Master of Fine Arts Creative Producing

The School of Cinematic Arts Master of Fine Arts in Creative Producing is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Set your sights on one of the most exciting careers in the entertainment industry: Creative Producing. The demand for content by networks, studios, and streamers has never been greater and the Creative Producer is uniquely positioned to fill this need by finding content to shepherd from initial concept through development, production, and, ultimately, distribution.

Classes for this two-year MFA program are held during evenings on the historic Sunset Las Palmas Studio lot, enabling students to benefit from internships and job opportunities during the day. Students will learn every step of the creative producing process in film and television development with courses in pre-production, budgeting, entertainment law, post-production, and distribution. These courses, designed and taught by working industry professionals, will prepare graduates for successful careers as studio executives, television showrunners, talent agents and managers, and more.

Degree Requirements

Careers

Graduates of the MFA in Creative Producing will be well-equipped for a number of careers, including talent agents and managers, studio executives, television showrunners, and traditional film and TV producing roles.

Our graduates have worked for:

Netflix
Marvel Studios
MGM
Bold Films
Universal Studios
Creative Artists Agency
The Tonight Show
Anonymous Entertainment
Sony Studios
Warner Bros.
Oxygen Network
Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
ABC Television Drama
Funny or Die

Alumni Spotlight

Schuyler Weinberg (MFA ‘23) is the assistant to the vice president of scripted content at the LA-based Independent Artist Group.

SCA Alumni

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Stewart Lyons

Stewart is an Executive Producer, Line Producer, Unit Production Manager and Production Executive. He has credits on over 600 episodes of television including 33 series and 29 pilots. His projects include Roswell NM, Snowfall, Better Call Saul, and Breaking Bad. Stewart has received two Emmys, a Golden Globe, and awards from the Directors Guild and the Producers Guild.
email Stewart

Abby Plante

Abby Plante is a working writer and producer. After participating in DePaul’s LA Quarter, Abby launched her career by working as a Hollywood assistant at companies like Paradigm Talent Agency to then working in creative development at Bunim-Murray Productions. Versed in scripted and unscripted television as well as documentary writing, she has since produced various scripted and digital series for networks including Netflix, SyFy, LOGO, and NBCUniversal, and production companies including Participant Media, SoulPancake and Funny Or Die.
email Abby

Tim Peternel

Tim has been an independent film producer for 20 years on such acclaimed films as Love Liza and Buffalo 66. Most recently, he produced the feature film Dog Eat Dog, directed by Paul Schrader and starring Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe.
email Tim Faculty Creative Activity

Internships

Internships are a key step in gaining experience and contacts in the film and television industry. Students are required to take two internships during the program each spring. The first-year students intern at entertainment companies with a focus on development and pre-production for film and television. In the second year, students concentrate on post-production with internships at companies involved in distribution and marketing. Past student internships include: Warner Brothers, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Studios, Disney Studios, William Morris Endeavor, Producers Guild of America, HBO, Logo, Benderspink, Jim Henson Company, Gary Sanchez Productions, Anonymous Content, CAA, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Bold Films, and Bad Robot.

Sunset Las Palmas Studios

Sunset Las Palmas Studios, a historic lot in the heart of Hollywood, is home to DePaul's LA Quarter and MFA in Creative Producing programs.

3 men and a lady dressed up posing for a pic

Industry Connections

School of Cinematic Arts students have several opportunities to connect with industry pros through faculty who still work in film and television, LA-based entertainment companies and studios, and their classes. Breaking Bad producer and SCA faculty Stew Lyons' recent creative producing course featured multiple guest speakers from the show, including creator Vince Gilligan, lead actor Bryan Cranston & other actors, directors, executive producers & wardrobe designers.

Application Deadlines

Enrollment Quarter	Domestic Student Deadline	International Student Deadline
Fall (Priority Deadline)	December 15	December 15
Fall (Final Deadline)	May 15	May 15

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Admission Process

The graduate application process involves completing an online application, sending in your transcripts and submitting any supplemental material (e.g., letters of recommendation, certifications, etc.). To learn more about your program specific requirements, visit our Graduate Admission page

Admission Requirements

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Students in this program are required to pay an annual program fee.

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