Pre-College Programs
  • Summer Programs
  • Course Options
  • Business
  • Inside the Business of Entertainment

Inside the Business of Entertainment — USC Pre-College

[Photo] A woman with long brown hair and bangs stands in profile beside a professional cinema camera, looking toward its attached monitors. The dimly lit indoor setting features colorful, blurred decorations in the background.

Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.

What if you had an insider’s understanding of how the entertainment industry really works and could improve your skill set for a successful career in show business? In this hands-on course, you’ll study the current entertainment business structure, as well as key trends shaping its future.

Log In

Whether you are looking to start an entertainment venture, work in the field or pursue a career as talent, this class is for you.

In this course, participants will explore how the entertainment industry transforms an idea to a finished project, what intellectual property is, where financing comes from, opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups in the entertainment industry, and much more.

We will discuss participants’ ambitions, explore their talents and outline a plan to improve their chances of success in this exciting and fast-growing global industry.

Along the way, participants will get an insider’s view of the business, develop the skills they need to thrive and visit some of the companies that make Los Angeles the center of the global entertainment industry.

Participants will finish the course with a skills improvement plan and field guide to success.

[Photo] A bearded man wearing a gray sweatshirt and baseball cap holds an open film clapperboard on an outdoor set. A boom microphone extends overhead, while other crew members and camera equipment are visible nearby.

Topics of Study

  • Careers in entertainment
  • The lifecycle of an entertainment project
  • Entertainment industry trend forecasting
  • Pitching projects
  • Leadership

Learning Highlights

  • Study the past, present and future of the creator/producer/distributor/audience dynamics that drive the entertainment industry
  • Analyze contemporary case studies across entertainment industry sectors with a focus on their entrepreneurial fundamentals
  • Understand key industry success factors
  • Develop and present a unique entertainment concept tailored to a particular industry sector using the skills gained from this course
  • Strengthen teamwork, public speaking and leadership skills through hands-on workshops and culminating presentations

Requirements

  • Participants must bring their own laptop
WeekFocusKey TopicsAssignments and Activities
1Introduction to The Entertainment Industry
Overview of the industry from its beginnings to today, with a focus on where you “fit in”Explore methods for forecasting future changes in the industry. Hear from working industry professionals.
2From Idea to Pitch to “Green Light”
Development; financing; packaging; production; distributionExplore the various processes that lead to success. Visit leading Los Angeles-based studios, game companies, record companies and other entertainment businesses.
3Development and Pitch Fundamentals
Practical skills needed to develop, finance, pitch and build an audience for your own projectHands-on workshops. Practice developing and refining your own pitch.
4From Idea to Opportunity
Leadership skills; entrepreneurship skills; pitchingWork individually or in small teams to create and present your final project: your entertainment concept, target audience, business plan and pitch!

USC Summer Programs offers a super welcoming environment and great course options that show you a lot of information that you won't receive in your typical AP classes in high school.

— USC Summer Programs participant
[Photo] A student seated at a classroom table holds up a handwritten sheet of paper while speaking as classmates listen, with open laptops and reusable water bottles on the table. The handwritten page appears to read “United States” in large letters.
Log In
Frequently Asked Questions