Program Development for Entertainment Media TVR/CNPH 32700 SPRING 2014 Tentative Syllabus Instructor: Steve Gordon Telephone: 274-5130 Class Schedule: Mon-Wed 1-2:40; 4:5:40PM Office Hours: T, Th, 9:30-10:30AM; W 3-4PM E-Mail: [email protected] Classroom: Park 228 Office: Park 373 Website: Sakai Course Description: The course will provide an overview of the process of development and production of original concepts, true events and novels for features, television movies, series and internet distribution. Analysis of creative properties and case studies will exemplify the most effective means for producers, writers, directors and programmers to develop concepts for the theatrical and television marketplace. An examination of feature film, and television industry structure and function will also be utilized as a resource for students seeking employment in the entertainment industry. Course Goals: Course objective is to prepare students for more advanced training in areas including: producing and programming for film and television; scriptwriting; film and television production; business/entertainment law; and other related careers in the media field. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Understand and execute the process of developing a concept through production for film, television and new media. 2. Understand and execute the role of the producer/executive in the production and post-production process including budgeting, funding, legal concerns and marketing of the project. 3. Utilize a basic understanding of story structure and how to evaluate concepts and written works for the marketplace. 4. Understand the basic qualities and experience needed for potential employment in the entertainment industry. Recommended Textbook and other Reading Material: Hollywood 101, the Film Industry By Fredrick Levy St. Martin’s Griffin, New York 2 Other suggested sources: The Business of Media Distribution: Monitizing Film, TV and Video Content in an Online World By Jeff Ulin Focal Press Adventures in the Screen Trade By William Goldman Warner Books Created By… Inside the Minds of TV’s Top Show Creators By Steven Prigge Silman-James Press This Business of Television By Howard Blumenthal & Oliver Goodenough Billboard Books Grading Procedures and Changes to Syllabus and schedule 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 15% Weekly Writing/Research Assignments/Quizzes 20% Midterm: Coverage 20% Digital Project Development/Marketing 10% Option Agreement 5% Forum Discussion 5% Final: Develop a project 25% Total 100% Grading Scale A (>94) A- (>90) B+ (>88) B (>84) B- (>80) C+ (>77) C (>74) C- (>70) D+ (>66) D (>64) D- (>60) 3 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 films, seminars, or film festival events may be required over the course of the semester. There will be guest speakers for this course (in-person and Skype) which will require you to research their backgrounds and come prepared with good questions. Weekly Writing/Research Exercises: Reading’s synopsis or research exercises will be assigned over the course of the semester and students will demonstrate a proficiency in synopsizing text chapters and other course readings. Weekly assignments will also include a ”one minute pitch”; a short synopsis of a television series and a “packaging exercise”. Note: Weekly assignments are worth 10-20 points each. Primary Assignments: Mid Term Coverage Assignment Students will complete a minimum 2-page coverage (analysis) on an assigned script. Option/Agreement Assignment Students will do a basic option agreement for their “own” screenplay or series idea. Digital Development Students in teams will develop, pitch and write a treatment for a digital entertainment project. Sakai Forums: Each student will be required to participate in one or more forum 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 forum discussion activity will be presented on the course website Final Project: In teams, students will create and develop an idea for either: a television, web series or feature film. The project will consist of a “pitch” which will be presented in two parts: A. A self-contained, professional-quality 3 minute digital piece which may be presented to appropriate networks or theatrical agents for consideration and review. A team of three professors will select up to 2 (out of 5-6) of the best presentations to be presented to the appropriate media outlet(s), including: 4 • • • • • • NBC Television Network (comedy) CBS Television Network (drama) BBC North America Network (comedy, drama or non-fiction) Theatrical Agent (Film Project) ABC Family Channel Nickelodeon Digital Networks Representatives of the networks above will provide written feedback on selected projects. Note: This feedback will not effect your grade, the feedback will be forwarded to you during the summer. B. An oral presentation to the class; a written synopsis of the project including character descriptions and a “marketing plan” which should include a packaging and advertising plan for your project. An assignment sheet including a grading rubric will be handed out when the project is assigned. 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 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 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 e-mail 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. Sakai Forums • Participation in Sakai Forum 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 • Talking during lectures or when fellow students are contributing will not be tolerated. Beginning with the fourth time you will be notified by email that you will be losing one third of your participation grade for each infraction thereafter. Laptop/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 email, 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 leave the class. Important note: You will hear personal anecdotes and stories, sometimes of a “sensitive” nature, from the instructor and guest speakers in this class and you should not Tweet or repeat these comments in any form of social media unless the speaker agrees that the comments or talk is “on record.” Assignment Deadlines & Requirements: 6 • All assignments are to be professional in appearance: typed, double-spaced, stapled, with page numbers, headings and in proper screenplay form when required. • 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 email, 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 students unnecessarily at risk. 7 8 WEEKLY SCHEDULE 32700 Spring 2014 Week Week 1 1/22 Week 2 1/27-29 Week 3 2/3-5 Week 4 2/10-12 Topic Class Introduction Hollywood Roadmap Buyers, Sellers and Storytellers Assignment 101 Writers 2 People Walk Out of A Building Developing Concepts: Sources and Evaluating ideas Story Development: Elements of Structure Skype: Jonathan Frakes Making the Deal Business Affairs 101 – Directors 101 – Producers Business: Programming Business Skype: David Lavin Option Agreement Ratings – Series Types PITCHING Film Synopsis “Digital prodcution” Teams Skype: Paul Bernbaum Week 5 2/17-19 Week 6 2/24-26 Role of the producer/Development Executive in Selling the Concept, Pitching and Writing the Script Skype: Pamela Soper Introduction to coverage Intro to final Project Coverage exercise Week 7 3/3-5 Script Analysis Skype: TBA Week 8 3/10-12 Week 9 3/17-19 Week 10 3/24-26 Week 11 3/31-4/3 Team Pitch – Digital Project Forum: Final Project Development FINAL PROJECT FORUM 2 minute Pitch Synopsis FINAL PROJECT IDEAS Midterm: Coverage Due SPRING BREAK Buying Books and True Life Stories For Features and Television Writing Treatments Packaging Working with Talent and Literary Agents and Managers Skype: Jack Tantleff Distribution: Traditional vs. Digital Anissa Ayala Script Roy Cohn Story Notes Treatment Assignment Due Marketing Plan 9 Week 12 4/7-9 Non-fiction Television Marketing and the producers role Skype: Stuart Schrieberg Week 13 4/14-16 Week 14 4/21-23 Non Fiction Television continued Skype-Paul Lewis, Scripps Network Opportunities for Digital Production and Distribution Skype: Josh Feldman Week 15 4/28-30 Being an Entrepreneurial Producer Putting Yourself Ahead of the Crowd Professional Organizations Skype: Callie Tresser Reality Team Project Reading - TBA Webisodes Reading TBA Distribution/Social Media Marketing Resume, Cover letter Week 16 5/5 LAST CLASS Week 16 4/6-12 FINALS WEEK PROJECT PRESENTATIONS FINAL PROJECTS DUE PRESENTATIONS NOTE: SKYPE SPEAKERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE Speakers will be scheduled from the following group: Jonathan Frakes Hollywood Director/Actor – “William T. Riker, Star Trek; Director: N.C.I.S., Burn Notice Paul Bernbaum Feature Film Writer Perry Simon General Manager, BBC North America Pamela Soper Senior Vice President, Current Programs, CBS Network Beth Klein Vice President Talent and Casting NBC Universal Production Group Matt Hinerfeld Senior Producer, Nickelodeon Digital Entertainment Jack Tantleff Head of Theatre Lit, Paradigm Agency, New York 10 Nick Rhigi Production coordinator, reality Television Wendy Luckenbill Vice President, Publicity, NBC Television Network Andy Schnieder and Diane Frolov Supervising producers, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Alien Nation