Interested in learning how to direct a professional-looking film without a big-scale budget? In “Directing: Creating Your Short Film,” hone your filmmaking skills and build your portfolio as you learn from industry veteran and USC alum Sanford Bookstaver, the director and producer of hit TV shows and movies, including Dexter: New Blood, House MD, Power, Chicago Fire and many others. In this course, you’ll be guided through the complete production process as you pick up tricks of the trade to bring your cinematic vision to the screen.
In the process, you’ll:
> Build a filmmaking portfolio for your college applications
> Build a collaborative film team, scout locations, arrange sets and prepare actors
> Conceptualize a script through creating a storyboard, shot list and schedule
> Understand commercial filmmaking tools, how to use alternative DIY equipment and how to use creativity in lieu of professional resources
> Execute the most classic types of coverage to capture a master shot
> Use different camera movements, lighting setups, filters and lens to achieve a range of cinematic styles
> Undergo post-production to assemble footage, edit, apply elements of sound design and music to arrive at a final cut
PROGRAM DATES
August 18, 2025
September 1, 2025
September 15, 2025
September 29, 2025
October 13, 2025
October 27, 2025
November 10, 2025
November 24, 2025
December 8, 2025
December 22, 2025
Monday, January 5, 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026
Monday, February 2, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Monday, March 2, 2026
Monday, March 16, 2026
Monday, March 30, 2026
FORMAT AND COURSE LENGTH
Combined coursework of recorded lectures and demonstrations, readings and watch lists, and assignments is approximately 20-25 -hours to be completed at the student’s own pace. Students are expected to complete the course in four-weeks but have 90-days of access if more time is needed.
ELIGIBILITY
Students must be at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program.
Recent high school graduates, students taking a gap year or time off from college and are older than 18 can request an exemption to apply by emailing precollegeonline@usc.edu and include a short paragraph (no more than 200 words) stating your interest and how this program will add value to your academic or career plans.
TUITION
$1990 USD
$35 application fee
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Make a great short film with your smartphone — and master the entire process of film production. Throughout this four-week course, Sanford Bookstaver will guide you on how to prepare a script for filming, assemble a highly collaborative team, scout filming locations, work with actors, utilize readily available tools to pull off a successful shoot, navigate post-production and bring everything together for an edited final cut.
At the culmination of the course, you’ll engage in creative exercises, hear from industry experts, get inspired from film clips and real-world examples of movie-making in action — plus walk away with a completed short film.
Featured Topics
- Pre-production
- Actors and Casting: Bringing Your Characters to Life
- Production Part 1: Preparing Your Scenes
- Production Part 2: Using Your Tools
- Post-production
Learning Outcomes
This course guides students through the entire filmmaking process from the early logistical stages of pre-production to successfully executing a film shoot and editing that footage. Through strategically using easily accessible tools and equipment, students will learn how to make a short film as professionally as possible with any budget — and earn a certificate along the way.
Format and Course Length
The course consists of recorded lectures and demonstrations, film clips, industry connections and discussions. Each topic provides context for key elements of creating a short film from pre-production to post. Students will engage with creative exercises to generate and revise work in order to complete the course with a final cut of a short film.
Combined coursework of recorded lectures, readings, and assignments is approximately 20-25 hours to be completed at the student’s own pace. Students are expected to complete the course in four-weeks but have 90-days of access if more time is needed.
INSTRUCTOR AND INDUSTRY EXPERT
Being a Director is the best job in the world.
Sanford Bookstaver has worked as a director and producer in film and television for over twenty years on shows like: Dexter: New Blood, House MD, Power, Chicago Fire, and many others. He fell in love with movies at an early age and throughout his career has collaborated with some of the most creative and talented people in Hollywood.
He enrolled in the School of Cinematic Arts at USC and began his journey towards becoming a director. He paid his dues working as an assistant at DreamWorks for Jeffrey Katzenberg and while working there co-wrote and directed his short film Scriptfellas a parody on Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas. He shared this film with Katzenberg who later shared it with Spielberg and one week later his lifelong dream would become a reality as a director on the NBC show The Others.
Bookstaver has been nominated for several awards for his directing talents and has also lent his time to teaching other aspiring young filmmakers whenever he can.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applicants who submit a completed application can expect an admission decision within 3 – 5 business days.
- Include basic contact information from you and your parent(s) or guardian.
- Tell us why you want to take the course and a little about yourself through a short-answer essay.
- Share a piece of writing, video or social media content that reveals something about yourself (optional).
- Submit the $35 application fee.
- Students must be at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants are expected to be proficient in English. International students who successfully complete an online course will receive a digital Certificate of Completion and by request a USC Pre-College Program transcript at no additional cost.
PROGRAM START DATE AND APPLICATION DEADLINES
| PROGRAM START DATES | APPLICATION & TUITION DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Monday, August 18, 2025 | Wednesday, August 13, 2025 |
| Monday, September 1, 2025 | Wednesday, August 27, 2025 |
| Monday, September 15, 2025 | Wednesday, September 10, 2025 |
| Monday, September 29, 2025 | Wednesday, September 24, 2025 |
| Monday, October 13, 2025 | Wednesday, October 8, 2025 |
| Monday, October 27, 2025 | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 |
| Monday, November 10, 2025 | Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
| Monday, November 24, 2025 | Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
| Monday, December 8, 2025 | Wednesday, December 3, 2025 |
| Monday, December 22, 2025 | Wednesday, December 17, 2025 |
| Monday, January 5, 2026 | Wednesday, December 31, 2025 |
| Monday, January 19, 2026 | Wednesday, January 14, 2026 |
| Monday, February 2, 2026 | Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
| Monday, February 16, 2026 | Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
| Monday, March 2, 2026 | Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
| Monday, March 16, 2026 | Wednesday, March 11, 2026 |
| Monday, March 30, 2026 | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
Application fees are nonrefundable. All course cancellations requests must be made in writing to precollegeonline@usc.edu. Any tuition paid to the university will be refunded, not including fees, if requested no more than three (3) days past the course start date. Requests to drop the course more than three (3) days after the start date will not be eligible for a refund.
The university will not refund tuition for Pre-College Online Exploration courses for students who are removed from the program due to a violation of our Letter of Understanding for Online Participation and our Student Code of Conduct.