Related Courses

You may also enjoy one of the following courses:

• Inside the Business of Film and Television

About the Class

In partnership with the world-renowned Warner Bros. Studios, this course is an intensive, hands-on filmmaking workshop where students will write, produce, direct, photograph, and edit two short film projects culminating in a collaborative short film project in and around the WB backlot located in Burbank.

With weekly trips from USC to WB studio, students will visit all major deparments from costume department, scenic design, to post-production facilities. Students will get first hand insight to the inner workings of the film industry from professionals who contributed to films such as Wonder Woman, Dunkirk and the Harry Potter franchise.

The USC/WB course is a combination of lectures and screenings and hands-on applications. This is a rigorous and inspiring course aimed at serious student filmmakers who are eager to immerse themselves in cinematic grammar and physical production.

Course Objectives

Students will explore a multifaceted approach to motion picture production, including:

• Investigate cinematic communication
• Master the basics of characterization and story structure
• Ability to effectively tell a story through sound and images
• Become aware too the cultural impact of cinema
• Ability to collaborate in both lean and take direction as crew members
• Understanding of the development, production, distribution, and marketing

Emphases will be given to story development and articulation of goals, aesthetic and logistical pre-production, time and resource management, as well as, developing analytical skills in a collaborative environment.

In addition to regular class sessions, this course will include tutorial sessions in:

• Cinematography
• Production lighting
• Production sound
• Post-production and sound design
• Non-linear AVID editing training

All necessary equipment and production resources will be available for student use including digital cameras, tripods, grip gear, lighting kits and access to sound stages.

Important Additional Information

• All projects are created outside of scheduled class time.
• Additional tutorials are taught outside scheduled class dates and times.
• All dates and times of the course are subject to change.
• SCA has a strict ban on the use of prop weapons of any kind during the summer session
• This 8 unit Summer Program class is comprised of the following two 4 unit courses:
  • CNTV 405: Studio Producing and Directing – 4 units
  • CTPR 460: Film Business Procedures and Distribution – 4 units

INSTRUCTOR(S): David Maquiling