The Peter Stark Producing Program

Master of Fine Arts

Approximately 25 Peter Stark Program students are enrolled each fall (there are no spring admissions) in a 44-unit program leading to a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Motion Picture Producing. The curriculum emphasizes both the managerial and the creative. It was developed for film school graduates who seek careers in producing or in executive capacities, for business school graduates who want education in the specifics of the motion picture industry and for college graduates of other disciplines who wish to prepare for a career in the entertainment field.

A minimum of 44 units of 400-level and 500-level courses is required for the Peter Stark Producing Program leading to the M.F.A. degree. There are no prerequisites. Students are required to take a two-semester sequence of production courses, CMPP 541aL and 541bL Production Workshop, in their first year. CMPP 541aL covers the basic principles of visual communication and students produce two or three Super 8mm, non-synchronous sound films. While taking CMPP 541bL during the second semester, students work in teams of three, making two 16mm non-synchronous sound films which are generally 8-10 minutes long. Equipment for both courses is provided by the school. Students with sufficient production experience may, with departmental approval, opt to produce a film in conjunction with the Production Department instead of one semester of this class. In lieu of a thesis, the completion requirement is a fully-developed film project and marketing/distribution plan.

An internship period between school years gives students an opportunity to observe actual producing and executive operations with participating independent producers and film companies. The internship period is of eight weeks duration during the months of May, June and July. The internships are subject to availability and academic performance in the first year of studies.

Inquiries regarding the program should be addressed to: Lawrence Turman, Director, The Peter Stark Program, USC School of Cinema-Television, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211. Telephone (213) 740-3304. FAX (213) 745-6652.

Sample Two-Year Requirements for the M.F.A. in Motion Picture Producing

Year One, First Semester		Units
CMPP 541aL	Production Workshop	2
CMPP 550	Script Analysis for the Producer	4
CMPP 562	Entertainment Law	2
CMPP 589a	Graduate Film Business Seminar	4
		____
		12

Year One, Second Semester		Units
CMPP 541bL	Production Workshop	4
CMPP 560	Script Development	2
CMPP 561	Motion Picture Marketing	2
CMPP 589b	Graduate Film Business Seminar	4
		____
		12

Year Two, First Semester		Units
CMPP 565	Production Budgeting	4
CMPP 566	Finance and Financing Films	2
CMPP 567	Studio Management	2
CMPP 568	Producing for Television	2
		____
		10

Year Two, Second Semester		Units
CMPP 563	Producing Symposium, or approved graduate-level CNTV course	2
CMPP 564	Producing Business Procedures	2
CMPP 569	Seminar on Non-Mainstream Producing	2
CMPP 592*	Individual Project Seminar	4
		____
		10

*In lieu of a thesis, students are required to complete a fully-developed film project with a budget and marketing/distribution plan.

Grade Point Average Requirement

Time Limit

The degree must be completed three years after the beginning of graduate work at USC. Course work more than seven years old is automatically invalidated and may not be applied toward the degree.

Next Section