USC School of Cinematic Arts News

Director Jason Reitman and Cinematographer Alice Brooks to Headline 2026 Commencement

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:32:13 PDT

Jason Reitman, Oscar-nominated director for Juno and Up in the Air will deliver the 2026 USC School of Cinematic Arts commencement address, it was announced today by Dean Elizabeth Daley. Additionally, acclaimed cinematographer Alice Brooks, known for In the Heights and the Wicked franchise will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award.

Alum Finds Success Mentoring Young Aspiring Filmmakers Post-Graduation

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:07:12 PST

Luke Harris ’22 jumped straight into filmmaking after earning his BFA, partnering with a hometown nonprofit to teach students and turning his early short ManBooBs into a full community production led entirely by teens. That work propelled him to the 2025 Princess Grace Awards Ceremony, where he connected with fellow alum Jon M. Chu ’03 for some timely career advice.

Guardians of Hollywood’s Memory: The Warner Bros. Archives and the Iron Mountain Partnership

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:59:36 PST

The Warner Bros. Archives, or WBA, is one of the largest and most comprehensive single-studio archival collections in the world, documenting the inner workings of a Hollywood powerhouse through memos, contracts, publicity stills, scripts, production notes, and even music scores.

Trampoline House by Sichong Xie

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:27:18 PST

In Trampoline House: Memory Drawing Series, Xie transforms a playground into a stage of temporal disintegration. Drawing from children’s games and the rawness of construction site materials, this durational performance for camera video collapses the boundaries between play and labor. A trampoline becomes the platform for a living drawing, where a large chalk piece is layered over original architectural renderings from Xie’s grandfather—blueprints from the 1960s. Every memory is an empty theater—a space that once held meaning, now gradually fading into oblivion. As the durational performance slowly dissolves the chalk drawing, the ephemeral nature of memory takes form in every movement.

SCA Alum Josh Schwartz Establishes Writing Mentorship Program for Writing Students

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:52:44 PST

Television visionary and SCA alum Josh Schwartz has established the Josh Schwartz Writing Mentorship Program for students of the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Kevin Feige Endows SCA’s Film & Television Production Division

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:41:41 PST

The transformational gift from SCA Alumni Kevin Feige ’95 launches fundraising efforts to mark SCA’s much anticipated 100th Anniversary on February 6, 2029.

SCA Alumni Make Magic

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:45:21 PST

SCA alumni Amirah Adem ’25 and Biola Olateru-Olagbegi ’25 teamed up for the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program and landed a Cinemark commercial.

Turning a Summer at SCA into a Career in Film

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:12:37 PST

SCA alumnus Jonah Feingold ’13 discusses how his early experiences at SCA helped launch a career in independent filmmaking.

Professors Martzi Campos & Sean Bouchard Explore New Frontiers in Cosmology

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:40:22 PDT

Two SCA Professor Join Team on $4M grant from the John Templeton Foundation

BCA Takes London!

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:18:49 PDT

The Business of Cinematic Arts program’s first Maymester took them to one of Europe’s film centers!

USC Ranked #1 Film School by Hollywood Reporter

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:05:41 PDT

USC School of Cinematic Arts ranked the top film school by the Hollywood Reporter. The article praises the School's facilities, new cinematography fund, and the upcoming Wicked class.

Yong Duk Jhun Joins SCA

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:16:14 PDT

Award-winning director and cinematographer Yong Duk Jhun joins the Production Division as a full time Visiting Professor. His visionary approach to virtual production, visual storytelling and mentorship will be key in the School's educatoin in Virtual Production.

The Blavatnik Family Foundation Makes $25 Million Gift for Center for Virtual Production

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:23:36 PDT

The Blavatnik Family Foundation has made a $25 million lead gift to establish the Blavatnik Center for Virtual Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA). The donation was announced today by Dean Elizabeth M. Daley.

SCA Alum Makes History with First Interactive Senior Thesis Film

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:51:36 PDT

When Zane Swift ’25 began his MFA in Film and Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, he set out to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Drawing on his background in interactive media, Swift created The Case of the Missing Afikomen, SCA’s first-ever interactive senior thesis film.

SCA Celebrates the Class of 2025 with Year-End Student Showcases

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:38:00 PDT

From screenings to festivals, the final weeks of the Spring semester always brings SCA to life with vibrant student project. Here's a roundup of standout showcases from the 2024–2025 year.

Miky Lee - 2025 USC School of Cinematic Arts Commencement Speaker

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:53:49 PDT

Watch legendary media executive Miky Lee's address to the graduating class of 2025.

Alumni Profile: Victor Longin

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:46:58 PDT

Victor Longin ‘25 brought a unique passion, expertise, and point-of-view on international film to his two years in the Peter Stark Producing Program

SCA Students Attend The Cannes Classics for the 4th Year Running!

Fri, 09 May 2025 10:15:57 PDT

Four years ago, Cassidy had a conversation with the director of the Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Festival that led to something pretty special – the USC Cannes Classic Blog.

Small-Town Canadian Filmmaker Makes Leap to USC's Peter Stark Producing Program

Fri, 09 May 2025 10:21:01 PDT

When Matt Chenuz set his sights on becoming a successful film and television producer, he knew he would have to leave Canada to make it happen. So, he made a bold move and applied to what he called the “best producing program in the world” – the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

The Ganek Immersive Studio Hosts 2nd Annual Student Showcase at SCA

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:42:58 PDT

On April 24, 2025, the Ganek Immersive Studio at the USC School of Cinematic Arts presented the second annual Student Immersive Showcase on campus. The event featured thirteen projects at all stages of completion, underscoring the Studio’s emphasis on innovation and discovery.

The Movie Case Studies Class (CTPR: 386) Takes an SCA Approach

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:15:50 PDT

When Producer and adjunct professor John Ira Palmer (September 5, Flag Day) took over the long running movie case study class (which was originated and taught for many years by Prof. Jason Squire), he thought long and hard about how he could put his own spin on the offering.

Alumni Profile: Alex Burunova

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:15:18 PDT

USC School of Cinematic Arts alum Alex Burunova wants her films to have a timeless quality. Her hope is that, by combining her skills as a filmmaker and painter, she can bring viewers into her lyrical, universal stories and hopefully inspire the next generation to fearlessly tell their truth.