Art of Creative Producing
GH258 (4 units)
Prerequisite: UPM/AD
This is a unique course not available in any other academic setting. While other courses teach students how to be a producer during production, this course aims to expose the student to the challenges of producing from the inception and sale of a project through pre-production, production, and post production to ultimate distribution. Students learn typical producer functions such as when to use publicity, how to deal with creative egos, what to do if the marketing of your project is ill advised, and more.
Art of the Pitch
GH166 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Hollywood Business Practices & History
A course for producers, writers, and directors, “Art of the Pitch” instructs students how to encapsulate their ideas into saleable concepts, present those ideas, and communicate with the writers and others who become involved in bringing these ideas to fruition. The course features guest speakers from the executive ranks of the industry, as well as producers, agents, attorneys, and others, with the instructor being both the constant guide for the students as well as moderator.
Development: From Acquisition To Green Light
F341 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Script Analysis 1
Through the use of writing and reviewing coverage, the steps of identifying a literary property for potential visual exploitation, the learning what a “buyer” at a studio seeks, students are immersed in the development process from inception of idea to getting that coveted go-ahead that starts real pre-production.
Documentary Production Workshop
F131 (4 units)
Prerequisites: Cinematography 1 & Production Sound
ln this class students will conceive, shoot and do post production on a short documentary during the length of the quarter. Class time also includes lectures on the modes and genres of the documentary, screening and analysis of documentaries, and production exercises in which students work together to create “instant” documentaries.
Film & TV Distribution: Platform by Platform
F442 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Hollywood Business Practices
The intricacies of distributing a film or TV project both domestically and internationally will be detailed, both studio-financed and independently-financed projects. Students will learn how deals are struck and what to expect from offers involving the standard negative pick-up to direct-to-DVD to the more intricate foreign arrangement. The progress of a film in distribution will be followed from the domestic theatrical release to the numerous “platforms” that are possible.
Hollywood Business Practices & History
GH253 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Sophomore Status Preferred
An in-depth look at how the Hollywood system works, and how the student can succeed within that system. The course offers not just a detailed explanation of the current model, but uses Hollywood history to explain how the business model has changed and how it remains as it was. Towards that end, the course follows three tracks: 1) a valuable practicum of how the film and television businesses work; 2) the actual history of the motion picture and television businesses, its players, system and highlights; 3) the physical history of Hollywood through lectures and a Saturday or Sunday tour of Hollywood landmarks. Students will emerge from the class able to ferret their way through the Hollywood business maze.
Independent Film Workshop
F421 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Hollywood Business Practices & History
Young filmmakers often find that it is their independent film that propels them. This course takes students through the process of successfully navigating the indie world. Do you cast a recognizable name? How do you approach investors, agents, managers, acquisition executives? What film festivals will get you the most notice? How can you use the internet to market an indie project?
Internet Essentials
F321 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Hollywood Business Practices & History
The business of the Internet is a frontier that is only beginning to be tapped. This course explains the business of the emerging platform often known as “The Web,” as well as other emerging platforms such as mobile phone content, video gaming, and possible windows for entertainment currently on the horizon.
Modern Business & Industry
GS108 (4 units)
Prerequisite: None
If you are going to be in business you need to know the basics of business be it loans or revenue. Or, perhaps you just want to know how to handle the money you are going to make in your professional life. This course explores the vital aspects of business with a slant towards show business. Students will create an executive summary for starting their own production company.
Music Video Production
V318 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Tier 1
Production workshop for 3-minute music videos, from conception to answer print. Students write their own scripts, prepare schedules and budgets, recruit cast and crew, produce, direct, and shoot their spots, and post produce as well—editing, sfx, music, dubbing, etc.
Post Production Process
F221 (4 units)
Prerequisite: UPM/AD
The final stage of production is a complicated one. Students will be guided through the entire process that starts when picture wraps and ends with the picture on the screen. Deadlines, editing, rough cuts, color correction, telecine, digital transfers, and DVD dubbing are covered. A complete how-to and where-to-go knowledge of post production will be attained.
Producing: From Green Light to Completion
F440 (4 units)
Prerequisite: UPM/AD
Other courses teach students how the film business and TV industry work and how to pitch and sell projects. This course offers the hands-on process of producing that begins after the selling is done, and the script is approved. This is a course that trains students to shepherd the project from the moment the green light to pre-production is given, through production and running the set, and into post production. Students will use the EP software program for pre-production then go through the process of both simulated and real productions to learn how to stay on budget and “put out fires.” A course designed to teach students how to run the nuts & bolts of pre-production, production, and post production.
Production for New Media
F317 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Tier 1
New Media is a wide terrain, and one that could be a large part of a student’s future in entertainment. Students will create and produce dynamic program content that crosses multiple genres and can be launched on many different platforms – from the web to DVDs to streaming media. You will conceive, produce and post concepts such as “Behind the Scenes” shorts, and shorts for cellular launch, iTunes, downloadable content, and other media. Some emphasis is placed on marketing tools, one of the hottest new media genres.
Properties That Sell: Writing Coverage
F252 (4 units)
Prerequisites: Hollywood Business Practices & History, Script Analysis 1, & Writers Workshop 1
Regardless of the student’s concentration, everyone will be expected to write coverage for his or her first industry job. A veteran industry professional teaches students what scripts are sellable or not, how to write coverage on them, and get recognition for it. Additional focus is placed on grammar, appealing to various tastes, and getting the internship.
Script Analysis 3
GH355 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Script Analysis 2, Junior Standing
Taught collegially by several faculty members, the course combines advanced script analysis with the student’s area of film specialization. A directing student, for instance, analyzes the script to direct it, working with the Script Analysis instructor and a Directing instructor. The student creates a detailed plan for realizing the script and compares it with the actual film.
Unit Production Management/Assistant Direction (UPM/AD)
F127 (4 units)
Prerequisite: Tier 1
Teaches many of the duties associated with the positions of unit production manager, assistant or associate director, stage manager or production coordinator. Includes pre-production organization, script breakdown, developing schedules and budgets, contracts, insurance, legal agreements, editing and post production organization and development. Also treats the paperwork of professional film and television production. Students learn and do much of their work on industry-standard software programs, both on mainstream and independent projects.
