Degree Requirements
A minimum of 44 units of 400-level and 500-level courses is required for the Peter Stark Producing Program leading to the M.F.A. degree. There are no prerequisites. Students are required to take a production course in their first semester.
CTPR 507 Production I, which brings together students from other SCA divisions, introduces the fundamental principles of motion picture production, emphasizing visual and auditory communication. Each student makes multiple personal projects, serving as writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer and editor, and takes a crew role on a collaborative project. Projects are shot using digital cameras and edited on non-linear systems. There will be lab and insurance fees for these two classes of approximately $800 per class.
In CMPP 541L, second semester students work in teams, making two 7 minute sound films. Equipment is provided by the school.
In lieu of a thesis, the completion requirement is a fully-developed film project with an attendant budget and marketing/distribution plan.
An internship period between school years gives students an opportunity to observe actual producing and executive operations with participating independent producers and film companies. The internship period is of eight weeks' duration during the months of May, June and July. Stark summer internships are paid and subject to availability, academic performance and good standing in the first year of studies.
The completion of a film/television industry internship of at least eight weeks is a requirement for graduation.
Required Courses
| Year One, First Semester | ||
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
| CMPP 550 | Script Analysis for the Producer | 2 |
| CMPP 563 | Producing Symposium | 2 |
| CMPP 589a | Graduate Film Business Seminar | 4 |
| CTPR 507 | Production I | 4 |
| 12 | ||
Year One, Second Semester |
||
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
| CMPP 541L | Producing Workshop | 4 |
| CMPP 560 | Script Development | 2 |
| CMPP 568 | Producing for Television | 2 |
| CMPP 571 | Graduate Film Business Seminar | 4 |
| 12 | ||
Year Two, First Semester |
||
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
| CMPP 561 | Motion Picture Marketing | 2 |
| CMPP 565 | Scheduling and Budgeting | 4 |
| CMPP 566 | Finance | 2 |
| CMPP 571 | Producing the Screenplay | 2 |
| 10 | ||
Year Two, Second Semester |
||
| Course Number | Course Name | Units |
| CMPP 564 | Producing Business Procedures | 2 |
| CMPP 569 | Seminar on Non-Mainstream Producing | 2 |
| CMPP 570 | Advanced Television | 2 |
| CMPP 592 | Individual Project Seminar | 4 |
| 10 | ||
Grade Point Average Requirements
An overall GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for graduation. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate course. A grade of C-, D or F in any course may be cause for termination.
Time Limit
Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master's degrees at all times. The degree must be completed three years after the beginning of graduate work at USC.
Contact
Peter Stark Program
pstark@cinema.usc.edu
School of Cinematic Arts
900 West 34th Street, Suite 366
University Park
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
Tel: 213.740.3304
Fax: 213.745.6652
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