Upcoming Events
In-Person SCA Graduate Information Session
January 1, 2025 - December 24, 2025, Varies
SCA Courtyard
Join the SCA Admissions staff for an in-person information session to learn more about applying to the SCA graduate programs for the Fall 2024 semester. Topics will include an overview of the school, programs and facilities, financial aid, Q&A with staff and more!
Virtual SCA Graduate Information Session
January 1, 2025 - December 24, 2025, Varies
Online - Access Information Sent Via Email
Join the SCA Admissions staff for an online information session to learn more about applying to the SCA graduate programs for the Spring/Fall 2024 semester. Topics will include an overview of the school, programs and facilities, financial aid, Q&A with staff and more!
CTCS-467: Television Symposium
January 13, 2025 - May 12, 2025, 7:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
This Spring 2025 semester, the School of Cinematic Arts will offer a very special course called CTCS-467: Television Symposium, a four-unit elective class open for enrollment to ALL USC STUDENTS OF ANY MAJOR that brings you face-to-face with the leading television writers, producers, directors and actors working today. Each week, students watch contemporary television programming selected from the best shows on the air, followed by an exclusive Q&A with the creative team behind the show. The class is taught by MARY MCNAMARA, Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic and cultural editor for the Los Angeles Times and meets in person every Monday night @ 7:00 P.M. in the Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108.
IN BETWEEN STARS AND SCARS: MASTERS OF CINEMA
March 5, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
In Between Stars and Scars: Masters of Cinema is an evocative exploration of the transformative power of cinema and the lives of its most iconic filmmakers. Directed by Yi Zhou, the film features acclaimed director Cameron Crowe and legendary cinematographer Robert Richardson as they delve into the intricacies of storytelling, visual artistry, and how their personal journeys have shaped their creative legacies. Blending exclusive interviews, rare behind-the-scenes footage, and thought-provoking commentary, this piece bridges the creative and personal worlds of its subjects, highlighting their contributions to the art of cinema while offering a glimpse into the future of filmmaking.
An Evening of Fallen Angels
March 6, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Screenwriter and Writing Division Professor Howard A. Rodman will be presenting three half-hour film noirs he wrote for the Showtime series Fallen Angels in the 1990s.
THE ACTOR
March 10, 2025, 3:00 P.M.
The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre, RZC 119, Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, 3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Based on the novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake, The Actor finds Paul Cole (Holland) stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got here. Without a sense of identity or purpose, he starts from scratch and begins courting a local costume designer Edna (Chan). As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts to find his way home, but time is slippery, appearances can’t be trusted, and it’s unclear which of his identities is real.
AGFA Movie Hooky Club IMAX Matinee Screening: THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER (1982)
March 11, 2025, 3:00 P.M.
The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre, RZC 119, Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, 3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
A daring mercenary with a lethal three-bladed sword is thrust into the wildest fight of his life when he learns that he is the prince of a kingdom controlled by an evil sorcerer. Can he rescue the beautiful princess and slay the warlock, or will he fall prey to his powerful black magic and horde of savage monsters? The debut feature from genre film hero Albert Pyun, THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER is an action-packed adventure saga filled with brutal battles, plucky maidens, and insane special effects.
DROP
March 11, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
First dates are nerve-wracking enough. Going on a first date while an unnamed, unseen troll pings you personal memes that escalate from annoying to homicidal? Blood-chilling.
AUDREY'S CHILDREN
March 12, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Audrey's Children tells the untold true story of visionary British physician Dr. Audrey Evans, who burst onto the scene in 1969 as the first female Chief of Oncology at the world-renowned Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Battling sexism, medical conventions, and the subterfuge of her peers, Evans developed the first Neuroblastoma Staging System, co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House for families of patients, and, ultimately, impacted the lives of millions of children and families around the world.
SCA Pizza Party
March 13, 2025, 5 pm
Meldman Lawn
Pizza Party for the SCA community on March 13th @ 5pm
BLACK BAG
March 13, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
From Director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.
SCA Staff Lunch
March 19, 2025, 11:30AM - 1PM
SCA 255
Dear SCA Staff,
Please join us from 11:30am - 1:00pm on March 19th in SCA 255 for lunch and refreshments. We will have sandwiches and salads. Please RSVP through SCA Community by March 17th.
FIDELIO
March 23, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Following a string of awe-inspiring Met performances, soprano Lise Davidsen stars as Leonore, who risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny. Tenor David Butt Philip is the political prisoner Florestan, sharing the stage with bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as the villainous Don Pizarro, veteran bass René Pape as the jailer Rocco, and soprano Ying Fang and tenor Magnus Dietrich, in his company debut, as the young Marzelline and Jaquino. Bass Stephen Milling sings the principled Don Fernando, and Susanna Mälkki conducts the Met’s striking production, which finds modern-day parallels in Beethoven’s stirring paean to freedom.
AGFA Movie Hooky Club IMAX Matinee Screening: AT MIDNIGHT I'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL (1964)
March 25, 2025, 3:00 P.M.
The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre, RZC 119, Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, 3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Driven by an overwhelming desire to have a son, the wicked undertaker Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe) embarks on a search to find the perfect woman to bear his child. Nothing and no one will get in the way of his blood-splattered quest to propagate his bloodline and secure his only chance at immortality! Defying both military dictatorship and religious censorship to become Brazil's first horror film, writer/director/star José Mojica Marins' AT MIDNIGHT I'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL is an unforgettable gothic horror classic that introduced the world to the legendary Coffin Joe.
HOLLAND
March 25, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
In this wildly unpredictable thriller, Nicole Kidman is the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband and son in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.
SOLDIERS OF SONG
March 26, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Soldiers of Song follows the extraordinary journey of Ukraine’s most beloved musicians as they unite their war-torn nation through the transformative power of music. Amidst the chaos of Russian aggression, artists like Slava Vakarchuk (Okean Elzy), Andriy Khlyvnyuk (Boombox), and Svitlana Tarabarova share their deeply personal experiences of resilience, hope, and defiance. From intimate interviews and gripping performances, the film intertwines their stories, revealing how their melodies have become anthems of unity and resistance. As these musicians navigate the perils of war, their music becomes a beacon of courage for their fellow citizens, offering solace and strength when it’s needed most. Set against the haunting backdrop of the ongoing conflict, Soldiers of Song captures the emotional weight of their fight. Slava Vakarchuk reflects on the early days of the invasion. Andriy Khlyvnyuk, balancing life as a drone operator and a musician, works tirelessly to raise funds for the defense effort. Meanwhile, an injured opera singer dreams of performing again, while an orchestra conductor recounts the destruction of the Mariupol Theater. Amidst air raids and missile strikes, the production team weaves these stories into a powerful narrative of hope and resistance, showcasing music’s unparalleled ability to heal and unify a nation in its darkest hour.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: Can Comedy be Automated?
March 28, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
A spirited debate examining the role AI plays, and might play, in comedy and entertainment, from both a creative and an industry standpoint - current industry trends, labor disputes, writers rooms, copyright issues, and more. Moderated by Vulture's Jesse David Fox.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: FRIENDSHIP
March 28, 2025, 9:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, but Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7
March 28, 2025 - March 30, 2025, Varied
Varied
The 7th Edition of the USC Comedy Festival returns to campus this March 28 - 30 to celebrate community and share laughter, while exploring the changing nature of comedy in contemporary society. We open with a spirited debate about the role AI might play in comedy development, followed by a sneak of A24's Friendship. Saturday will include a panel on Late Night Comedy Writing, plus a sneak of Onyx Collective/Hulu's new comedy series Deli Boys, a new documentary, Thank You Very Much, about the legendary Andy Kaufman, and a discussion with the creators of Will & Harper. Sunday will focus on Comedy Podcasting, plus a sneak of the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy with cast & crew. The festival wraps Sunday night with our annual Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Master of Comedy Award, this year presented to Academy Award-nominated Writer/Director/Producer, and USC Alumnus, Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, Saturday Night).
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: Writing Comedy for Late Night
March 29, 2025, 12:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
A special event with the late-night staff from Jimmy Kimmel Live - including his monologue writer, co-head writer, and co-executive producer. Moderated by former head monologue writer for Jimmy Fallon, Wayne Federman.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: DELI BOYS
March 29, 2025, 2:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
When their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers (Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh) lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: THANK YOU VERY MUCH
March 29, 2025, 4:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Andy Kaufman's provocative comedy often outraged audiences, challenging them to confront their own presumptions. Through never-before-seen footage and intimate recollections, filmmaker Alex Braverman explores Kaufman’s brief but impactful life and career. As the lines between performance and reality blur in our present age, Kaufman’s genius resonates more than ever.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: WILL & HARPER
March 29, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Three years ago, Will Ferrell was filming a movie when he received a most surprising e-mail: his dear friend of nearly 30 years was coming out to him as a trans woman. That friend was Harper Steele, a writer he met on his first day at Saturday Night Live back in 1995. From that fateful first meeting in the halls of 30 Rock, Will knew he had found a match made in comedy, and their friendship and creative partnership would only continue to grow over the next 3 decades. In this intimate, honest, and heartfelt documentary, Will and Harper hit the open road together to process this new stage of their friendship and reintroduce Harper to the country that she loves – this time, as herself. Over 16 days, the two drive from New York to LA, visiting stops that are meaningful to them, to their friendship, and to America. Through laughter, tears, and many cans of Pringles, they push past their comfort zones as they re-examine their relationships to these spaces, and to each other, in this new light.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: Podcasting and Beyond: The New Comedy Hustle
March 30, 2025, 2:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Podcasts, video podcasts, TikTok, Insta, drop-ins, showcases, tours, specials—there are seemingly more comedy outlets than ever, and the comedy hustle can be more hectic than ever. We’ll discuss the current comedy landscape and how to manage a comedy career in the midst of unprecedented change.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 7 Presents: A NICE INDIAN BOY
March 30, 2025, 4:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
When Naveen brings his fiancé Jay home to meet his traditional Indian family, they must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend and helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams.
The Jack Oakie & Victoria Horne Oakie Masters of Comedy Lecture Series honoring Jason Reitman, USC Comedy's 2025 Oakie Award Recipient
March 30, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Jason Reitman is an Academy Award® nominated filmmaker who most recently directed SATURDAY NIGHT, a film he co-wrote with Gil Kenan. Reitman made his feature film debut with the 2006 Sundance hit THANK YOU FOR SMOKING for which he won best screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards. He notably earned Academy Award® nominations for directing JUNO and UP IN THE AIR, the latter of which earned Reitman a WGA Award and BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay. Reitman has collaborated with screenwriter Diablo Cody on four critically acclaimed films, including YOUNG ADULT, TULLY, and JENNIFER’S BODY. As a producer, Reitman oversaw four seasons of the Golden Globe nominated Hulu comedy series CASUAL. He also produced the Academy Award-winning film WHIPLASH and Jean-Marc Vallee's DEMOLITION. In 2010, Reitman co-created the Live Read series with Elvis Mitchell, which ran for five seasons at LACMA where he also sat as an artist-in-residence. In 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Reitman created and directed the Home Movie Princess Bride, raising over a million dollars for World Central Kitchen. In 2021, Reitman directed and co-wrote GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE with Gil Kenan, and in 2023, produced and co-wrote its sequel, GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE. In early 2024, Reitman assembled 35 prominent film directors in order to save the Westwood Village Theater.
AGFA Movie Hooky Club IMAX Matinee Screening: VEGAS IN SPACE (1991)
April 1, 2025, 3:00 P.M.
The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre, RZC 119, Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, 3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Would you change your sex to save the entire universe? The fabulous Captain Tracy Daniels would! Disguised as show girls from Earth, Daniels and her fierce space crew travel to the “babes-only world” of VEGAS IN SPACE. Once there, they must Dance! Dance! Dance! to save the universe! This movie has more wigs than Wigstock, more make up than a Miss America pageant, and all the fabulousness of THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. With tongue planted firmly in cheek and outfits that would make RuPaul jealous, these cross-dressing divas are more fabulous than Julie Newmar, and shine brighter than a supernova. One of the first truly queer midnight movies, VEGAS IN SPACE is a campy, psychedelic, and loving homage to 1950s and ‘60s B-movie sci-fi with an all-drag cast!
CTCS-466: Theatrical Film Symposium Fall 2025
August 28, 2025 - December 11, 2025, 6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall, 3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007
This Fall 2025 semester, the School of Cinematic Arts will offer a very special course called CTCS-466: Theatrical Film Symposium, a four-unit elective class open for enrollment to ALL USC STUDENTS OF ANY MAJOR that brings you face-to-face with leading film directors, writers, producers, and actors working today. Throughout the semester, students will watch a wide selection of new film releases, followed by exclusive Q&As with the creative teams behind them. The class is taught by film critic LEONARD MALTIN and meets every Thursday night in Norris Cinema Theatre from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.