Prospective Student FAQ
1. Who’s eligible to apply to this program?
All full-time undergraduate students who are majoring in film, film studies, broadcasting, media studies or other majors that focus on film and television writing, production or critical studies. If you are a theatre major with no previous classes in film production or writing, you are not eligible.
* All students who are American citizens.
* All American students who at the time when the program begins on July 7 will be at least 18 years old.
2. Are there other requirements?
The main requirement is that all students commit to the entire 40-day program that includes the workshops at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the educational road trip, now scheduled to travel by bus from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and then flying to Washington, DC for the final 2-3 days.
* The program will begin on July 7 and end on August 15
3. What will it cost?
Other than your incidental expenses or purchases you make while here, all program-related costs will be covered by the grant. This includes your flights from your city of origin to Los Angeles, the flight from San Francisco to Washington, DC, and the flight from Washington DC back to your home city. It also includes dormitory accommodations at USC during the workshops, and motels/hotels on your road trip and in Washington, DC. You will also receive a per diem that should be able to cover your daily meals and some incidentals. It will also include all ground transportation such as your bus trip from the airport to USC, Washington, DC to the airport and your home city airport to your home.
* If you go out in the evenings or weekends for non-program activities and take a taxi
or bus, those costs will be your responsibility.
4. Tell me about the accommodations at USC and if we will have roommates.
At this point, we have reserved rooms at a dormitory that is divided into two-bedroom units and includes a small kitchen, living room and bathroom. There will be twin beds in each room and each person will have a roommate. The building is located on-campus and just a few minute walk from the classrooms. It is also located next to the gym and the Olympic swimming pool. There is also a café next door.
As we did last year with great success, all participants will share a room with a person of the same gender but from a different country. Roommates will be arbitrarily selected by the program staff and will be posted on the Fusion Arts website prior to your arrival. You will also receive an email with the information and you will be encouraged to contact your roommate before arriving.
* All rooms, of course, will be non-smoking.
* There will be a live-in resident advisor who will be a resource for your questions or
if problems need to be resolved.
5. Will I be met at the airport in Los Angeles?
Everyone will be met at the airport, either by a program representative or a car service whose driver will have a sign with your name. After retrieving your bags, you will be driven to USC and you will be met by another program representative to help you check into the dormitory.
6. What type of person are you looking for to be a part of the American group?
We are looking for several things: geographical and ethnic diversity; both men and women; people who want to learn more about the crafts of screenwriting and production, and who understand that they are expected to work hard during the classes.
We also want students who want to learn more and interact with students from other countries, cultures and religions, and who will be positive and active members of the entire group. The other countries sending students are Egypt, Lebanon, France, Mexico and the Philippines. These students all speak English.
7. What classes will we take?
The primary focus will be screenwriting and depending on the general level of the students, instruction will include ideation (storytelling), character and scene development, scene elements, and writing short scripts. The production component will concentrate on working with actors, staging scenes, producing short video pieces, learning the elements of non-linear editing and editing the pieces. A third component will be on American film as it has represented important periods of American history, traditions, culture or politics. Last year’s films included CITIZEN KANE, UNITED 93, THE SEARCHERS, CASABLANCA, THELMA AND LOUISE, among others.
8. When will the classes be held?
Classes will be held Monday-Friday, starting at approximately 10:00 a.m. and finishing at about 5:00 p.m. There will often be homework that will occupy some evenings and weekends. Free time will also be scheduled during the weekdays to complete homework assignments.
9. Who will be the instructors?
Last year, the three principal instructors were all full-time Cinematic Arts faculty and pending their availability, we are planning to do the same this year.
10. What other special on-campus programs will be scheduled?
We anticipate there will be several evening and weekend screenings, including previews of yet-to-be-released theatrical films. Some of the screenings might also include q&a sessions with the filmmakers. In conjunction with the school’s regular Summer Program, there will also be special seminars and panels that the Fusion Arts Fellows will be invited to attend.
11. Are there other activities being planned?
Last year, the Fellows toured a major motion picture studio and were invited to visit the sets of two new television series. If there is active television or film production in Los Angeles, we will try to arrange for visits. In addition, we will tour at least one visual effects facility, along with other types of facilities.
On the weekends, the group will visit the Universal Theme Park, tour the city, and spend a day at one of the local popular spots such as Venice Beach.
12. What if I get sick or injured?
The State Department program will issue medical insurance coverage to all participants that will cover medical treatment for injuries and illnesses. This includes coverage at USC and during the educational tour until you return to your home.
13. If we travel to a location where I have friends or family, can I visit them?
The simple answer is no since you are to be a part of this group. If your family comes to Southern California, they will be welcome to come to the campus to spend some time with you but you are not to leave the program at any time unless for emergency circumstances and with approval from the program’s designated administrators.
14. Is there an evening curfew?
Since everyone will be over the age of 18, there is no curfew; however we recommend that you keep late hours to a minimum because of class responsibilities. If you are over 21, you are allowed to go to a bar, but again we strongly advise moderation. In many instances, you will be accompanied by one of the program’s mentors.
15. Are there particular dormitory rules?
As with your own university, alcohol and drugs are not allowed in dormitories. If you are caught with either, you are subject to being dismissed from the program. All dormitories are non-smoking; outside smoking areas are designated.
16. Can we use the university’s athletic facilities?
The Lyon Center is located about 10 yards from your dormitory and is open from early morning into the evening. It includes a large work-out facility that includes cardio machines and free weights. There is a basketball court, and adjacent is an Olympic-size pool and diving boards (this pool was used for the 1984 Olympic Games). There is a charge for use of the Lyon Center but we believe that we can cover the expense. Very close by is an all-weather track with an artificial turf field that can be used for football, soccer, Frisbee and other activities.
17. Why do we end the program in Washington, DC?
For a few reasons. At the conclusion of the program, the group will meet with the Fusion Arts Exchange program officer for a debriefing about the program. You will have an opportunity to discuss the elements you liked and disliked. The State Department is also arranging a reception for all four of the Fusion Arts Exchange programs (Music, Digital Arts, Sports Management). Finally, the program wants to give you an opportunity to visit some of the museums, monuments and other Washington, DC famous sites.
18. What are the details for the Educational Tour?
The tour is still being planned, but you will travel on an air-conditioned bus from Los Angeles up the California coast to San Francisco. There will be several stops along the way where you will see locations or facilities that are film-related. For example, in Santa Barbara, we hope to visit the studio where the recent feature film, BEOWULF was shot, using the Motion Capture technology. Above San Luis Obispo, we will stop for a tour of the infamous Hearst Castle, home to legendary newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was fictionalized in the film masterpiece, CITIZEN KANE. In San Francisco, we hope to visit George Lucas’s Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound studios as well as the animation production facilities of PIXAR. You might also spend time at the University of California at Santa Barbara’s Film Studies department and meet with some of their scholars. In Berkeley, you will visit the Pacific Arts Archives, perhaps for some special screenings. Also, in San Francisco, you will tour Alcatraz, the setting for numerous motion pictures.
While on the tour, you will be accompanied by four mentor/guides who will be responsible for your safety, to answer questions and solve problems and to make certain that everyone gets the full benefit of the trip.
19. While in Los Angeles, can I rent a car?
No. All ground transportation will be provided for and we do not want anyone renting a car.
20. Where do we have our meals? Do we all have to eat together?
While at USC, there are a few possibilities. During the summer, one of the large cafeterias is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can go on a meal plan that can cover all three daily meals or fewer. There is a cafeteria next to your dormitory that is open for breakfast and lunch and serves Mexican, Italian and wok food, plus soups, Jamba Juice, pastries and salads. Across the street from the campus, there is an inexpensive food court that serves a variety of ethnic food and is open during the day.
You do not have to eat together. The meal times and locations are strictly up to each person.
21. Prior to the program, will I be able to be in contact with others in the group and my designated roommate?
We will design a password-protected blog that will include important information about the program, short bios of the participants, email addresses and an interactive function to exchange messages. We will send everyone individual passwords when the blog goes online.
22. What clothes and materials should I bring?
Many will bring their laptops; the dormitory will be wired or wireless and several locations throughout the campus are wireless. There are also computer stations on campus for those who do not bring one. Bring writing materials for your classes; there is an on-campus bookstore where you can buy notebooks, pens, etc.
For clothing, Los Angeles will be warm during July, with daytime temperatures ranging between 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Evenings will cool down to 65-75 degrees. Dress is very casual with most students wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. You should bring at least one nice outfit for special events and your meeting with the State Department. Sports coats or ties are not necessary. The dormitory has washers and dryers (bring plenty of quarters). We also advise bringing suntan lotion rated at least at 30 to 45 and all necessary medication. You will be supplied linen and towels but you might bring an extra towel. Be somewhat conservative about the amount of things you bring since many of the airlines are now charging for a second checked bag.
23. Will I receive a school ID?
Yes, everyone will be issued a USC identification card with your picture on it. It will give you access to our libraries and all other facilities.
24. How will the per diem be handled?
We are still determining the best way to handle the per diem as we do not want you walking around with a large amount of cash. For those who have credit or debit cards with banks that have branches in Los Angeles, it might be most convenient to deposit the per diem into your existing account. We will provide other options soon.
25. How will the American candidates be chosen and when?
Once we have received all the online applications, a selected group of faculty and staff will review them, taking into account geography, grades, activities, gender, ethnicity, unique attributes or interests and your reasons for wanting to participate.
We hope to make the final decisions by the end of April and will then notify those who have been accepted to the program and those who have not.
If you have further questions, please email us at fusionarts@cinema.usc.edu
