East SFV Today

The USC School of Cinematic Arts is excited to announce that Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, the Academy Award-winning filmmakers and founders of Imagine Entertainment, will deliver the 2023 commencement address. Additionally, Tracy Oliver, the writer, producer, and director of films such as Girls Trip and Little, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Shrine Auditorium.

Grazer and Howard are known for their successful creative partnership in Hollywood, producing critically acclaimed films and television shows. Grazer, a past recipient of the Mary Pickford Alumni Award and a member of the School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors, received a BA in Psychology from USC in 1974. While Howard only attended courses at the School of Cinematic Arts, both Grazer and Howard received honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees from USC in 2022.

Oliver, who earned an MFA from SCA’s Peter Stark Producing Program in 2010, will join Grazer along with a distinguished list of USC alumni as the Pickford Award recipient. The Mary Pickford Alumni Award pays tribute to USC alumni who have made significant contributions to the industry. Oliver has become an exemplary role model for USC students and a vital contributor to the success of the SCA community as one of its newest Board of Councilors members.“We are thrilled to welcome back to campus Brian Grazer and Ron Howard to address this year’s graduating class,” says Daley. “Brian and Ron’s longstanding partnership and tremendous accomplishments make them such a unique driving force within the industry. Their insights and wisdom will be invaluable to our students as they prepare to start their own journeys. Tracy Oliver is an exemplary role model for our students, and a stellar representative of the new generation of SCA creators who are leading today’s golden age of entertainment media. As an SCA board member she is a vital contributor to the success of our SCA community, and we couldn’t be prouder to honor her this year.”

About the Speakers

Brian Grazer

Brian Grazer is a multi-award-winning producer, with his work receiving nominations for 47 Oscars and 228 Emmys. He has produced many successful films and TV shows, including A Beautiful Mind and Empire, and is also the co-founder of Impact, a content accelerator that aims to connect creatives around the world. Grazer believes that curiosity is a superpower that can help create a better world and has been recognized for his humanitarian work by various organizations.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard is an Academy, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker known for creating some of Hollywood's most memorable films such as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Parenthood, and Splash. He has been involved in numerous significant projects in every decade since the 1960s, whether for film, television, or documentaries. Alongside Brian Grazer, he founded Imagine Entertainment in the 1980s, which is one of the longest-running partnerships in Hollywood.

Tracy Oliver

Tracy Oliver is a screenwriter, director, producer, and showrunner who has become a trailblazer for Black women in Hollywood. She is best known for writing the hit film Girls Trip, which grossed over $100 million at the box office, making her the first Black woman to do so. Through her production company, Tracy Yvonne Productions, Oliver is committed to advocating for diverse and meaningful storytelling, amplifying unique voices, and improving inclusiveness within the industry. 

Original source can be found here.