Production Management for Film, Television and New Media TVR/CNPH Spring 2014 Tentative Syllabus

Transcription

1 Production Management for Film, Television and New Media TVR/CNPH Spring 2014 Tentative Syllabus Instructor: Steve Gordon Telephone: Classroom: Park 228 Computer Lab 275 Class Schedule: T-Th, 10:50-12:05 PM Office: Park 373 Office Hours: Website: Sakai T, Th, 9:30-10:30AM; W 3-4PM Course Description: The course will provide a working knowledge of the role of the executive and line producer in prethrough post-production on a film, television or new media project. Included in the process will be production planning, budgeting, scheduling, business considerations and post-production process management. Pre-requisite: TVR32700 (Development and Production for Media) Course Goals: Students will execute producing fundamentals as producers on student productions including CMP and TVR media thesis projects. The coursework will prepare students interested in producing/production management with a practical knowledge of the steps and tools necessary to complete a successful production. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Understand the process of pre-production through post production and the role of the producer or production executive in the process. 2. Execute fundamental budgeting and scheduling with Industry accepted software. 3. Generate basic legal agreements and documents required for a production. 4. Understand relationships between production entities and motion picture and television craft guilds and unions. 5. Generate schedule and budget for the post-production process.

2 2 6. Understand the qualities and experience needed for potential employment in entry-level positions leading to careers including: Executive Producers, line producers, unit production manger (UPM), post production supervisor and studio, network or production company executive. Required Textbook and other Reading Material: Film Production Management 101: Management and Coordination in a Digital Age By Deborah S. Patz Michael Weise Productions Other suggested sources: Producing for TV and New Media: A Real World Approach for Producers Catherine Kellison Focal Press Independent Film Producer Survival Guide: A Business Guide and Legal Sourcebook By Gunnar Erickson, Mark Halloran and Harrris Tulchin Shirmer Trade Books The Business of Media Distribution: Monitizing Film, TV and Video Content in an Online World By Jeff Ulin Focal Press This Business of Television By Howard Blumenthal & Oliver Goodenough Billboard Books Hollywood 101, the Film Industry By Fredrick Levy St. Martin s Griffin, New York The Crew, video, Grading Procedures and Changes to Syllabus The professor reserves the right to modify or change any of these requirements and give sufficient notice to students as to the specified changes. If any expected unit of this course or assignment cannot be fulfilled or an additional assignment is added, the grading weight will shift accordingly. Breakdown for Grading Class Participation 10% Weekly Writing/Research Assignments/Quizzes 15% Location Scout 10% Midterm: Schedule and budget 15% Crowd Funding Plan/Script 10% Union Contract Research Project 5% Blackboard Discussion 5% Final: Production Services 15%

3 Final Exam 15% Total 100% 3 Grading Scale A (>94) B+ (>88) C+ (>77) D+ (>66) A (>90) B (>84) C (>74) D (>64) B- (>80) C- (>70) D- (>60) Requirements: Details of weekly assignments will be reviewed in class with sufficient notice to organize and complete the assignment. Assignments subject to change. Class participation: Students will be graded according to the number of in-class contributions and the quality of those contributions. Attendance and punctuality will also be considered. Active participation does not imply domination of an exchange and students are expected to be courteous and sensitive in their comments to fellow students and the instructor. Attendance at one or more seminars or speaker s event(s) may be required over the course of the semester. There will likely be guest speakers for this course, which will require you to research their background and come prepared with good questions. Weekly Writing/Research Exercises: Reading and research assignments will be required over the course of the semester and students will Write reflections or complete quizzes as required. Primary Assignments: Mid Term Feature Schedule and Budget Assignment Students will complete a schedule and budget using Movie Magic software for the production they are producing or as assigned by the instructor. Crowd Funding Plan/Script Students will prepare a plan for crowd-funding for their projects, along with a script for a crowd funding campaign. Location Scout In small teams, Students will scout and survey locations in various Ithaca locales Union Contract Research Project: Students will use craft-union websites to determine appropriate fees to budget for an independent film, television or web project. Post-production Schedule: Students will complete a post-production schedule and flow chart for the projects they are producing.

4 4 Blackboard Discussion Board: Each student will be required to participate in one or more Blackboard discussions on the course website. The discussions will involve analyzing scripted material or film assigned for viewing. Participation consists of initial posts and replies to your classmates, with thoughtful content and meaningful discussion. A grading rubric for participation in Blackboard discussion activity will be presented on the course website Final Project: In teams of two, students will provide production management services (AS SPECIFIED) for a film or television project, preferably a thesis production, in the role of Co-Line Producers, UPM(s), Production coordinator(s), or Associate Producer(s). In that capacity, and in conjunction with a project s executive producer, teams will provide: Crew list with responsibility to hire or designate dedicated production coordinator; producers agreement; location; scheduling (including postproduction); and budgeting paperwork. You must also commit to (minimum) being on set for the first day of shooting and one additional days of shooting. You will need to work with casting director and director to set schedule. You will only be responsible for one revision to each of these documents, after that, it is the producer s responsibility to make any necessary changes. Grading will be determined by: quality of production materials; overall production quality, deadline and budget expectations and results, peer grading and two reflections about your experience Copies of all production materials will be presented in a production book. Final Exam: Will cover material in weekly quizzes plus questions demonstrating synergy of learning. Study guide will be provided. Note: Grading rubrics for each of the above will be handed out as assignments are given. Course Policies: Course Attendance Class attendance is required of all students. Three or more unexcused absences are considered excessive and will result in a lower grade for the course. Students will be penalized one-half of a letter grade per class hour missed for each unexcused absence over two. Students are expected to be punctual, to be prepared and to participate in class discussions and activities. Students who are late for class more than three times will lose 20% of their participation grade for each occurrence. Absences that result from participation in approved College activities, documented medical emergencies, death of immediate family members, and other such incidents as determined by the professor on a case-by-case basis, shall be considered excused absences. All other absences will be deemed unexcused absences. The professor may require from the student to establish that an absence is an excused absence including a doctor s note. Any student, who misses class due to a verifiable family or individual health emergency, may report the absence to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life, which will notify the student s dean s office, as well as residential life if the student lives on campus. The dean s office will disseminate the information

5 to the appropriate faculty. Follow-up by the student with his or her professors is imperative. Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to: a) illnesses that are not life threatening or contagious; b) transportation problems (e.g., bad weather, congested traffic, mechanical problems with a vehicle, etc.); c) leaving early for vacation periods (e.g., Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter or Spring Breaks); d) absences resulting from the appearance at court proceedings and to take care of administrative matters (e.g., registering your vehicle or renewing a license); or e) the death or injury of a friend or relative who is not an immediate family member. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. Such students must notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination without penalty. Faculty will not schedule examinations or quizzes on designated religious holidays on the calendar day following the designated holidays. Designated holidays are Rosh Hashanah (2 days), Yom Kippur, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. 5 Falsifying the reason for an absence to make an unexcused absence appear to be an unexcused absence shall be considered a form of academic dishonesty and dealt with as described below. Students who are absent are required to learn what they missed from their classmates rather than the instructor. Students who are absent when scheduled for an in-class presentation will receive a 0 for their required presentation and/or peer evaluation, unless excused. Students needing to take an excused absence must inform the professor prior to class (preferably 24 hours notice). Students are responsible for making arrangements in advance with the professor to make up their work missed by their excused absence. Students participating in an official campus activity that conflicts with class meetings, activities or due dates of assignments are responsible for informing the professor via phone or by and by obtaining permission for an excused absence in advance. Job or internship interviews may be classified as an excused absence if approved by the professor in advance. Participation in Blackboard discussion board activities will be required and graded. Failure to participate or complete discussion contribution within deadlines will possibly result in a lower grade. Circumstances that prevent students from fulfilling course expectations will be handled by the professor on a case-by-case basis. Talking during lectures or when fellow students are contributing will not be tolerated. After the fifth time that you are reminded of this by the instructor, you will lose one third of your participation grade for each infraction thereafter. Personal Communication Devices Cell phone talk or texting, PDA, Laptop use is not permitted in class unless you are asked to do so by the instructor or by written accommodation. The student will be verbally warned and if the practice continues, the student will be warned by , and will lose 20% of their participation grade for each occurrence after three. Note: If abuse of this rule continues, student may lose additional grade points, or, be asked to

6 leave the class. 6 Assignment Deadlines & Requirements: All assignments are to be professional in appearance: typed, double-spaced, stapled, with page numbers, headings and in proper screenplay form when required. Assignments are expected to be submitted or presented on the assigned due date. The student is responsible for the secure delivery of all assignments to the professor by the due date. ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE HANDED IN ON-LINE UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED. Assignments handed in late (after the online-deadline has passed) will receive a reduction of one-half letter grade up to the end of the first day late and one letter grade for every day thereafter. After 4 consecutive days, the assignment will receive a zero. Any assignment delivered by , will automatically receive a half-grade deduction; all other late terms then apply. Students participating in official campus activities need to heed the following. During the first several class sessions, students are given the opportunity to share names and contact information with classmates who can be relied upon to hand in assignments in the event you are unable to make it to class the day the assignment is due. It is suggested that you share contact information with at least three classmates. You should not select classmates that are participating in the same extracurricular activities as you. All assignments will be returned. If you do not receive an assignment back, it means it is unaccounted for and will receive a zero. Academic Integrity Statement: The College is an academic community, which values academic integrity and takes seriously its responsibility for upholding academic honesty. All members of the academic community have an obligation to uphold high intellectual and ethical standards. All forms of dishonesty including cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable. Failure to appropriately cite material used in a paper is plagiarism. The minimum penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a zero for the test or paper in question. Referral to college judiciaries is also possible. For more information on academic integrity and academic dishonesty, please refer to the Student Handbook, the College Catalog and the Code of Student Conduct and Related Policies or ask your instructor. Disability: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with Student Disability Services and provide appropriate documentation to Ithaca College before any academic adjustment will be provided. Safety: You must respond to and report conditions and actions that may jeopardize your safety, or that of other people and/or equipment. Report to the responsible College employee. During class sessions that person would be your instructor or lab assistant. Outside of class the person might be your instructor, lab supervisor, co-curricular manager, equipment and facilities manager, or one of the engineering support staff. You must be aware that misuse of equipment or use of damaged equipment can create the risk of serious injury, infectious contamination, and expensive damage. You may be liable for damage or injury resulting from such use. Unsupervised use of facilities puts

7 you at risk. Failure to be alert to safety problems, or to report them, may have serious consequences for you or others. 7 WEEKLY SCHEDULE F 13 Week Topic Assignment Week 1 Course Introduction FPM: Intro, Ch 1,2 1/21-23 The Role of The Producer Week 2 1/28-29 Location Management Skype: TBA FPM: Ch 16 Location Survey Week 3 2/4-6 Introduction to Scheduling The Stripboard Skype: George Perkins Week 4 2/11-13 Scheduling Considerations Week 5 2/18-20 Production Scheduling Continued Working With Unions Crowd Funding FPM: Ch. 28 Mark the Script Project Assignments Due Producers Agreement FPM: Ch 6, 7 Paperwork Due: Location, Crew List FPM: Ch 3, Reflection Ch. 28 Crowd Funding Plan/Script Week 6 2/25-27 Week 7 3/4-6 Production Budgeting Hiring Cast, Crew Working With S.A.G. Production Difficulties Dispute Resolution Speaker: Dan Heffner Budgeting Continued Production Office Management Setting Up the Production Office Production Crisis FPM: Ch 5 Midterm Due: Schedule and Budget Week 8 3/11-13 SPRING BREAK Go see the Easter Bunny Week 9 3/ Negotiation, Deal Memos, Contracts Production Difficulties Union Contract Research Project Week 10 3/25-27 Week 11 4/1-3 Week 12 4/8-10 Dispute Resolution Production Paperwork Finding Distribution: Festivals Producing The Project Production Reports Producing: Post Production Insurance and Clearances Skype: Tim King FPM: Ch. 13,14 Paperwork Due: Producers Agreement, Location, Crew List Blackboard Discussion FPM: Ch, 12,13 Producers Reflection 1 FPM Ch 35

8 Week 13 4/15-17 Week 14 4/22-4/24 Week 15 4/29-5/1 Producing multi-camera and non-fiction Screenings/rough cut screenings Producer s Role in notes PROJECT SCREENINGS Putting Yourself Ahead of the Crowd Searching for Employment in Media Production PROJECT SCREENINGS Note Class on 4/17 ONLINE Reading: TBA FINALS WEEK FINAL MAY 6 1:30PM FINAL EXAM 8