USC First Team - the first of its kind
This summer USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni Kam Miller, Barbara Stepansky, and Henry Lowenfels started a groundbreaking program through the SCA Network called USC First Team. USC First Team brings together USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni writers, directors, and producers to form creative teams around film and new-media projects. The program guides teams as they develop their projects. Then, we take the projects out to Hollywood via our industry affiliates.
Our participants
After receiving almost 400 applications, we selected 95 participants – approximately 30 writers, 30 directors, and 30 producers. We selected some very recent graduates just beginning their careers. We also brought on some driven, successful veterans. One of the First Team participants had won the Palme d’Or. Others had been nominated for Emmys or had multiple films screened at Sundance. Some had films already in distribution. A couple of the first year participants had existing deals with Warner Premiere and Focus Features. Others had launched studios and visual FX companies.
Kick-off networking event
On July 18, 2009, these USC alumni writers, directors, and producers converged on the Kubrick and Kurosawa soundstages at the Robert Zemeckis Center. Several of participants traveled from afar – New York, Boulder, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, the wilds of Maine, Ontario, even Rome – just to have the chance to meet other talented alumni.
At the kick-off networking event, we conducted 1,900 meetings in two hours!
After the kick-off networking event, participants had a month to decide on projects and find teammates. In a frenzy, participants read scripts, watched reels, and took meetings. Writers, directors, and producers vied to form teams around the creative projects. It was highly competitive.
2009-2010 teams
For our 2009-2010 inaugural cycle, we're pleased to announce we have 27 talented teams and 27 amazing projects. Each project will develop at its own pace. Some projects will be ready in the fall, while others will be finished in the spring. We'll have a near-constant flow of projects to bring to our industry affiliates.
Our industry affiliates
We have developed relationships with a number of industry affiliates. Our affiliates are the first to be notified once a project is industry-ready. They get the first chance to read the scripts and review our team's packages. Some of our industry affiliates include CAA, William Morris Endeavor Independent, Bona Fide Productions, BenderSpink, Echo Lake, among many others.
To learn more about becoming an industry affiliate, please click on our industry affiliate link.
What's next?
Watch this site - we'll provide periodic updates!