Production Stories

Student Oscars
USC Films Take Home Top Accolades
July 01, 2008
Students from the USC School of the Cinematic Arts were rewarded for months of late nights and hard work at the 2008 Student Academy Awards, where four Trojan films took home prizes, including two Gold Medals.

CU: Kevin Feige
Will Hulk SMASH Box-Office Records?
June 05, 2008
Kevin Feige, Production ’95, president of Marvel Studios, has been in the business of translating comic books to the silver screen for 10 years. With the resounding success of Iron Man, and the upcoming buzz on The Incredible Hulk, Feige and Marvel are making good on their commitment to provide the world with heroes.

Highly Animated
Experimental Animation Screening Crosses Divisions
June 05, 2008
If you think animators only spend their days (and nights) sequestered in dark cubicles toiling by themselves, think again. As students from the John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts proved during the recent “2008 Experimental Animation Screening,” collaborating with counterparts in the School of Cinematic Arts and Thornton School of Music truly brought their animations to life.

Commencement Day
School of Cinematic Arts Honors Over 500 Graduates
May 22, 2008
Despite searing temperatures outside, spirits were high at the Shrine Auditorium on May 16, as the School of Cinematic Arts, with the help of industry giants Robert A. Iger and Brian T. Grazer, lauded its most recent graduating class and celebrated the next generation of entertainment artists and professionals.

Oakie Masters Series
Comic Genius James L. Brooks Inaugurates Annual Lecture Event
May 13, 2008
USC students enjoyed a wide-ranging lecture and discussion with Oscar and Emmy award-winning writer/director/producer James L. Brooks on May 2 as part of the inaugural event of the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Masters Lecture Series.

Doniger Donation
Peyton Place Director Donates Archives to USC
May 07, 2008
Golden Globe nominee Walter Doniger, a creative force behind television classics like Marcus Welby, M.D., Ellery Queen and Night Gallery, has donated his personal archives of film and television memorabilia to the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

CU: Jon M. Chu
Stepping Up from SCA to The Industry
May 05, 2008
In Motion sat down with Jon M. Chu, director of "Step Up 2: The Streets" to ask him about USC, making a dance extravaganza in five weeks and the power of Miley Cyrus.

The World In 2050
IBM Research and Cinematic Arts Envision the Future
May 05, 2008
On the evening of April 30, five of IBM’s top research scientists joined with School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) students, alumni, faculty and members of the entertainment industry to brainstorm about the art of the possible—circa 2050. The reception and discussion kicked off a collaboration between SCA and IBM to inspire a new generation of film, television and interactive artists, as well as suggest creative directions for researchers.

TV Turns 10
Trojan Vision Celebrates A Decade Of Service
May 05, 2008
When it started 10 years ago, Trojan Vision was short on facilities, personnel and equipment, but long on the dream of what could be. A decade later, the dream has become reality, with the station serving the university, winning national awards and providing hands-on experience that has enabled students to launch their careers.

First Pitch 2008
Alumnus Matthew Weiner (Mad Men, The Sopranos) Hosts
April 21, 2008
The freshest film and television writing talent from USC will go one-on-one with reps from leading agencies, management firms and production companies during First Pitch, hosted on Monday, May 5 by alumnus Matthew Weiner, Dean Elizabeth M. Daley announced.

Key To Success
Music Videos Provide Creative Paths For Production M.F.A. Teams
April 01, 2008
When Heineken USA sponsored a contest last fall to create short music videos, the event turned out to have a long-term effect on the graduate students who took part, exposing them to production possibilities they might not have previously contemplated.

The Big Production
SCA Grad’s Award-Winning Film Screens At First Look 2.0
March 30, 2008
Riding a wave of success that recently garnered him second place honors at the 29th Annual College Television Awards, Preston DeFrancis ’07 screens his award–winning thesis film, THE BIG PRODUCTION at First Look 2.0.

Hecho En LA
Alumni Produced MADE IN LA Doc Takes On Sweatshops
March 13, 2008
An award-winning documentary, produced by Stark alumnus Robert Bahar, about garment workers who take a stand against the retailer responsible for their low wages and sub-standard working conditions, made its SCA debut at the Taper Hall of Humanities on March 11, 2008.

Broccoli Donation
James Bond Legacy Fuels Record-Breaking 14th Endowed Chair
February 05, 2008
The Dana and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli Foundation has donated $2 million for a record-breaking 14th endowed chair at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The chair, with its holder of extensive producing credits yet to be selected, will fund a faculty position dedicated to teaching the business and practice of film producing.

Marathon Run
A USC Collaborative Efforts Hits Theater Screens
January 24, 2008
Four years in the making, Spirit of the Marathon, the collaborative effort of three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathan Harris, Telly Award winner and marathon runner Jon Dunham ‘00 and producer/marathoner Gwendolen Twist premieres tonight.

Picture Perfect
Production Grads To Be Honored At ASC Film Awards
January 14, 2008
Production graduates Jesse Eisenhardt ’05 and Charlene Wang ’07 will join the roster of alumni from the USC School of Cinematic Arts who have garnered industry kudos for their creative camera work during the 22nd Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Outstanding Achievement Awards on January 26.

Beatle Mania
USC Alum Rock The Latest Video From Ringo Starr
January 02, 2008
If anyone doubts whether the USC mafia is alive and well, they need look no further than a new video from music legend Ringo Starr. Liverpool 8, co-directed by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Seth Dalton ‘06 features four USC production alums in key roles as well as 12 other Trojans in various crew positions.

Eyestorm Productions
Production Alums Make Some Noise With The Newest THX Trailer
December 04, 2007
Although Michael Klima ’03 and Kyle Ruddick ’04 say that their work at the School of Cinematic Arts was just as hard as any project created at their recently launched creative production company Eyestorm Productions, both admit the biggest hurdle before them is juggling multiple opportunities now that their latest collaboration—the next installment of the famous THX trailer gets ready to hit theaters nationwide.

Risk Taker
Richard Kelly ’97 Spins A New Story With Southland Tales
November 07, 2007
Though he arguably says that age 25 is too young for a first feature deal, Richard Kelly ’97 will be the first to admit he was crazy enough to make the risks somehow pay off for him. Today at 32, Kelly’s long journey for his latest film Southland Tales is set to culminate in the movie’s opening in New York and Los Angeles on November 14.

Darfur Now
Ted Braun's Story Of Hope In One Of Humanity’s Darkest Hours
October 26, 2007
Bringing to life the conflict in Darfur and the people living through what the United Nations has described as “the world’s greatest humanitarian and human rights catastrophe,” Writing Assistant Professor Ted Braun’s new documentary Darfur Now shines a light on tragedy and illustrates how the actions of single individuals can make a difference to millions.

Mad Men
Alumnus Matthew Weiner's Hit Show Probes Where The Truth Lies
October 03, 2007
1960s Madison Avenue advertising firms would be the last place you’d expect to look for the truth, but with his new hit Mad Men, Matthew Weiner ’90 has tapped an emotional current that transcends the decades and exposes the reality of life then and now.

The Producers
Michael Peyser and John Watson Join Production Faculty
September 07, 2007
Seasoned producers Michael Peyser and John Watson, whose credits are among some of the most recognized titles in contemporary film, have joined the faculty of the school’s Film & Television Production Division

Complex Cam
A Bird's-Eye View Of The School's New Facilities
August 14, 2007
Over the course of the summer, visitors to the University Park campus have watched the construction on the new cinematic arts complex make great strides. Now, as construction heightens, any one can track its development thanks to a 24/7 camera.

America’s Filmmaker
Two USC Alumni Compete For The Deal Of A Lifetime
June 21, 2007
When the votes are counted on the new Fox series On The Lot, one of two very fortunate 2005 M.F.A. production graduates could very well be signed to a $1-million development deal at DreamWorks.

No Cuts
Lindsey Shockley Shoots Non-Stop Thesis
April 23, 2007
The average eight to ten days of a thesis film shoot could very well be the most important and stressful time spent on a set for any SCA production student, so when third-year M.F.A. candidate Lindsey Shockley cut that schedule to three days and added the challenge of capturing the entire film in one take, the pressure was enormous.

Collaborative Filmmaker
Ron Howard Shares His Viewpoint On Movie Making
March 05, 2007
Ron Howard returned to the School of Cinematic on Wednesday February 28 with a jovial request to refrain from asking about Fonzie’s hair or Aunt Bea’s apple pie, and shared his viewpoint on what it means to be a collaborative filmmaker with a group of graduate students from the school’s production and writing divisions.

Proving Providence
A Lost Journal Is A Team Effort For A Group Of M.F.A. Students
March 05, 2007
While the weight of a person’s soul may seem to solve the question of faith for a doctor in smallpox-plagued colonial Boston, for a team of production graduate students, the man’s doubt as well as film festival success just may be realized in The Lost Journal of Vice Marceaux.

Film Family
USC Alumna Continues Legacy With “Jesus Camp” Oscar Nomination
February 14, 2007
Despite being surrounded by generations of cinematic artists throughout her childhood, Jenna Rosher had no intention of entering the entertainment industry when she graduated with a journalism degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication in 1995.

Musical Mastery
West Bank Story Takes Ari Sandel From Sundance To Oscar Night
February 06, 2007
From the freezing temperatures of Sundance, to the multinational markets of Dubai, to the mountain scenery of Switzerland, director Ari Sandel ’05 has traveled the world showcasing his musical comedy West Bank Story. But on February 25, no place can compare to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood when the School of Cinematic Arts production graduate walks the red carpet as one of the five nominees for Best Live Action Short at the 79th Annual Academy Awards.

Scene at Sundance
SCA Films Screen at Prestigious Festival
January 30, 2007
Though Park City temps were sub-zero, School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) alumni, students, and faculty were in the glow as they celebrated the official USC screenings selected for this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Wave Reviews
Public Radio Host James C. Taylor Critiques Global Theatre
January 22, 2007
For some, attending film school is a chance to delve deeper into their cinematic passion, while for others, like alumnus James Taylor ’97, the discovery of what lies before them is a journey filled with experiences of operatic proportions. Now, 10 years after graduating from USC with a B.A. in production, Taylor is one of Southern California’s most provocative reviewers and commentators on the performing arts.

Exporting Expertise
International Students Experience Global Success
January 12, 2007
As an entertainment epicenter, Los Angeles and USC have a long history of drawing artists from around the nation to learn about the cinematic arts. Now those lessons are carrying well beyond the U.S., as scores of undergraduates and graduates from abroad bring the lessons learned at the School of Cinematic Arts to an international audience.

Listen Up
Professor Tom Holman Receives IEEE’s Ibuka Award
January 08, 2007
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has named School of Cinematic Arts Professor Tom Holman as the recipient of its 2007 Masaru Ibuka Award, recognizing Holman’s contribution to the development of advanced audio and cinema multi-channel playback systems.

Screening Excellence
Alumni Sweep The 12th Annual DGA Student Film Awards
January 03, 2007
Four production graduates of the USC School of Cinematic Arts have gotten the jump on this year’s award season with an impressive showing at the 12th Annual DGA Student Film Awards.

In To Africa
Students Trek To Kenya To Shoot The Knife Grinder’s Tale
December 01, 2006
Malaria scares, military guards with AK47s, and an imposing African Kingpin are not your typical encounters to filming a movie on the streets of Los Angeles, but for two third-year production graduate students at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, it’s all part of the process as they bring a Kenyan short story to the screen.

Record-Breaking Groundbreaking
School of Cinematic Arts Celebrates New Name and Complex
October 05, 2006
With hundreds of students, alumni, faculty, and supporters on hand, USC’s cinema program made history on October 4, celebrating a record-breaking $175 million gift from George Lucas’ Lucasfilm Foundation that will fund new buildings and launch a major endowment campaign.

Movie Maestro
Composing A Different Tortured Tale Of Beethoven
August 17, 2006
As pirates and superheroes usher out the summer, one film from the Division of Film & Television Production Chair Michael Taylor about a musical genius is set to take audiences back in time.

SC / Sino Cinema
Chinese Film Students Pair With USC Counterparts
June 05, 2006
Summer has proven a busy time for six men and women from the School of Cinema & Television at the Communication University of China (CUC) who have spent the past five weeks working one-on-one with six USC counterparts to produce a series of short documentaries on the Chinese community in Los Angeles.

Freedom Focus
ACLU Series Probes the Struggle for Freedom—Past and Present
March 29, 2006
In the run up to the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin extolled his compatriots with an eloquent yet profound thought, one which was meant to open their eyes to the threat looming before them: “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

The Power Of Love
USC Grads Capture The Heart Of The Student Emmys
March 21, 2006
When a love letter ultimately wins the girl’s heart, along with a student Emmy, it’s a sure sign that something besides amour is in the air for three USC filmmakers.