted students we hadn’t connected with yet (for the record, they let the people defer to the spring since it was such a late notification. However, if you’re asked anytime before mid August, and you say you don’t want accept, then your status is revoked and you have to reapply). So in a Hail Mary attempt, I told her that my job is super flexible and if they needed me to start literally the week of classes or anything, I’d be able to make it work. Her tone couldn’t have changed any quicker, and she said she’d make a note of that.

Then later that week on Friday I got a call at around 1pm telling me there was an international student who had been accepted for the Fall but they hadn’t heard anything from them. They didn’t even know if they were in the states. She said she had to ask some people, but she was 99% sure the spot would be mine and that I’d find out by Monday, which was the start of classes.

I got a call 20 min later telling me she spoke to some people and they’re offering the spot and to get down to campus asap to catch the end of orientation if I could.

It was a whirlwind, and it was awesome, and I’d do it over exactly the same way if I could.


As for any difference, the main one is that you have longer to prep your 508 since you have the summer, so you can work on doing a ton of preproduction and whatnot (though you can’t get locations or anything until you get your production number from usc, which happens when the semester starts, but you can’t at least collect a ton of data and options for the shoot).

Other than that, it’s pretty much the same experience really. You will be begged by the Fall people to crew on their 508’s when you’re in your first semester, since you’re only allowed for the crews on those films to be USC students below your level (so first semester MFA or undergrad) unless a waiver has been given by a teacher and someone outside has been approved.

But other than that? There isn’t much of a difference. It’s the same classes, with the same teachers, just starting 4 months later than the other half of the class.

 

[JGSFilms]

I was! It was…stressful, if I’m being honest

I know of a few people who got off of it during the summer, around late June and mid July, I think 2-3 of them. Then 4 of us in the waitlist group chat we had going (there were about 21 people in it at the time) all got a call 2 weeks before classes started, so mid August, checking in on our status and telling us they expect some movement to happen and can’t guarantee anything, but just want to see how ready we were. I told them I was local and ready. 3 of the 4 got calls to get off the waitlist, but they all asked to defer since they were out of state. So even though I was local, I was lower on the list apparently.

To this point specifically, and the part about the folks who got the call but asked to defer....do you know if they were granted their requests to defer? I know there's been some uncertainty amongst some folks who are waitlisted about if they would allow that, even if they made calls super close to the start of the semester. I'm kind of in a similar spot as the folks you referenced here being a waitlisted student who lives on the other side of the country. Like if push comes to shove, I'd work it out but if that deferring option is there and is viable that would probably be best for me in a scenario like that.

Also another question; how large was your cohort?

Thanks for doing this btw! It's been a lot happening around me so USC hasn't been at the forefront of my mind lately but hearing your experiences and stuff has gotten me excited again so I appreciate it.

 

[pmj]

To this point specifically, and the part about the folks who got the call but asked to defer....do you know if they were granted their requests to defer? I know there's been some uncertainty amongst some folks who are waitlisted about if they would allow that, even if they made calls super close to the start of the semester. I'm kind of in a similar spot as the folks you referenced here being a waitlisted student who lives on the other side of the country. Like if push comes to shove, I'd work it out but if that deferring option is there and is viable that would probably be best for me in a scenario like that.

Also another question; how large was your cohort?

Thanks for doing this btw! It's been a lot happening around me so USC hasn't been at the forefront of my mind lately but hearing your experiences and stuff has gotten me excited again so I appreciate it.

Yes, if you’re asked to come off the waitlist within a few weeks of the semester starting, and you tell them it would just be way too hard to do with moving cross country/internationally on such short notice and if it would be possible to simply wait to start in the spring, they’ll let you. However, I believe if you’re within roughly a month out or later, you’re expected to accept and if you don’t, they won’t let you defer. Someone I know got the news they were off the waitlist in July and they lived in New York and they had to accept or reapply, they made it work!

And it’s 60 for Fall, 60 for Spring, 120 total - though they absolutely feel like different groups the first year. I assume it will feel a bit more unified once we all start taking classes together, or at least have the ability to do so, once the spring cohort finishes Fall 2026

Also, when we went to admitted students day we asked them what the acceptance rate was and it ended up being something like 7% (and I believe that includes the waitlisted students) so it’s a hell of an accomplishment

Absolutely, I’ll help answer whatever I can

 

[fufukuro]

How does getting selected to make a thesis work? I know you have to apply and they pick 10 (?) people, is that number across your cohort or across each year (up to 120 people from fall/spring?)?

Is it the same way for the other higher directing classes (series, doc, narrative) where it's offered fall/spring so you have 2 chances to direct something there?

 

[pmj]

How does getting selected to make a thesis work? I know you have to apply and they pick 10 (?) people, is that number across your cohort or across each year (up to 120 people from fall/spring?)?

Is it the same way for the other higher directing classes (series, doc, narrative) where it's offered fall/spring so you have 2 chances to direct something there?

This is something I’m still trying to get an understanding of, I’ll have a better answer for you in a day or two

But yes, regarding the being offered in both semesters - but 581/582 (thesis) is a 4 semester commitment, and your last chance to be qualified or eligible to do it is the summer of your last year. You need to take 573, which is a prerequisite to 581/582 and serves as a prep course for an advance project at the school. Then you have to take 3 semesters of 581/582, so you’d have to, at the very latest, take 573 in the spring of your second year and then start the 581/582 journey during the summer before your final year. The difference between 581/582 is as follows: 581 is USC backed, so you get to use the school insurance and gear. 582 is fully independent and can be done anywhere (popular with international students who want to shoot back home) but the school gives you absolutely no assistance with gear or insurance. Both projects are self funded.

Speaking of funding, the only project that I believe is funded via the school is 546, which is Production III. 3 projects are picked, helmed by a director, producer and writer (all who have to apply, be shortlisted, pitch their idea, and be picked) and are given $12,000 for their project. Every other project at USC (to my knowledge, I may be wrong but I’m pretty sure this is the case) is self funded.

In 507/508, you will be expected to front the bill on top of your tuition, and 508 has a max budget of $1750, so that comes out of pocked

Also, you’ll need to buy 2 hard drives for your first year, also out of pocket, and the prices have skyrocketed with the AI data center situation. The one the school recommends, the 4TB Samsung T9 SSD, was about $250 a hard drive when I bought mine in August 2025. Those same exact drives are now $1200 per drive. So just be aware of the additional cost of things

 

[Chris W]

The difference between 581/582 is as follows: 581 is USC backed, so you get to use the school insurance and gear. 582 is fully independent and can be done anywhere (popular with international students who want to shoot back home) but the school gives you absolutely no assistance with gear or insurance. Both projects are self funded.

Speaking of funding, the only project that I believe is funded via the school is 546, which is Production III. 3 projects are picked, helmed by a director, producer and writer (all who have to apply, be shortlisted, pitch their idea, and be picked) and are given $12,000 for their project. Every other project at USC (to my knowledge, I may be wrong but I’m pretty sure this is the case) is self funded.

This is great! I updated the project funding info on the page for USC:

USC School of Cinematic Arts

For more than 90 years, the University of Southern California has trained the next generation of prolific filmmakers. As the nation's first institution of higher learning to offer a bachelor's degree in film, the School of Cinematic Arts remains at the forefront of emerging filmmaking trends...

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Get your peers to review! It is only 3.72 stars out of 5 now.

The one the school recommends, the 4TB Samsung T9 SSD, was about $250 a hard drive when I bought mine in August 2025. Those same exact drives are now $1200 per drive. So just be aware of the additional cost of things

Wow. Thanks AI rush. I'm trying to get a Mac Studio to replace my edit system and they're gone in seconds from refurbished store. Might just put in a new order.