Film Production Classes

This core This course outlines the essential roles, tasks and obstacles faced by film producers and directors. Topics include writing, licensing, Contracts, and the relationship between producer and the actors and stagehands unions,. Making offers to actors and  talent agencies. In addition, students are introduced to the language of Producing film through lectures discussion of industry developments, handouts and individual research assignments, The class lays the groundwork for a profession as a film producer or director. Course work will cover, the role of the producer; in the development of a filml from start to finish.

Through rigorous in-class exercises, students will develop brief and effective "pitches" of the material they choose to pursue. Each student will practice and gain critical and fundamental pitching skills culminating in a final pitch to fellow students and producing faculty. 

This course is an overview of contract law and how it impacts the entertainment industry. Producing students will study legal issues regarding television, films, recordings, live performances and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Topics include copyright law, intellectual property and talent representation. 

This course will use specific in-depth examples of already produced films to introduce students to the specific issues, problems and solutions of pre-production budgeting, production and post production.

Using produced films as case studies; this course focuses on successful strategies employed in the finance, marketing and distribution of studio and independent films. 

Students will learn the basic fundamentals of recording sound for film utilizing the latest in digital recording and mixing equipment. This course will provide the student with enough knowledge to deal with basic production sound issues. 

This course introduces students to the industry-standard software used to schedule and budget productions. In a hands-on lab setting, students are instructed in the use of Entertainment Partners (EP) Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting software programs, including established scheduling and budgeting techniques. 

Students will gain firsthand knowledge of fundamental play writing elements. They will study story analysis from a conflict, character, premise, plot and thematic point of view. They will learn the role of the protagonist and the antagonist and they will understand what moves a story forward from beginning to end utilizing all screenwriting tools available. 

Students will learn the fundamentals of lighting a basic scene utilizing small lighting equipment packages. This course will provide the student with enough knowledge to deal with simple production lighting issues.