USC School of Cinematic Arts

USC School of Cinematic Arts
MottoLimes regiones rerum[1]
Motto in English
Reality ends here[2]
TypePrivate film school
Established1929 (1929)
Parent institution
University of Southern California
DeanElizabeth M. Daley (1991–present)
Academic staff
96 full time
219 part time[3]
Administrative staff
144 full time
499 student workers[3]
Undergraduates876[3]
Postgraduates715[3]
Location
Los Angeles
,
California
,
U.S.
Websitecinema.usc.edu

USC School of Cinematic Arts is the film and media school of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California.[4] Founded in 1929, it developed from USC's early film instruction into a separate academic unit and took its current name in 2006.[5][6][7][8] The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in animation, cinema and media studies, film and television production, interactive media and games, media arts and practice, producing, screenwriting, and business-related study in cinematic arts.[9]

History

The George Lucas Instructional Building (top) was demolished in 2009 after the opening of the new Cinematic Arts Complex (bottom).

The school traces its origins to 1929, when the University of Southern California introduced the course Introduction to the Photoplay in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[5] Early instructors and guest lecturers included Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Ernst Lubitsch, Irving Thalberg, and Darryl F. Zanuck.[5]

In 1932, USC introduced a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in cinema.[6] The program developed within the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences as the Department of Cinematography and was renamed the Department of Cinema in 1940.[6] By the late 1970s it had become the Division of Cinema-Television, and in 1983 it became an independent academic unit as the USC School of Cinema-Television.[7] In 2006, the school adopted its current name, the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[8]

In 2006, USC announced a US$175 million gift from alumnus George Lucas to support a major expansion of the school.[8] The resulting Cinematic Arts complex opened in 2009.[10]

In 2020, the school announced that it would remove an exhibit devoted to actor and former USC student John Wayne. According to the Daily Trojan, the materials were to be transferred to the school's archives for research and reference.[11]

Campus and facilities

The school is based on USC's University Park campus in Los Angeles.[4] Its present facilities are centered on the Cinematic Arts complex, a four-acre, six-building development that opened in 2009.[10][12] The complex houses production, post-production, screening, classroom, and administrative spaces.[12]

The school previously operated from an earlier complex dedicated in 1984, which included the Harold Lloyd Motion Picture Sound Stage, the George Lucas Instructional Building, the Marcia Lucas Post-Production Building, the Steven Spielberg Music Scoring Stage, and the Johnny Carson Television Center.[13]

Leadership

Since 1991, the school has been led by dean Elizabeth M. Daley.[14] Under her tenure, the school was renamed the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2006 and moved into its current complex in 2009.[8][10]

Academic structure

The school offers undergraduate and graduate study across a range of disciplines in film, television, animation, games, writing, producing, and media studies.[9] According to USC, its divisions and programs include the following:[9][4]

  • John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts
  • Division of Cinema & Media Studies
  • The Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production
  • Interactive Media & Games
  • Media Arts + Practice
  • Peter Stark Producing Program
  • John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television
  • The John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program
  • Expanded Animation Research + Practice

See also

References

  1. ^ Michael Cieply, A Film School’s New Look Is Historic, The New York Times, February 9, 2009, Accessed February 10, 2009.
  2. ^ The New York Times reports the motto as meaning "Reality ends here", but a more direct translation of the Latin approximates as, "The border is the regions of things".
  3. ^ a b c d USC Cinematic Arts (PDF), University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts, 2013, retrieved January 27, 2017
  4. ^ a b c "USC Cinematic Arts". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  5. ^ a b c King, Susan (2019-04-06). "From Douglas Fairbanks to George Lucas: USC's School of Cinematic Arts turns 90". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  6. ^ a b c "History from 1929 to 1941". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  7. ^ a b "1971-1992". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  8. ^ a b c d Tella, James (2006-10-05). "Record-Breaking Groundbreaking: School of Cinematic Arts Celebrates New Name and Complex". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  9. ^ a b c "Programs". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  10. ^ a b c Cowan, Mel (2009-01-16). "And Action! New Cinematic Arts Complex Opens". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  11. ^ Rapada, Raymond; Yamamoto, Kacie (2020-07-10). "SCA to remove John Wayne exhibit". Daily Trojan. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  12. ^ a b "University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts". Architect. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  13. ^ Shirley, Don (1984-11-19). "USC's New Film Factory". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  14. ^ "Elizabeth M. Daley". University of Southern California. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  • Media related to USC School of Cinematic Arts at Wikimedia Commons

34°01′23″N 118°17′09″W / 34.023056°N 118.285833°W / 34.023056; -118.285833

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