PDF reflects print Film and Television Production
The Division of Film and Television Production of the School of Cinematic Arts offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Fine Arts degrees.
The primary goals of the degree programs in film and television production are to develop the student's ability to express original ideas on film or video and to instill a thorough understanding of the technical and aesthetic aspects of motion pictures and television. Courses in production provide individual and group filmmaking experiences and the opportunity to learn all aspects of filmmaking in a collaborative environment.
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts in Cinema-Television with a track in production is granted through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. Students study within a framework which combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession. Bachelor of Arts students are enrolled in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where they take their pre-professional courses, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units including 20 lower division units and 24 upper division units in Cinema-Television. A maximum of 40 School of Cinematic Arts upper division units will apply to the B.A. degree.
Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Undergraduate Production Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-2911 or online at cinema.usc.edu.
General Education Requirements
The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires 6 courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.
Production Sequence
Undergraduates admitted to the Film and Television Production Program are required to take CTPR 241 Fundamentals of Cinema Technique, CTPR 242 Fundamentals of Cinematic Sound and CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication. CTPR 241, CTPR 242 and CTPR 290 are introductory production courses taken either in the second semester of the sophomore year or the first semester of the junior year after a student has completed the minimum required units and requirements toward his or her USC degree. CTWR 413 Writing the Short Script I is taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 242 and CTPR 290, and these four courses are prerequisites for the next production sequence, CTPR 310 and CTPR 376.CTPR 241 is an experiential course dealing with the technical and aesthetic principles of producing, directing, cinematography, editing, sound and the development of ideas through a cinematic vocabulary.
CTPR 242 introduces cinematic sound design, recording, editing, mixing and finishing through lectures, demonstrations and exercises.
In CTPR 290 students are taught principles of film making through demonstrations, hands-on production and critical analysis. Each student makes five digital video non-dialogue projects using equipment supplied by the school. Approximately $1,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.
CTPR 310 Intermediate Film Production and CTPR 376 Intermediate Cinematography is the second required production sequence. These courses are also taken concurrently. In these workshops students work in teams of two, learning to collaborate and explore the expressive potential of sound and image through the production of two 16mm films. Both are non-dialogue projects. Each student directs and prepares the soundtrack for the project he or she has written and is cinematographer and editor for his or her partner's project. Most equipment and materials are provided by the school. However, approximately $2,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.
To qualify for enrollment in CTPR 310 and CTPR 376, students must fulfill all requirements outlined in the CTPR 310/376 guidelines distributed in CTPR 242. Students are required to form their own partnerships and will not be allowed to register and participate without having a qualified partner.
CTPR 310 and CTPR 376 are interrelated courses that cannot be taken separately. Therefore, should a student fail to achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) in either CTPR 310 or CTPR 376 (see the section on grade requirements) both courses must be retaken the subsequent semester.
Following CTPR 310 and CTPR 376, students must take one of the following courses: CTAN 448; CTPR 480; CTPR 484; CTPR 486.
CTAN 448 Introduction to Film Graphics-Animation is a practical course in concepts, media and techniques related to the graphic film.
In CTPR 480 Production Workshop I (prerequisite: CTPR 310, CTPR 376) production students form crews of eight to 10 persons to produce a synchronous sound project in one semester. Each student is responsible for a specific aspect of the production: director, line producer, assistant director, cinematographer, editor or sound.
Film/video stock, processing, equipment and facilities are provided by the school. There are extra personal expenses associated with all production workshops.
The selection of scripts and directors for the advanced production workshop (CTPR 480) is made by the production faculty. Note: To qualify to direct an advanced production workshop, a student must complete CTPR 480 (non-directing position) and take a specified directing class.
CTPR 484 Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop is a class in which students will produce a half-hour situation comedy pilot in one semester.
CTPR 486 Single Camera Television Dramatic Series (recommended preparation: CTPR 479) is a class in which students collaborate on the production and post-production of an original episodic drama, 44 minutes in length, that is shot on original sets.
CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTPR 310, CTPR 376, CTPR 480, CTPR 484 and CTPR 486 cannot be waived or substituted with another course or transfer credit under any circumstances.
| Course Requirements | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTCS 190 | Introduction to Cinema | 4 |
| CTCS 200 | History of the International Cinema I | 4 |
| CTCS 201 | History of the International Cinema II | 4 |
| CTPR 241 | Fundamentals of Cinema Technique (taken concurrently with CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413) | 2 |
| CTPR 242 | Fundamentals of Cinematic Sound | 2 |
| CTPR 290 | Cinematic Communication (taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTWR 413) | 4 |
| CTPR 310* | Intermediate Film Production (taken after CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413 and concurrently with CTPR 376) | 4 |
| CTPR 376* | Intermediate Cinematography (taken after CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413 and concurrently with CTPR 310) | 4 |
| CTWR 413 | Writing the Short Script I (taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290) | 2 |
| CTWR 414 | The Screenplay | 2 |
| and a choice of: | ||
| CTPR 371 | Directing for Television, or | |
| CTPR 475 | Directing: Mise-en-Scene (Prerequisite: CTPR 310 and CTPR 376) | 4 |
One of the following courses is required: | ||
| CTCS 392 | History of the American Film, 1925-1950 | 4 |
| CTCS 393 | History of the American Film, 1946-1975 | 4 |
| CTCS 394 | History of the American Film, 1977-Present | 4 |
| CTCS 400 | Non-Fiction Film and Television | 4 |
| CTCS 464 | Film and/or Television Genres | 4 |
| CTCS 469 | Film and/or Television Style Analysis | 4 |
One of the following courses is required subsequent to completing CTPR 310/376: | ||
| CTAN 448 | Introduction to Film Graphics--Animation | 4 |
| CTPR 480 | Production Workshop I (narrative or documentary or video) | 4 |
| CTPR 484 | Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop | 4 |
| CTPR 486 | Single Camera Television Dramatic Series | 4 |
Grade Point Average Requirements
A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A = 4.0), must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses. A grade of C- (1.7) or lower will not fulfill a major requirement.Students who do not earn the minimum grade of C (2.0) in CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTPR 310 and CTPR 376 after repeating these requirements will be disqualified from the program.
Limitations on Enrollment
No more than 40 upper-division units can be taken in the major without approval of the Dean, USC College.Registration in graduate level courses (numbered 500) for undergraduate credit requires prior approval of the School of Cinematic Arts.
Curriculum Review
Cinematic arts majors are expected to meet with an advisor every semester to review their progress. Contact the Cinematic Arts Student Affairs Office (Carson Television Center, Garden Level G-130), (213) 740-8358, for an appointment.Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts degree with a Film and Television Production track requires a minimum of 52 units in cinema-television at the 400 or 500 level. A thesis is not required for the M.F.A. degree.
Applications for the graduate production program are accepted for both fall and spring semesters. See a current Graduate Study Application for deadlines. Applicants must submit supplemental applications and materials to the Graduate Production Program. For specific instructions, contact the Cinematic Arts Office of Admission, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, (213) 740-2911 or online at cinema.usc.edu.
Graduate First Year Production Courses
CTPR 507 Production I (4 units), which brings together students from all School of Cinematic Arts divisions, introduces the fundamental principles of motion picture production, emphasizing visual and auditory communication. Each student makes several non-dialogue personal projects, serving as writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer and editor, and takes a crew role on a collaborative project. Projects are shot using digital cameras and edited on non-linear systems. Approximately $1,200 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees. Production students must take CTPR 507 concurrently with CTPR 510 Concepts of Cinematic Production, and CTWR 528 Screenwriting Fundamentals in the first semester.In CTPR 508 Production II (6 units), students working in crews of two produce two non-dialogue projects shot on 16mm film. The primary goal is to communicate effectively through sound/image relationships. Each student directs and prepares the soundtrack for the project he or she has written and is cinematographer and editor for his or her partner's project. Students must form their own partnerships and will not be allowed to register or participate without having a qualified partner. Most equipment and materials are provided by the school, but approximately $2,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees. CTPR 508 is taken concurrently with CTWR 529 and one of the following: CTCS 501, CTCS 502, CTCS 503, CTCS 504, CTCS 505.
A minimum grade of C (2.0) in CTPR 508 is required in order to continue in the Master of Fine Arts program. Students earning No Credit in CTPR 507 or lower than a C (2.0) in a core production course may repeat the requirement on a one time only basis upon approval of the division chair.
Students who do not earn a grade of credit (CR) in CTPR 507 or the minimum grade of C (2.0) in CTPR 508 or satisfy the degree requirements after repeating a required course will be disqualified from the program.
Our program is distinguished by the understanding and hands-on practice our graduates achieve in all media-making disciplines; at the same time, each student pursues specialized interests in years two and three. To qualify for the M.F.A., each must demonstrate mastery of at least one of six disciplines: writing, producing, directing, cinematography, editing or sound. In the discipline chosen, the candidate must register for and complete an advanced project, as well as the defined prerequisites.
CTPR 507, CTPR 508, CTPR 510, CTPR 546L, CTPR 581abcz, CTPR 583, CTPR 586ab and CTPR 587abcz cannot be waived or substituted with transfer credit under any circumstances.
Three-Year Requirements for the M.F.A. in Production
| Year One, First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTPR 507 | Production I | 4 |
| CTPR 510 | Concepts of Cinematic Production | 2 |
| CTWR 528 | Screenwriting Fundamentals | 2 |
| 8 | ||
| Year One, Second Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTCS 501 | History of Global Cinema Before World War II, or | |
| CTCS 502 | History of Global Cinema After World War II, or | |
| CTCS 503 | Survey History of the United States Sound Film, or | |
| CTCS 504 | Survey of Television History, or | |
| CTCS 505 | Survey of Interactive Media | 2 |
| CTPR 508 | Production II | 6 |
| CTWR 529 | Intermediate Screenwriting | 2 |
| 10 | ||
| Year Two, First and Second Semesters | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTPR 506 | Visual Expression | 2 |
| CTWR 516 | Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis | 2 |
One of the following courses: | ||
| CTCS 501 | History of Global Cinema Before World War II, or | |
| CTCS 502 | History of Global Cinema After World War II, or | |
| CTCS 503 | Survey History of the United States Sound Film, or | |
| CTCS 504 | Survey of Television History, or | |
| CTCS 505 | Survey of Interactive Media | 2 |
One of the following: | ||
| CTPR 546L | Production III, Fiction | 6, max 12 |
| CTPR 547L | Production III, Documentary | 6, max 12 |
One of the following: | ||
| CTPR 479 | Single Camera Television Dramatic Pilot | 2 |
| CTPR 497 | Music Video Production | 2 |
| CTPR 522 | Reality Television Survey | 2 |
| CTPR 523 | Introduction to Multiple-Camera Production | 2 |
| CTPR 572 | The World of Television: From Concept to Air and Everything in Between | 2 |
| CTIN 501 | Database Cinema | 2 |
Eight units from the required Cinematic Arts electives (10 units if a 4-unit version of Group Production Workshop is chosen): | ||
CTAN 443, CTAN 563, CTPR 484, CTPR 486, CTPR 531, CTPR 532, CTPR 533, CTPR 534, CTPR 535, CTPR 537, CTPR 538, CTPR 539, CTPR 540, CTPR 542, CTPR 552, CTPR 553*, CTPR 554, CTPR 555, CTPR 556, CTPR 557, CTPR 558, CTPR 559, CTPR 568, CTPR 573, CTWR 533ab, CTWR 553, CTWR 572, CTWR 574 | ||
| Year Three, First and Second Semesters | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| One of the following courses*: | ||
| CTIN 584L | Graduate Interactive Group Project | 4, max 8 |
| CTPR 581abcz | Individual Production Workshop | 4-2-2-0 |
| CTPR 582abz | Advanced Production Seminar | 2-2-0 |
| CTPR 583 | Graduate Television Production | 6 |
| CTPR 587abcz | Group Production Workshop | 4-2-2-0 |
| CTWR 553 | Advanced Screenwriting | 4 |
One of the following production courses: | ||
| CTPR 458 | Organizing Creativity: Entertainment Industry Decision Making | 2 |
| CTPR 496 | The Film Industry: Career Challenges for Women | 2 |
| CTPR 566 | Developing and Selling Your Film and TV Projects | 2 |
One of the following critical studies courses: | ||
| CTCS 464 | Film and/or Television Genres | 4 |
| CTCS 469 | Film and/or Television Style Analysis | 4 |
| CTCS 510 | Case Studies in National Media and/or Regional Media | 4 |
| CTCS 511 | Seminar: Non-Fiction Film/Video | 4 |
| CTCS 518 | Seminar: Avant-Garde Film/Video | 4 |
| CTCS 564 | Seminar in Film and Television Genres | 4 |
| CTCS 567 | Seminar in Film/Television and a Related Art | 4 |
| CTCS 569 | Seminar in Film and Television Authors | 4 |
| CTCS 587 | Seminar in Television Theory | 4 |
Cinematic Arts Electives
A minimum of 2 units of cinematic arts electives at the 400 and 500 level is required.
Grade Point Average Requirements
A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in all USC course work toward the master's degree. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.
Time Limit
Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master's degree at all times. The time limit to complete all requirements is three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is invalidated and will not be applied toward the degree. Students are expected to meet with a faculty advisor every semester.