Film school or Alcoholics Anonymous?

The first production class I took at USC was the infamous CTPR 290/241 Cinematic Communication and Fundamentals of Cinematic Technique. I have heard of people getting 290 tattoos after taking the class to show their "accomplishment".

In 290 students are required to create(write, shoot, produce, edit, etc.) 5 short films in one semester. Doesn't sound like a big deal...

So the first class was introduction time. Everyone gets to know one another. Again doesn't sound like a big deal...

The first thing we had to do was to write our names on a "Hi my name is..." name tag. Things are sorta starting to get weird. I'm thinking Fight Club...

Professor: "So as we go around please tell us your name, year, major, where you are from and a life changing experience."

...

Wait... did he just say a life changing experience??? I'm thinking, "Am I in the right class?? This is starting to sound like a group therapy session."

What ensues is some of the most intense drama ever. The first production class ever and I am hearing strangers share stories about how their father died or almost died or how they turned Muslim or how they fell in love with their soul mate. Tears streaming down all faces in the class.

This is not film school.... this is alcoholics anonymous or something. The only way that could have been film school is if we started filming all the drama. That would have made a great Youtube video.

I found out later USC had received complaints from students about the 290 professors and they were under review. The introductions in the first class was their attempt at enhancing the learning experience and bonding the whole class together. Of course it did not work, as later in the semester there were multiple films produced in that class that expressed frustration at USC, the professors and the film school. And it turns out, for whatever reason they have now stopped teaching at USC.

But believe it or not, that was my first day of the first production class at "the best film school in the world", and it was a sign of things to come.