Everytime I tell someone that I used to be in SCA, they have a visceral reaction. Usually it falls somewhere in between shocked and straight up shaming me for leaving the program. Yes, there is no denying that getting into the School of Cinematic Arts is an amazing opportunity – I will always be thankful that they gave me the chance to be a student there. This does not, however, change the fact that it was not for me.

In early March, the School of Cinematic Arts brought Bollywood: Big Screens + Streaming, a series of Bollywood movie screenings and panels, to campus. Acclaimed Hindi-language films including Gully Boy, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Raees were shown in theaters across campus and were followed by panels featuring Indian film industry icons like producer Ritesh Sidhwani, director Zoya Akhtar, and music composer Ankur Tewari.

CTCS 335-Motion Picture Editing is the first class I took for my upper division Cinematic Arts minor credits, and it did not disappoint. While I had no particular interest in editing before the class, I left it with a deep knowledge of Avid Media Composer, the production process for films, and truly gained an appreciation for the number of people involved in bringing a film to life. This was a very fulfilling course that showed me a different perspective on the film industry.

When I first arrived at USC, I knew I wanted to have a minor, mainly because I thought it would be cool to have a longer title when people asked me what I studied. But I also wanted to be able to explore as much as I could during my time at USC. I just wasn’t quite sure what route I wanted to go down. I am a business major, which is broad and provides a wide variety of opportunities. Since I’m not exactly passionate about my main field of study, the option to branch out into a minor was exciting.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to direct a film – especially a documentary? I’m here to tell you all about my experience taking CTPR 474: Documentary Production and the process of creating a 15-minute short documentary over the course of a semester.

One of USC’s greatest benefits is that virtually any field of study that piques your interest is available for you to pursue in greater detail. While having access to so many different opportunities is exciting, it can also be challenging to narrow down and choose what discipline best suits you. Conversations with your peers and gaining insight from other students can help narrow down your search. That's why I’m here to share with you why I chose to minor in Documentary at SCA and specialize in Web Development at Viterbi!

By: Lauren Liang ‘23

If you’re anything like me, you’ve combed through USC’s course catalog more times than you can count, scouring the website for the perfect minor. After hours of deliberation, cross-checking my academic progress, and exploring required courses for a plethora of minors, I decided to declare my first minor in Digital Studies, within the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA).

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

From screenings to guest speakers to performances, there’s constantly exciting things to do on the USC campus. But nothing’s worse than finding out about an event after it’s already happened. Read more about how to stay updated with USC events and find some upcoming ones to mark on your calendar.

By: Lauren Liang ‘23

Los Angeles is home to an incredible community of creatives, and USC’s student population is no exception. With 22 schools across the university, there is no shortage of talent. Enter Ally Wei: USC senior, photographer, creative director, multi-hyphenate extraordinaire, and founder of Fellows Collective. The Collective’s latest project is a short film titled ALL OF MY FEELINGS, and it needs your help to be produced!

By: Nancy Aguilar Sanchez ’22

Once you tap into the community and get to know more people at SCA, the inquiries will never stop. Regardless of your major or experience on a set, you’re needed!

By: Nancy Aguilar ‘22

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on a film set? Here’s a little run down from my experiences! :)

By: Nancy Aguilar ‘22

I transferred into the School of Cinematic Arts during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in January. Fall 2021 has been my first in-person experience at taking film production classes and I had no idea what I was getting into, but in hindsight that was probably for the better. I’m currently taking a Junior level course, the notorious CTPR310.