Producing for Film, Television, and New Media (MFA)

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The Peter Stark Producing Program is a two-year (four semester) full-time graduate program.

Approximately 24 Peter Stark Program students are enrolled each fall (there are no spring admissions). The curriculum places equal emphasis on the creative and the managerial, to enhance and develop artistic skills and judgment while providing a sound background in business essentials. Each course is continually updated to ensure that the Stark program remains responsive to the needs of our students and the ever-changing film, television and new media landscape, and prepare students for careers as creative decision-makers in those fields.

A minimum of 44 units of 500-level courses is required for the Peter Stark Producing Program leading to the MFA degree. There are no electives; all Stark students take the same classes at the same time in a mandated sequence. In CMPP 541a  and CMPP 541b , first-year students get hands-on filmmaking experience, working on collaborative projects in different roles. Projects are shot and edited digitally. Equipment is provided by the school.

The thesis completion requirement is a detailed plan for a film, documentary, television or webseries project comprising a developed script and notes for improvement, a schedule, budget assumptions and a marketing/distribution plan.

The completion of an entertainment industry internship of at least eight weeks, at some point in the program, is a requirement for graduation. One possible way of doing this is the summer internship program (in the summer between the two years) in which the Stark program solicits paid internships for students at film, television and new media companies. However, though the program has been fortunate in securing enough paid positions in the past, they are dependent on how many companies sign up, so the paid summer internships are not guaranteed. Therefore, students often find internships (some paid, some unpaid) on their own or through opportunities the program receives, during the two-year program.

During the second year, Peter Stark Producing Program students have an opportunity to initiate and produce a 20-minute short film financed by the program. Projects are selected on a competitive basis.

Films must be produced by a Stark student or team of two Stark students. Each Stark student may only perform one major task on the film, i.e., director or writer or producer. Each team has a professional adviser available as needed.

Inquiries regarding the program should be addressed to: The Peter Stark Program, USC School of Cinematic Arts, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211. Telephone (213) 740-3304, FAX (213) 745-6652 or email pstark@cinema.usc.edu.