USC School of Cinematic Arts

USC School of Cinematic Arts
Motto Limes regiones rerum[1]
Motto in English Reality ends here[2]
Established 1929
Type Private film school
Endowment $47,277,291[3]
Dean Elizabeth M. Daley
Academic staff 88 full time
200 part time[3]
Admin. staff 135 full time
300 student workers[3]
Undergraduates 865[3]
Postgraduates 653[3]
Location Los Angeles, California, United States
Website cinema.usc.edu

The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television (CNTV), is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[1][4][5] The school offers multiple undergraduate and graduate programs. For 2006-2007, the school had 865 undergraduates and 653 graduate students.[3] It is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious film programs in the world.[4][6]

The School’s founding faculty include Douglas Fairbanks, D. W. Griffith, William C. DeMille, Ernst Lubitsch, Irving Thalberg, and Darryl Zanuck.[5] Notable professors include Drew Casper, the Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Professor of American Film; Tomlinson Holman, inventor of THX; and David Bondelevitch, President of the Motion Picture Sound Editors.

In April 2006, the USC Board of Trustees voted to change the school's name to the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[7]

On September 19, 2006, USC announced that alumnus George Lucas had donated US$175 million to expand the film school with a new 137,000-square-foot (12,700 m2) facility. This represented the largest single donation to USC and the largest to any film school in the world.[8] His previous donations resulted in the naming of two existing buildings after him and his then-wife, though Lucas was not fond of the architecture used in those buildings. An architectural hobbyist, Lucas laid out the original designs for the project, inspired by the Mediterranean Revival Style that was used in older campus buildings as well as the Los Angeles area. The project also received another $50 million in contributions from Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox and The Walt Disney Company.[1]

The USC School of Cinematic Arts joined forces with the Royal Film Commission of Jordan to create the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts (RSICA) in Aqaba, Jordan.[9]

Contents

Distinctions

Awards for USC Cinema short films

Facilities

Film industry companies, friends, and many of the school's famous alumni have joined forces to fund a world-class film and television complex at USC. Their gifts and ongoing support have enabled the School to build some of the top facilities and equipment of any film school anywhere, including:

At the center of the new television complex is a statue of founder Douglas Fairbanks. He is seen holding a fencing weapon in one hand due to his strong ties with the USC Fencing Club. In addition to the new George Lucas and Steven Spielberg buildings, USC is also in the process of building new sound stages, animation, and sound facilities.

Areas of study

Notable SCA alumni

See also List of University of Southern California people

Notable faculty members and instructors

References

  1. ^ a b c Michael Cieply, A Film School’s New Look Is Historic, The New York Times, February 9, 2009, Accessed February 10, 2009.
  2. ^ The New York Times reports the motto as meaning "Reality ends here", but a more direct translation of the Latin approximates as, "The border is the regions of things".
  3. ^ a b c d e f Statistics at a Glance: Academic Year 2008 - 2009, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Accessed February 10, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Sharon Waxman, At U.S.C., a Practical Emphasis in Film, The New York Times, January 31, 2006, Accessed February 10, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Rachel Abramowitz, L.A.'s screening gems, Los Angeles Times, Accessed June 16, 2008.
  6. ^ Abramowitz, Rachel (2010). "LA's Screen Gems". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/education/highered/la-125highed-11,0,2054908,full.story?coll=la-home-right2. Retrieved 16 December, 2010. 
  7. ^ Stuart Silverstein, George Lucas Donates USC's Largest Single Gift, The Los Angeles Times, September 19, 2006
  8. ^ John Zollinger, George Lucas Donates $175 Million to USC, USC Public Relations, September 20, 2006
  9. ^ Jordan Signs Cinema Pact With USC, USC Public Relations, September 20, 2006
  10. ^ a b c Mel Cowan, Cinematic Arts Celebrates 80th Anniversary With All New Campus, University of Southern California, March 31, 2009, Accessed May 1, 2009.
  11. ^ http://copyrightusc.com/Wilbur.html
  12. ^ Alumni Profile: Cannes Do Spirit, Trojan Family Magazine, Spring 2002, Accessed Sept. 19, 2006.
  13. ^ http://kavithemovie.com/cast-crew/
  14. ^ Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre Complex, USC School of Cinematic Arts Facilities, Accessed January 3, 2009.
  15. ^ USC Self-Guided Tour, University of Southern California, Accessed June 8, 2009.
  16. ^ a b Facilities
  17. ^ Weinraub, Bernard. "FILM; An Unusual Choice for the Role of Studio Superhero", The New York Times, July 9, 2000. Accessed November 27, 2007. "Mr. Singer attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan for two years, and then transferred to the University of Southern California."
  18. ^ "Passings: Dick Hoerner, L.A. Rams fullback, dies at 88; John A. Ferraro, actor, director and USC teacher, dies at 64". Los Angeles Times. 2010-12-19. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings-20101215,0,2712316.story. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 
  19. ^ "Respected Cinematographer, Professor and USC Alumnus obituary". USC School of Cinematic Arts. 2010-12-02. http://cinema.usc.edu/about/news/in-memoriam-gene.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 

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