Preserving film history with USC School of Cinematic Arts

USC School of Cinematic Arts

The University of Southern California (USC SCA) is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles, California. Known for its prestigious School of Cinematic Arts, USC SCA offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, arts, and sciences. USC SCA is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, encouraging innovation, and facilitating impactful research that addresses global challenges. With a diverse student body and faculty, USC is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment that promotes learning, leadership, and service.

"People like George Lucas, Ron Howard, and Bob Zemeckis have graduated from USC. I sleep better at night because I know these priceless tapes, films, and treasures are housed here at Iron Mountain."
- Elizabeth Daley, Dean, USC School of Cinematic Arts

Situation

The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (USC SCA) faced a challenge in preserving its extensive and culturally significant collection. This archive, containing valuable memorabilia, films, and documents from cinema luminaries like George Lucas and Ron Howard, required meticulous care to prevent degradation and loss. The preservation of these assets was crucial not only for honouring the school's heritage but also for providing a resource for educational and research purposes, making the need for a reliable archival solution imperative.

Solution

By implementing best practices tailored to the unique requirements of cinematic archives, Iron Mountain Media and Archive Services provided specialized physical preservation services and secure storage solutions. Their approach ensured the integrity and longevity of USC SCA's invaluable assets, from original film masters to rare documents. Through this partnership, Iron Mountain played a pivotal role in safeguarding USC's student film archive, reinforcing the trust and confidence in their ability to protect the school's legacy for generations to come.

Client Value

Iron Mountain Media & Archive Services helped secure the confidence of USC’s administration though education and expertise ensuring that its cinematic assets were going to be protected for the long term. In a program that produces more that 243 hours of motion pictures every year, safeguarding and maintaining USC’s student film archive is extensive and impressive. The school can now rest assured that it’s massive archive is protected. With its assets secure, USC School of Cinematic Arts can now expand and encourage every student’s academic experience while providing a safe home for its current an historical assets. A global leader in media protection, providing personal, corporate and digital storage — regardless of its format, location or life cycle stage, Iron Mountain Media & Archive Services has successfully managed and secured USC’s film school archives.