USC-MISC Newsletter: Fall 2018

MISC Partners with Producers Guild of America for panel on Hollywood Diversity

Written by Lorraine Wheat

On Sept. 26., MISC hosted an event titled Producing Diversity: A Conversation. The panel brought four prominent producers to SCA to discuss the impact of diversity on Hollywood: Janet Yang, who moderated, was joined by Stephanie Allain, Teddy Zee, Terence Paul Winter.

Stephanie Allain (Dear White People, Hustle & Flow)  told a story about her childhood. While growing up in a black, single mother household, she saw Julia, the groundbreaking show starring Diahann Carroll that told the story of a single mother nurse. It was the first time she had seen her own life reflected on the screen. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, we're important. We count,’” Allain said. Read More.

Maya and Lily Production Update

Student Academy Award Winners Have Social Impact Themes

Written by Tomi Tunrarebi

Four School of Cinematic Arts student films won Student Academy Awards on October 11th. The awards celebrated the best films of 1500 films submitted from 400 schools around the world and many of them focused on social issues, including climate change, gender equity, immigration and anti-Semitism.

Among them was Lalo’s House a film that sheds light on child trafficking, and was mentored by MISC Executive Director Michael Taylor. Filmed on location in Haiti, it was the thesis film of director Kelley Kali who was inspired to make it after witnessing a Haitian Catholic orphanage that was a front for a child trafficking ring. Read More.

MISC Hosts 'Crazy Rich Asians' Film Discussion at Blaze

By Reina Akamatsu

On Tuesday September 25th, MISC launched a new event, the MISC student social, to provide a space for the USC student community to gather and talk about impactful popular media. The inaugural event, held at a pizza restaurant near campus, focused on discussing “Crazy Rich Asians,” directed by USC alumnus Jon Chu. The film came out in August 2018 and is one of the year’s most talked about films. Read More.

by Catherine Cropp

MISC received a grant from the Stein Early Childhood Development Fund to create a fictional film about the importance of access to quality and affordable childcare. The Stein Early Childhood Development Fund, in affiliation with the California Community Foundation, awards grants to non-profit organizations to raise public awareness and support for quality childcare education. Read More.