VM 600 - Producing Strategies for Modern Media

Credits: 4 credits
Covers all aspects of producing as it may apply to the production of a feature, student thesis, or short media project-business affairs (contracts, crew deal memos, actor contracts); crew management, casting, and other customary production issues are covered and adapted to fit low budgets and tight schedules. Issues regarding diversity within all aspects of production and casting are explored in order to better understand preexisting bias and how we may improve our projects by actively pursuing diversity. Students use the programming software of Movie Magic Budgeting and Scheduling in hands-on, in-class sessions to create budgets and schedules from sample scripts. In addition to examining best practices and techniques for production, students explore story development (written and in-class pitching), festivals, and marketing/distribution. Finally, students explore broader contextual producing topics connected to the diversification of viewing platforms and distribution formats through readings and in class exercises. The class work in part is done through group presentations that encourage students to examine their own abilities to lead and collaborate with professionalism.