Sumner Redstone Donates $10 Million to USC School of Cinematic Arts

Sumner Redstone, executive chairman and founder of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp., has gifted $10 million to the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

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The gift from the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation was announced Thursday by SCA Dean Elizabeth Daley and will further the media creation education programs at the school, which include a state-of-the-art production facility, to be named the Sumner M. Redstone Production Building. The Redstone Production Building is part of SCA’s new Cinematic Arts Complex and will be dedicated Feb. 5.

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“Sumner Redstone has supported, inspired and motivated generations of entertainment industry professionals with his innumerable creative and visionary endeavors,” said Daley. “His generous contribution to SCA and its students will go far and wide toward advancing the ambitions and goals of the next generation of media makers. We are very grateful for his continued support.”

The Redstone Production Building will feature 2,600 square feet of production space and will have two production stages for use by the approximately 1,000 students from the school's various divisions. The building will be equipped with industry standard Strand dimming systems and Mole-Richardson lighting; floor lights, grip and electrical hardware; a Production Equipment Center; wooden stage floors; and soundproofing and soundproof utility doors, among many others features.

Redstone, who is among the school's long-standing supporters, delivered its 2011 commencement address.

Of the contribution, he said: "With this gift, I hope USC students will follow their passions and realize their creative aspirations. The capabilities of these production facilities, together with the outstanding SCA faculty, will give students the tools and opportunity to refine their skills and carry on the legacy of creative excellence that has always been at the core of media creation business. I could not be more pleased to join Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and so many other supporters of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, which is educating the future leaders of our industry.”