Commencement 2007 Remarks

 Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean

Good afternoon and welcome to the moment you’ve all been waiting for: The USC School Cinematic Arts 2007 Commencement Ceremony.

Good afternoon, I’m Elizabeth Daley, Dean of the School of Cinematic Arts.

It is my pleasure to welcome you—parents, families, partners, friends, supporters, and especially our graduates—to this wonderful celebration.

Late nights at your laptop searching for that illusive third-act twist. Early-morning call times on a downtown location. Entire days spent researching in Doheny Library. Hour after hour in the computer labs. 

Today is the culmination of years of work. Years of taking your dreams and making them reality. And you have certainly achieved a great deal during those years in your scholarship, in your films, in your scripts, in your games and your interactive installations. You are indeed an amazing group that we have watched with pride.

Today is a day in which you deserve nothing less than our most heart-felt congratulations.

Ladies and gentlemen, won’t you join me in recognizing this momentous achievement?

And how about one for the faculty and staff who played such an important role in this process?

Now, if I could ask everyone to remain seated until the conclusion of the event, that will ensure this is a truly memorable day for all our students.

When you came to USC, you brought with your own incredible vision, energy and intelligence. During your time here, our goal has been to create an environment for you where you could gain the knowledge you need to begin your careers. You have taken advantage of everything we had to offer and we are confident about your collective future.

You came as many very different individuals and while you have not lost your uniqueness, you leave not only as individuals but as part of a very powerful and honored group of alumni who have been instrumental since 1929 in defining our field and shaping the entertainment industry. You will build upon the accomplishments of those who came before and at the same time, you will become the ones to set the foundation for those who follow. You have become part of a unique family of people who believe in the power of stories, in the power of creativity, and in the power of a community. I  have no doubt that if you continue to work together you will have enormous impact. 

Part of the great strength of this school has always been the many ways in which graduates have supported one another. You will find those who have gone before ready to help you and we expect that you will be there for those who follow you. That is the USC cinema tradition. I  assure you the USC Mafia, as it is fondly called, does exist—joining it is a great opportunity to both help and be helped. As we told you when you came to USC, the most important people in your professional lives are sitting next to you now.

As you leave with your degrees in hand you indeed become responsible not only for your own careers but for one another and for the legacy of the community that is the heart of this school.

I look forward to seeing the magic of the media that you will make and the wisdom of the scholarship that you will bring to us all.

Congratulations.