Caption: (L-R) Partick Fritz, Marion Philadelphia, Bonnie Chi, Michael Renov, Bill Allen, Scott Stone and Alyssa Fritz
Celebrating 25 Years: The Business of Cinematic Arts (BCA) Program Makes USC History!
by Benjamin Pola
After two decades of dedication, Bonnie Chi, Assistant Dean and John H. Mitchell Endowed Chair of Business of Entertainment at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, finally received the coveted call: "We got it!" What she achieved, after unwavering advocacy, was official recognition of the Business of Cinematic Arts (BCA) degree by USC – a program she meticulously nurtured from its inception.
The news arrived just as the program was entering its 25th year mark. What started as a graduate certificate program for entertainment-based business courses, transformed into an undergraduate emphasis program with the USC Marshall School of Business.
Caption: BCA students tour Paramount Studios in their first year.
Then, in 2019, SCA received a transformative $20 million gift from the Patricia W. Mitchell Trusts, dedicated to advancing ethics and diversity in business. This generous endowment led to the creation of the John H. Mitchell Endowed Fund and Chair. This fund plays a pivotal role in supporting the BCA program by providing essential financial aid for students, known as Mitchell Scholars.
Now, the BCA program stands as USC's first-ever joint undergraduate program, marking a significant milestone in Chi’s career and the university's academic offerings.
Graduates from this unique program will now receive diplomas jointly from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Marshall School of Business – a new practice that's already sparking more collaborations across campus.
Caption: Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandos, spends an evening in conversation with BCA students.
Chi, who worked at William Morris before coming to SCA, worked tirelessly to build a program that recruits students who want to be in the entertainment business, but not necessarily near the lights, camera, action! “These classes are designed for the business-minded student with a creative background, aspiring to be a creative or executive making decisions in the entertainment business,” explains Chi. “Because the program is cohorted, and classes are closed to non-majors, our industry professionals teaching in the program are able to tailor classes specifically for these 55 students.”
At the beginning stages, Chi spearheaded a majority of the program independently. She oversaw curriculum development, established mentorship pipelines for current students and even created a BCA Board made up of recent alumni working in the industry.
Fast forward to 2020, when Marion Philadelphia, Professor of Clinical Business Communication at Marshall, took an interest in the BCA program. Philadelphia, who also has a background in entertainment, connected with Chi and the road to a joint-degree was underway. Philadelphia is now the Academic Director of the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program.
In 2022, Patrick Fritz joined the team as the BCA Academic Program Administrator. An alum of SCA’s Film and Television Production Division, Fritz ensures that students receive enriching experiences both inside and outside the classroom through programming and industry networking events catered specifically for each cohort.
Bonnie Chi
Assistant Dean and John H. Mitchell Endowed Chair of Business of Entertainment
Marion Philadelphia
Academic Director of the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program
Patrick Fritz
Academic Program Administrator of the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program
The leadership behind the BCA program is truly student-centered, which is evident in every aspect of the degree. The curriculum is carefully designed to ensure students progress at each step, with yearly faculty retreats organized by Chi and Philadelphia for faculty to exchange syllabi and student feedback, continually improving the classroom environment and student experience. There is a robust calendar of events each semester, including speakers and screenings, organized by Fritz, to provide students with access to working industry professionals.
BCA’s success is a prime example of the magic that results from finding the right team who shares the same vision. For Chi, who teaches in the program and also oversees the SCA Office of Industry Relations, that vision is to prepare the next wave of industry trailblazers and visionaries by providing practical skill sets and strategies they can implement right away – values she shares with her team.
From a handful of business courses for a certificate program to becoming USC’s inaugural undergraduate joint-degree program–with over 1,000 applicants in its first official year–there’s a lot to celebrate in this 25th year mark of the Business of Cinematic Arts.
Caption: BCA’s 2023 graduating cohort post in the SCA Courtyard.
To learn more about the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program, please visit: https://cinema.usc.edu/ir/bca.cfm