Outside the Box [Office] invites you and a guest to attend

A Special Sneak Preview Screening of

LIFEHACK

World Premiere: 2025 SXSW Film Festival

Directed by Ronan Corrigan
Written by Hope Elliot Kemp
Produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Joann Kushner, and Aleksander Kletsov

Followed by a Q&A with Timur Bekmambetov
Moderated by SCA Professor Alex McDowell

7:00 P.M. on Monday, October 6th, 2025

The Eileen Norris Cinema Theater at the Frank Sinatra Hall
3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.
RSVPs ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Timur Bekmambetov will also sign copies of his book,
Screenlife: How To Start Making Movies
With Nothing But A Computer And A Story,
which is available for purchase on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Screenlife-Making-Movies-Nothing-Computer/dp/1917505930
 

About LifeHack

Four teenage hackers attempt to pull off a multi-million dollar bitcoin heist from the comfort of their own bedrooms.

Provided courtesy of the filmmaker. Running time: 96 minutes.

About Screenlife: How To Start Making Movies With Nothing But A Computer And A Story

In Screenlife: How To Start Making Movies With Nothing But A Computer And A Story, Bekmambetov and other creators of the most successful screenlife films guide you through the entire moviemaking experience, from coming up with an idea and writing a screenplay to shooting, editing, and distributing your screenlife film. Along the way, they unveil challenges, tips, and professional tricks to help you avoid common mistakes and successfully make your first movie ever having just a digital device and a story.

Buy Screenlife on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com//dp/1917505930

About the Guests

TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV (Producer)

Timur Bekmambetov is an acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker and producer, known for creating technologically innovative and visually arresting genre films.

His directorial debut in Hollywood was Marc Millar's comic book adaptation WANTED (2008) which starred Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy. The action film grossed $341 million, earned two Oscar nominations. Bekmambetov's new film as a director is sci-fi thriller MERCY for Amazon MGM Studios, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, which he also produced alongside Oscar-winning producer Charles Roven (OPPENHEIMER).

Bekmambetov is the pioneer of screenlife films in which the action is set from the point of view of smartphone and computer screens as characters utilize their devices that drive the narrative forward. His debut screenlife production - a teen horror pic UNFRIENDED (2015) went on to gross more than $65 million against a budget of $1 million. His next screenlife production, SEARCHING (2018) starring John Cho, became a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival, grossing over $75 million. This film has also spawned sequel MISSING (2023) starring Emmy-winning Storm Reid that grossed $48.8 million and topped Netflix US movie chart. His latest screenlife production - the digital heist film LIFEHACK (2025) - premiered this March at SXSW and received a sensational 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

ALEX McDOWELL (Moderator, SCA Faculty)

Designer. Royal Designer for Industry. Creative director, production designer, professor, world builder. British citizen, US citizen, living in the US since 1986.

He has been a production designer and creative director in film, game, animation, theatre and other media for over 30 years.

Alex is an advocate and originator of the narrative design system world building. His practice incorporates design and storytelling across media in education, research, institutions, corporations, and entertainment media.

He is co-founder & creative director of Experimental Design, Professor of Cinematic Practice at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Director of the USC World Building Institute & World Building Media Lab, USC William Cameron Menzies Endowed Chair in Production Design, founder of the the JUNK Consortium, Associate Professor at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, The Bridge Institute. He’s written and talked a lot about narrative design, for a long time, in many places, to many people.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu
 

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu