Course Requirements

Project:
Each student will be required to participate in a project over the course of the semester, based on an idea for a film each student can choose from any source. The idea can be an original one, an item clipped out of a newspaper or magazine, an adaptation of a book, play, etc.

The first stage is to come up with 3-5 ideas, and to turn them in at the end of class on 9/20. Over the following week, each student in the class will be assigned to a 2nd or 3rd year producing student, who will go over their film ideas and prepare for a discussion.

From 8-9pm on 10/4, 11, 18 & 25, after the lecture portion of the class, everyone will split up into their assigned small groups with their producing student "advisor" and the film ideas will be discussed in terms of their viability as potential films in the current marketplace. By the end of the first session, based on the discussions, each group will choose the idea that seems to be the most viable to represent the group.

The balance of the small group sessions will be spent preparing for presentations that will be given in class on 11/29 and 12/6 from 8-9pm. On those dates, each group will come up in front of the class and present their plan for the film they want to get made. Each member of the group should participate in a portion of the presentation, which should include a short pitch of the concept of the film, an analysis of the type of film you would like it to be, your priorities from a creative perspective, and how that affects your strategy. Cover packaging issues, and the type of budget necessary, and the likely sources that you would expect to go to. Also, deal with the difficulties you expect to encounter due to the material, and how you would attempt to overcome them. If the project is based on an underlying source, explain how you would try to secure the rights.

Presentations should be around 10-15 minutes. They will be judged mainly on comprehension of the material covered in class, but as it relates to the particular film you are talking about, NOT A REHASH OF YOUR CLASS NOTES!

Grading:

Grades will be Pass or Fail for Arts students and letter grades for those from other schools. Incompletes and CPs will not be given except under dire circumstances.