Writer/director/producer John Milius graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in the sixties and joined a group of filmmakers that changed the film industry forever with films like Jeremiah Johnson, Conan the Barbarian, Apocalypse Now and Red Dawn. On January 9th, at a screening of the documentary Milius in Norris Cinema Theatre, Milius was honored for his work by his classmates, industry friends and students.  The documentary will premiere on the EPIX channel on January 11 at 8PM.

Milius explores how the iconic filmmaker and former head of the National Rifle Association’s persona as a conservative in a traditionally liberal industry affected his career and how his iconic films such as Conan the Barbarian and Red Dawn became the cultural milestone for a later generation of filmmmakers.

With interviews from Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Francis Ford Coppola, Harrison Ford, Michael Mann, Robert Zemeckis, Oliver Stone, Bryan Singer, Charlie Sheen, Matthew Weiner, Milius’ children and Milius himself, among others, the film covers Milius’ personal and professional life, including a stroke Milius suffered in 2011. The film ends with Milius preparing for a comeback to the industry with a biopic of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan and the sequel to Conan the Barbarian where Schwarzenegger will reprise his iconic role.

The screening was attended by Milius, Weiner, Kleiser, Powers Booth, Sam Elliot, alum Bill Mechanic, alum John Singleton and Rorian Gracie and the filmmakers Joey Figuroua (director) and Zak Knutson (director).

“John embodies one of the most important lessons taught at the School of Cinematic Arts which is to have a voice,” said SCA Dean Elizabeth M. Daley. “When you go to a John Milius movie, there’s no doubt that you’re watching a John Milius movie. Is there a better lesson to students? John shows, by example, the importance of having a strong point of view and the conviction to express it. We’re very proud to call him an alum.”

“This film is particularly meaningful to us because John Milius and his style of big, bold storytelling represent the kind of big movies EPIX seeks to bring to our subscribers,” said Mark Greenberg, the President and CEO of EPIX. “We are proud to celebrate John Milius, one of film history’s most fascinating characters, and to share his story with EPIX viewers.”

Milius was introduced by Dean Elizabeth M. Daley and classmate Kleiser who told the capacity audience about how  Milius’ success effected his peers from SCA. “I can still remember when John got into the Hollywood Reporter for selling a script,” said Kleiser. “We thought that we didn’t have a chance to get into Hollywood even with film school behind us. John [Milius] showed us that it was possible and he lead the way for an entire generation of USC grads to enter the entertainment industry.”

In addition, the film explored the unique relationship of the first group of filmmakers to surface from film schools after the decline of the studio system in Hollywood including alum George Lucas, alum Kleiser, alum Milius, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone.

For more information on Milius, please visit: http://press.epixhd.com/programming/milius/