My Favorite USC Class (CTCS 466)

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

What if I told you you could get college credit for watching newly released films and speaking with their filmmakers? I can’t think of a cooler opportunity. CTCS 466, or Theatrical Film Symposium, is one of USC’s most iconic classes. 

I’m currently enrolled in CTCS 466, which I intentionally planned to take during my final semester at USC. Watching movies is already a big part of my life, but now I’m saving money on movie tickets. This class is movie night with added academic benefits. It’s truly an opportunity you shouldn’t miss out on, so here’s why you should plan to take it during your time at USC. 

Class Structure

The class is held every Thursday from 6-10pm in Norris Theater. This time seems unnecessarily long, but every minute is necessary. The first hour is class discussion, including comments from the professor and time for students to voice their opinions about last week’s movie. 

After a ten minute break, the next two hours are for watching the movie of the week. It’s always a current or upcoming release, and this access to films before their theatrical release makes the class truly special. So far this semester we’ve watched Close, Missing, and A Knock at the Cabin. I’m personally excited for the chance to see some Marvel films, since I heard last semester they watched Wakanda Forever. 

The last hour caps it off with a guest speaker who worked on the film including directors, producers, and screenwriters. So far these talks have been incredibly insightful, not just about the film itself but also about the industry. Another great thing about the class is that you can fill out a form to bring a friend who’s not in the class with you! There’s always the chance there will be too much demand to get a guest ticket, but I was able to go with a friend a couple times last semester. 

Professor

The professor for this course is Leonard Maltin, a film critic and film historian. When I was talking about the course with my dad and mentioned the professor’s name, I got a surprised reaction as he said, “I know him; he’s famous!” It’s easy to tell how passionate Professor Maltin is, and he has interesting insight after being in the film industry for so many years. 

Grading/Assignments

This class is graded based on 3 written assignments and participation. Two of the written assignments are 4 pages, and the last one is a 4-6 page final. They are written about the movies we watch, the guest speakers, and class readings. Participation is important too, and this means coming to class, being on-time, and adding thoughtful comments to discussions and asking meaningful questions to the guest speakers. Be aware that the class is really big – around 300 people – so being able to jump in quickly is crucial for the opportunity.

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