Production Undergraduate Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema-Television with a track in Production is granted through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the School of Cinematic Arts. Students study within a framework which combines a broad liberal arts background with specialization in a profession. Bachelor of Arts students are enrolled in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where they take their pre-professional courses, including the general education requirements. Major courses are selected from the curriculum of the School of Cinematic Arts. The degree requires 128 units including 20 lower Division units and 24 upper Division units in Cinema-Television. A maximum of 40 Cinema-Television upper Division units will apply to the Bachelor of Arts degree.
General Education Requirements
The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements.
Required Courses
The following courses are required:
| CTCS 190 | Introduction to Cinema | 4 |
| CTCS 200 | History of the International Cinema I | 4 |
CTCS 201 |
History of the International Cinema II | 4 |
| CTPR 241 | Fundamentals of Cinema Technique [taken concurrently with CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413] | 2 |
| CTPR 242 | Fundamentals of Cinematic Sound | 2 |
| CTPR 290 | Cinematic Communication [taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTWR 413 | 4 |
| CTPR 310* | Intermediate Film Production [taken after CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413 and concurrenlty with CTPR 376) | 4 |
| CTPR 376* | Intermediate Cinematography [taken after CTPR 241, CTPR 242, CTPR 290, CTWR 413 and concurrenlty with CTPR 310] | 4 |
| CTWR 413 | Writing the Short Script I [taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 290] | 2 |
| CTWR 414 | The Screenplay | 2 |
One course from the following:
| CTPR 371 | Directing for Television, or | 4 |
| CTPR 475 | Directing: Mise-en-Scene [prerequisites: CTPR 310 and 376] |
4 |
One of the following courses is required:
| CTCS 392 | History of the American Film, 1925-1950 |
4 |
| CTCS 393 | History of the American Film, 1946-1975 |
4 |
| CTCS 394 | History of the American Film, 1977-Present | 4 |
| CTCS 400 | Non-Fiction Film and Television | 4 |
| CTCS 464 | Film and/or Television Genres | 4 |
| CTCS 469 | Film and/or Television Style Analysis | 4 |
One of the following courses is required subsequent to completing CTPR 310/CTPR 376:
| CTAN 448 | Introduction to Film Graphics-Animation | 4 |
| CTPR 480 | Production Workshop I | 4 |
| CTPR 484 | Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop | 4 |
| CTPR 486 | Single Camera Television Dramatic Series | 4 |
*Note that enrollment in CTPR 310 and 376 requires meeting specific guidelines.
Production Sequence
Undergraduates admitted to the Film and Television Production Program are required to take CTPR 241 Fundamentals of Cinema Technique, CTPR 242 Fundamentals of Cinematic Sound and CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication. CTPR 241, CTPR 242, and CTPR 290 are introductory production courses taken either in the second semester of the sophomore year or the first semester of the junior year after a student has completed the minimum required units and requirements toward his or her USC degree. CTWR 413 Writing the Short Script I is taken concurrently with CTPR 241, CTPR 242, and CTPR 290, and these four courses are prerequisites for the next production sequence, CTPR 310 and CTPR 376.
CTPR 241 is an experimental course dealing with the technical and aesthetic principles of directing, cinematography, editing, sound, and the development of ideas through a cinematic vocabulary.
CTPR 242 introduces cinematic sound design, recording, editing, mixing, and finishing through lectures, demonstrations, and exercises.
In CTPR 290 students are taught the principles of filmmaking though demonstrations, hands-on production, and critical analysis. Each student makes five digital video non-dialogue films using equipment supplied by the School. A $500 lab fee and a $300 insurance fee are required. Students may also spend $100 to $200 for production expenses.
CTPR 310 Intermediate Film Production and CTPR 376 Intermediate Cinematography is the second production sequence required for the B.A., Film and Television Production track. These courses are also taken concurrently. In these workshops students work in teams of two, learning to collaborate and explore the expressive potential of sound and image through the production of two 16mm color films. Both are non-dialogue projects. Each student directs and prepares the soundtrack for the project which he or she has written and is cinematographer and editor for his or her partner's project. Most equipment and materials are provided by the School of Cinematic Arts. However, approximately $1000-$1500 should be budgeted by the student for the purchase of personal equipment, supplies, transportation, props, etc. which will also be used in future classes. Partnerships must be maintained throughout the semester or the class must be dropped and repeated at a later term with a new partner.
To qualify for enrollment in CTPR 310 and 376, students must fulfill all requirements outlined in the CTPR 310/376 guidelines distributed in CTPR 242. Students are required to form their own partnerships. Students will not be allowed to register for CTPR 310 and 376 without having a qualified partner.
Because of the structure of CTPR 310 and 376, these courses cannot be taken separately. Therefore, should a student fail to achieve a passing grade in either CTPR 310 or CTPR 376 (see the section on grade requirements), both courses must be retaken the subsequent semester.
Following CTPR 310 and CTPR 376, students can take one or more of the following courses: CTAN 448; CTPR 480; CTPR 484; CTPR 486.
CTAN 448 Introduction to Film Graphics-Animation is a practical course in concepts, media, and techniques related to the graphic film.
In CTPR 480, Production Workshop I, Production majors form crews of eight to ten persons to produce a synchronous sound project in one semester. Each student is responsible for a specific aspect of the production: assistant director, cinematographer, director, editor, line producer, production design, or sound.
Film/video stock, processing, equipment and facilities are provided by the School of Cinematic Arts. There are extra personal expenses associated with all production workshops.
The selection of scripts and directors for Production Workshop I (CTPR 480) is made by the production faculty. Note: To qualify to direct a 480 project, a student must complete CTPR 480 (in a non-directing position) and take a specified directing class.
CTPR 484, Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workship, is a multi-camera television class in which students produce a half-hour situation comedy pilot in one semester. CTPR 241, 242, 290, 310, 376, and 480 cannot be waived or substituted with another course or transfer credit under any circumstances.
CTPR 486, Single Camera Television Dramatic Series, is a collaborative production and post-production of an original episodic drama, shot on original sets on stage and on location.
Grade Point Average Requirements
A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A = 4.0), must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses. A grade of C- or lower will not fulfill a major requirement. Students who do not earn the minimum grade in CTPR 241, 242, 290, 310, and 376 after repeating these requirements will be disqualified from the program.
Curriculum Review
Cinema-Television majors are expected to meet with their advisor once a semester.
