Nflm 3456 the Producer

NFLM3456THEPRODUCER'SROLETheNewSchool,DepartmentofMediaStudiesandFilm

InstructorChizSchultz(845)353-2016Fax:(845)358-3411Email:[email protected]

Fall2011Sep8thtoDec15th,

Thursdays,6:00PMto7:50PM,65West11thSt.Room261

COURSEDESCRIPTION

Thiscoursefollowsaproducer'srolefromtheselectionofmaterialthroughitsdevelopment,preproduction,

productionandpost-productiontothedeliveryofthecompletedwork.Onceafilmorvideoprojecthasbeen

developedandisinpre-productionaproducerorganizesandprovidesthebestpossiblesupportsystemandteamfor

thedirector.

S/heisresponsibleforprovidingalltheelements,humanandmaterial,aswellasherorhisownexperience,

professionaljudgmentandassistance,tocarryoutthecombinedvisionofthefilm’swriter,directorandproducer.

Whenbudgetsarelowtheproduceroftenhastodoscriptrevisions;casting;findingpropsandwardrobe;obtaining

equipmentatlowrates;legalandaccountingwork;collaboratingwiththedirectorandeditorduringandafterthe

shootandplanmarketinganddistribution.

Producingstudentandlowbudgetfictionandnon-fictionfilms/videosoffersinvaluableexperienceinlearninghowto

handlelargerproductions:howtoarriveatacompellingstoryline,judgethetalentsandskillsofaboveandbelow-

the-linepersonnelandassessthevalueoftechnical'materials.GuestsincludeaDirectorandEditor.

Studentschooseaprojecttheywanttoproduce,"pitchittotheclass,"andthenwriteaprofessionalproposalforit:

theMid-TermistheFirstDraftofthatproposal,theFinalPaperistheFinalDraft.

GRADINGPOLICY

Classparticipation-10%

Mid-termpaper-20%

Quizzes-10%

Finalpaper-60%

Studentsunabletoattendaclassbecauseofsicknessorworkareexpectedtonotifymebeforethatclass.

Unexplainedabsencesandlateattendancewillaffectthefinalgrade.Allstudentsareexpectedtowritetheproject

proposals.Noopenlaptops,cellphones.

REQUIREDREADING( AvailableatBarnes&Noble,18thSt.&FifthAve )

MakingMoviesbySidneyLumet;Vintagepaperback

ShootingtoKillbyChristineVachon;Spike,anAvonpaperback

SUGGESTEDREADING

TheIndependentFilmProducerSurvivalGuidebyErikson,TulchinandHalloran,SchirmerTradeBooks

TheInsider'sGuidetoIndependentFilmDistributionbyStaceyParks,FocalPress

MakingDocumentaryFilmsbyBarryHampe;OwlBooks

FilmmakersandFinancingbyLouiseLevison;FocalPress

PlanningtheLow-BudgetFilmbyRobertLathamBrown,ChalkHillBooks

IWakeUpScreening-byJohnAnderson&LauraKim:Watson-GuptillPublishing

COURSESCHEDULE

Class#1|Sep8

Introductions:studentsandtheirgoals/projects.

Instructor'sprojects.

Whatisanindependentfilm'?

Misconceptionsofaproducer;variousproducer

credits.

Anoverviewoftheproducer'srole:headachesand

rewards

Thefilmmaker'sresponsibilities;screeningof

fiction&non-fictionexcerpts.

Read:“ShootingtoKill,”pp.1-18

Class#2|Sep15

Submittedorassignedmaterial:wheredoesit

comefrom?

Toproduceornotproduce?Thatisyourquestion.

Factorsindeterminingyourdecisionsabout

material:quality,suitability,interest,market,cost,

financingyourproject

Selectingtheappropriateformforthematerial.


Class#3|Sep22

Obtainingthematerial,ifnotassigned.

Gettingthematerialintothemosteffectiveshape.

Bestfootforward:synopses,treatmentsand

proposals

Packageelements;"attachments."

Classreceivesexistingproposals,synopsesand

treatments.(Tenminutebreaktoreadmaterials)

Classassesseswhatthey'veread.Wouldyouproduce

it?

Read:“ShootingtoKill,”pp.35-100.

ROSHHASHANAH-noclass

Class#4|October6

Pre-production:budgetingtheproduction;various

forms

Line-by-lineexplanationofbudgetitems;definition

of"Above"and"Below."

Therelationofthescheduletothebudget.Script

breakdown.

Nextclass:3-minute"pitch"ofyourownproject.

Read:“ShootingtoKill,”pp.122-138.

Class#5|October13

Classpitchestheirprojects.Three-minutelimit.

Obtainingthefinancingfortheproject,ifnecessary.

Wheredoyoufindit?

Ifnecessary,settingupyourcompany.Whatkind?

Thebusinessplan.

Reviewofproposalformat.Anyquestions?

Read:“MakingMovies,”pp.59-74

Class#6&#7|October20

Breakdownofpotentialprofitforinvestors.Net

andgrossprofits

Cautionsandadviceforraisingmoney,dealingwith

potentialinvestors

SHORTQUIZ

Castingwithandwithoutacastingdirector.

Responsibilityofproducerinthecastingprocess.

Wheretolookforactors.

Readingsandauditions."Casting"adocumentary:

thepre-interview.

Agentsandnegotiations.The"favorednations"

clause.

Staffingandcrewing:keypositionsandorderof

hiring.Whattolookfor:references,worksamples

andattitude

Unionversusnon-union,Staffandcrew;

negotiatingfees.

Differencesinpositionsinfilmandvideostaffand

crew.

Thewriter:nowyouseeher/him,nowyoudon't.


Nextclass:Mid-termpaper:6to10pageproposalof

yourproduction.

Class#8|October27

Mid-termpapers(proposals)handedin.Commentson

writingtheproposal.

Locationscoutinganditsbenefits.

Theproductionmeeting;fictionandnon-fiction

productions.

Filmversustapeandstudioversuslocation.

Preparingtheboards:productionscheduleforcast,

crew&materials.

Assemblingallproductionelementsand

equipment.

Read:“MakingMovies,”pp.105-136

Class#9|November3

Theshoot:theexpresstrainleavesthestation.

Guest:Director:


Class#10|November10

Keepingthepeace:locationconditions;catering;

crewandactors'wellbeing.

Theproducer'sroleonsetorlocation.Crisis

control;parent,confessor,authorityfigure,

diplomat.Perspective.

TheroleoftheDirectorandrelationshipbetween

produceranddirector.

Paperwork:.contactandcallsheets;productionand

wrapreports.

Scheduleandbudgetconcernsduringproduction;

thecontingency.

Pagecountprojections.

Videochecksanddailies;theroleoftheEditor

duringtheshoot.

Dealingwiththe"suits:"doyouwantitgoodoron

Thursday?

Read:“MakingMovies,”pp.148-169.

Class#11|November17

It'snotawrap!Post-productionbeginswiththe

editing.

TheEditor'srole:Lumet'stwomainfunctionsof

editing.

Guest:Editor:

Read:“MakingMovies,”pp.170-1R5.

THANKSGIVINGBREAK

Class#12|December1

Editingcontinued:Lumet,MurchandLean

Post-productionstaff:editors,composer,mixer,

graphicartist,andpost-productionsupervisor.

Transcriptions.

Assemblytoroughcuttofinecut:rolesof

producer,director,editor,producingcompanyor

client.

SHORTQUIZ

Differencesbetweenfilmandvideopost-

production.

Whathappenstothefilmorvideo?Thelab,one-

lightprints,transfersprotections,dubs.

Preparingforthefinaledit(picturelock)orOnline

edit:timings,balance

Animationand/ormotioncamerawork;Avid/ADO

effectsandopticals.

Existingmusicandoriginalmusic:thecomposer

and/ormusicsupervisor.

Nextclass:FinalProposaldue.Discussionofcontent.

Read:“MakingMovies,”pp.186-192.

Class#13|December8

FinalProposalshandedin.

Titles,graphicsandcredits:theirimportance.

Preparationforthemix:dialogue,music,sound

effects,looping,Foley.

Theimportanceofthemixandtheroleofthe

producer.

15MINUTEBREAKFOREVALUATIONS

Paperworkaccompanyingdeliveryofvideoorfilm.

Themusiclog.

Finalwrap-up:accountingandfinalbudget;

returningmaterials;whattokeep.


Assignmentfornextclass :Screenafeatureordocumentary

featureandprepareacritiqueofitfromaproducer'spointofview,

bothcreativeandproductionelements.You'llpresentthatcritique

verballyinthenextclass.(ThiscountsasClass#15.)

Class#14&15|December15

Promotion,trailers,publicity.

Screenings,festivals,contests,previews.

Distribution:contracts,self-distribution,newforms

ofdistribution,realisticbudgets.

Costsversusvalue.

Students’critique,fromproducer'sview,film

they'veseen.

Somefinalremindersforproducers.

Nflm 3456 the Producer

Documents

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