The Film & Television Production program emphasizes exploration of the student filmmaker's creative voice through hands-on filmmaking. Students learn all aspects of cinematic storytelling from writing and producing to directing, post-production and cinematography.

The faculty panel evaluates applications for originality, clarity, personal insight and artistic excellence.

Application Overview

The following items must be submitted to be considered for admission to the Film & Television Production program.

  • The Common Application
  • USC Supplement to the Common Application
  • Cinematic Arts Supplemental Materials
    • Cinematic Arts Personal Statements (A & B are both required)
    • Writing Sample (pick one: A or B or C)
    • Visual Sample (Video or Photo Option)
    • Portfolio List
    • Letters of Recommendation (3)
  • Official High School Transcripts
  • Official SAT or ACT Test Scores
  • Official TOEFL Test Scores ( (International Students Only)

All matters relating to admission are the applicant's responsibility. When submitting an application, make sure you have completed all screens of the online process. The application system allows you to check your application to verify your application materials have been uploaded and submitted. Incomplete applications, or applications not submitted, cannot be considered.

Application Deadlines

  • Freshmen Applicants (First-Year): December 1 (Fall Only)

*View all Application Deadlines.

USC Application Process

In an effort to streamline the application process, USC now uses the Common Application exclusively. Students wishing to apply for admission to the 2012-2013 academic year should submit the Common Application and the USC Supplement, both of which can be accessed at The Common Application website.

For additional information please visit USC's Undergraduate Admission website.

Cinematic Arts Supplemental Materials (Clearly title all documents)

As part of the application process, all students looking to be considered for admission to the Film & Television Production program are required to submit supplemental materials to support their application. These supplemental materials must be submitted via USC's Supplement to the Common Application.

The following supplemental materials are required for admission consideration to the Film & Television Production program:

  1. Cinematic Arts Personal Statements - (Both A and B are required)
    1. The personal statement will be read by the Film & Television Production Admission Committee as a measure of creativity, self-awareness and vision. There is no standard format or correct answer. We are looking for a sense of you as a unique individual and how your distinctive experiences, characteristics, background, values and/or views of the world have shaped who you are and what you want to say as a creative filmmaker. Be specific, vivid and focused. We are not interested in a laundry list of personality traits or a resume of accomplishments. We want to know your passions, your beliefs, and the kind of stories you want to tell. (1,000 words or less)
    2. The Production Program is committed to providing students with a broad understanding of both fiction and nonfiction filmmaking, in cinema, television and new media, and in the major creative roles of writing, producing, directing, cinematography, editing and sound. After being exposed to all these forms and roles, students often choose to concentrate on a particular discipline. Given what you know now (and without committing yourself in any way) tell us which of the above aspects of filmmaking seems of particular interest to you and why. (200 words or less)
  2. Writing Sample (choose one) Clearly title which writing sample you choose
    1. An outline for a four-minute film that contains no dialogue. It can be fiction or non-fiction. The story has to be communicated visually. (no more than two pages)
    2. A dialogue scene between two people. Provide a one-paragraph introduction describing the two characters in screenplay format. (no more than three pages)
    3. Describe a concept for a feature-length movie, fiction or documentary, which you would like to develop. (No more than two pages)
  3. Visual Sample (choose one) Provide the URL for your visual sample
    • Video Option: Create a brief narrative video in which you had a major creative role. The video can be either live-action or animation, fiction or documentary, but it should reflect your aesthetic tastes and intellectual and emotional interests. (no more than five minutes)
    • Photo Option: Prepare a series of six photographs you have taken which, when viewed in a specific sequence, portray a unique and original character or which tells a simple narrative story. Also, include a two page narrative about the character that is being portrayed in the photos. The images may either be black-and-white or in color. If possible, please upload the required two page narrative onto the website (Photobucket, Flickr, etc) where photos are accessible. Otherwise you may upload the narrative directly to the application under another available writing sample field. Please clearly label this document as "Visual Sample - Photo Option Narrative".
  4. Portfolio List

    5. The portfolio list is a written record of the applicant's creative materials. It should include a concise description of each project, the month and year the project was completed, the applicant's creative role and the purpose of the project. The material, which does not need to be film- or television-related, should give an idea of the range and depth of the applicant's creative ability. Formal recognition - such as awards, publications, jobs and exhibitions - should be noted. The name of the institution or publication should be included when listing creative materials prepared for a class or publication. An example of the portfolio list is below:

    • July 2008, A Day in the Life, digital video, 12 minutes. Position: writer/director. A documentary on a homeless Iraq vet who has lived on the streets since his return from the military. Created for senior-year multimedia term project, San Raphael High School, Miami, Florida.
    • March 2008, Doorways, a series of 5 black-and-white photographs. Position: photographer. "Second Prize Winner" in the Des Moines Sunday Journal photo contest.
    • February 2007, Cellomorphosis, short story. Position: writer. A variation on the novella by Franz Kafka; published in Writing, vol. IV, 2007, at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts.
  5. Letters of Recommendation (One letter must be an academic reference)

    6. Three letters of recommendation (no particular format) are required. Any letters submitted as part of your University application can be used towards the three letters of recommendation required for the Cinematic Arts application. Please submit any letters of recommendation online via the Common Application. If your recommender is unwilling to submit their letters online, please have them mail your letters to USC's Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants are responsible for verifying that letters of recommendation have been received by USC.

High School Transcripts

Official transcripts from all High Schools attended must be submitted to USC. Request official transcripts to be sent directly from your High School to USC's Office of Undergraduate Admissions at:

University of Southern California
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0911

TOEFL (International Students Only)

All international applicants (freshmen and transfer) whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. International freshmen applicants with minimum scores of 600 on SAT Critical Reading or 27 on ACT English are exempt from taking the TOEFL exam.

The minimum recommended TOEFL score is:

  • Computer Based Test (CBT): 250
  • Internet Based Test (IBT): 100
  • Paper Based Test (PBT): 600-603

Note: These scores may not be more than two years old at the time of application.

USC's institution code for TOEFL Registration is 4852. There is no Department Code. It is recommended that applicants take the TOEFL exam at least one month prior to the application deadline.

Freshman applicants who are from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec) where English is both the first language of the country and the language of instruction, are presumed to be proficient in English.

SAT or ACT Test Scores (Required of all Freshmen Applicants)

USC requires scores from the SAT or the ACT (with the optional writing component) from all freshmen applicants, including International Students. For students who take the SAT more than once, USC records the highest scores for each section - Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing -- even if achieved in different sittings. For students taking the ACT, USC will record the highest composite score.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Many financial aid and scholarship processes run concurrently with the admissions process. Be sure to research and apply for financial aid and scholarships as you are applying for admission. There are many grants and scholarships that are available through the University of Southern California. Please feel free to email us at studentservices@cinema.usc.edu for specific information or if you have any questions.