<p>Seeing the USC marching band on American Idol made me think that being at USC might give students a better than average chance of seeing stars, attending performances by up-and-coming bands, or attending cool events just because you happen to be at USC. It seems like I heard they use USC film students to fill seats at award shows - is that true? Please tell us about cool or quirky things that have happened there!</p>
<p>One of the big events at SC is Songfest. Groups of students from dorms, Greek chapters or organizations prepare and compete for the opportunity to perform in the Hollywood Bowl and win the Sweepstakes Prize.<br>
As part of the evening all the groups sing together and are led by a famous Hollywood/New York conductor. I recall the time our chapter won and we sang together directed by a conductor who had just won the Academy Award. Where else do you have the chance to sing in the Hollywood Bowl and be part of a performance conducted by a world famous musician and composer as a freshman student?</p>
<p>Some of the coolest things that I have been to include seeing Steven Spielberg speak about the Shoah Institute, watching John Williams conduct the USC Orchestra with his own music, and seeing Tom Brokaw speak. The first two were free, and the third was only five dollars (and I had a front row seat in the middle!). It has been very cool. There are a lot of great opportunities for students, but you have to take the initiative and go!</p>
<p>My son had a class on Spielberg at SCA. Spielberg came the last session and spoke to the students. TV shows and movies are always being shot on campus so there is a long list of people he has seen. When he interned at participant productions (now participant media, [Participant</a> Media | Entertainment that Inspires and Compels Social Change](<a href=“http://www.participantmedia.com/]Participant”>http://www.participantmedia.com/)) he chatted with Rob Reiner and read (covered) scripts by several well know writers and actors. </p>
<p>Henry Winkler is a Trojan Parent and several years ago he hosted Parents Weekend when we were there.</p>
<p>I met Spike Lee outside of Bovard one night.</p>
<p>S1 had a class taught by Paul Orfalea- founder of Kinkos.</p>
<p>(Many years ago at USC!)- My economics class had Arthur Laffer (of the Laffer Curve) as a guest speaker. I also had a physiology class taught by Dr. Laura. </p>
<p>(Fun idea for a thread, FauxNom.)</p>
<p>tsdad: My daughter had the same Spielberg class. Really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>I literally bumped into Spielberg at the Santa Monica Farmers Market once, but that’s another story.</p>
<p>the leader of the California KKK - Tom Metzger - came to talk at my Journalism class. There were riot police surrounding the building and LOTS of security inside the class. It was an interesting and profound lesson on the First Amendment.</p>
<p>Ran into Pete Carroll one early morning on campus and said hi.</p>
<p>There have been a number of occasions where there are film shoots on campus. Right outside of Bovard Carmen Electra was filming a commercial for Icebreakers.</p>
<p>I’ve seen Pete Carroll multiple times while eating at the Galen cafeteria. Always really friendly to everyone.</p>
<p>I also went to a free Sigur Ros acoustic set and screening at UCLA, but that’s another story. ;)</p>
<p>I bumped into OJ Mayo at EVK when I was staying on campus for a summer program. He was so cool!</p>
<p>I remember Carmen Elektra!! lol
yeah, the President of Disney Channel came and spoke to a room of about 40 a couple months ago.
Then there’s always Arnold and his daughter.
Spencer and Heidi from the Hills were seen very early in the beginning of the year, as well as Jason sitting in his car.
Also, USC is featured in many movies/tv shows (OC, Gilmore Girls, Legally Blonde, lots of Disney shows, etc.)
Trojan Vision always has cool guests on their talk shows (a lot of people were excited about Hansen this year)
In the past USC students (esp film) do get asked to fill seats at awards shows, though this year that didn’t happen too much because of some problem. However, I do have friends who got to go work at the Emmys and meet some of the stars.
Also, if you work for the Trojan Vision shows, you always get to go to fancy awards shows (Golden Globes, etc.) and meet famous people.
We also get free advanced screenings of up and coming movies - The Other Bolyn Girl, 21, etc. just to name a few.
The opportunities are pretty much endless.</p>
<p>I saw them filming Gilmore Girls last year and that was neat. 
I also saw Lupe Fiasco and I know last year there was Snoop Dog too good times. I also saw Rumer Willis when she used to goto school here. Also if you care about asian celebrities they are going to have a Korean Peace concert in the Galen Center (they were suppose to have it in April) I had a free ticket but then they postponed it… =_=</p>
<p>Wow, sounds like fun! </p>
<p>Is there a venue on or near campus where you can hear new bands that haven’t made it big yet?</p>