Fall 2014Jesse Wolfe

Office building, room: Office building, room: Adler 309Phone: Phone: (912) 525-6419

Office hours: Office hours: Mon-Thu 1:30-2:30pEmail: Email: jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: Building/Room: ADLER 324Meeting Times: Meeting Times: Monday / Wednesday

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

SyllabusSyllabus

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School of Entertainment Arts, Department of Film and Television, Savannah

FILM 105 - FILM 105 - Preproduction Preproduction Section: 01 CRN: 10768

SCAD Mission:SCAD Mission:The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizinglearning through individual attention in a positively oriented university environment.

Course Description:Course Description:This course explores all aspects of preproduction planning for both film and television. Students assume the role ofproducer, developing production companies to take the concept from inception to completion through the developmentphase of the video and filmmaking process. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 123, and FILM 100 or MPRA 103.

Course Goals: Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:

1. Students will learn industry-standard computer programs for producing film and television, which include MovieMagic Budgeting, Scheduling and Screenwriter.

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2. Students will experience the role of the producer in the development phase of the television and filmmakingprocess as well as gain exposure to all aspects of preproduction planning for both film and television production.

Student Learning Outcomes: Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills thatstudents develop as a result of completing this course:

1. Students will demonstrate the skills for producing a short film. This includes breaking down a script,scheduling the shoot, and preparing a budget.

2. Students will evaluate and analyze professional producing documentation.

3. Students will be able to explain the preproduction process from inception to completion.

Schedule of Classes:Schedule of Classes:Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Class 1:Class 1:Mon,Mon,September 15,September 15,20142014

-Intro to Class- Go over syllabus and assignments

What Do YOU Want To Learn In This Class?

-Discuss The Role of Producer

-Discuss Development- the phase prior to Preproduction

-Assignment: Design your Production Company- Mission Statement, Logo, LLCpaperwork

Class 2:Class 2:Wed,Wed,September 17,September 17,20142014

-Discuss Development- the phase prior to Preproduction (contd)

-Discuss The Good Short Film what to consider when choosing a short film toproduce

-Discuss The Pitch

-Assignment: Read article posted on blogsite / find a project to produce- afilm idea that is in line with your production company Mission Statement. Prepare yourselves to pitch this project before the class per the Pitchparameters discussed in class.

Class 3:Class 3:Mon,Mon,September 22,September 22,20142014

-Screen Film- TBD

-Work in class/groups on pitches

-Assignment: prepare to present your production companies to class and pitchyour project

Class 4:Class 4:Wed,Wed,September 24,September 24,20142014

-Present your Production Companies to the class and pitch your projects

-Assignment: Get your scripts written if not already written.

Class 5:Class 5:Mon,Mon,September 29,September 29,20142014

-Discuss The Script Breakdown

-Assignment: Break down your script

Class 6:Class 6:Wed, OctoberWed, October1, 20141, 2014

-Discuss Budgeting

-Assignment: continue/finish creating a break down of your script

Class 7:Class 7:Mon, OctoberMon, October6, 20146, 2014

-Budget Software Tutorial

-Assignment: Create a top-sheet budget for your film project with argumentsfor your choices regarding amounts. Use the software!

Class 8:Class 8:Wed, OctoberWed, October8, 20148, 2014

-Discuss Locations

-Discuss insurance and Legal

-Discuss Funding- How To Find The $

-Assignment: Create a Funding strategy for your film based on your budget

Class 9:Class 9:Mon, OctoberMon, October13, 201413, 2014

-Midterm Conferences: bring all assignments to date for review

Times will be posted on course website

Class 10:Class 10:Wed, OctoberWed, October15, 201415, 2014

-Midterm Exam (covers all discussions and reading from start of course todate)

-Discuss The Preproduction Triangle

-Discuss The Preproduction Countdown

-Assignment: work on production book- assignments corrections and revisions

Class 11:Class 11:Mon, OctoberMon, October20, 201420, 2014

-Discuss Scheduling

-Assignment: Create a schedule for your film. Continue to work on otherproduction book assignment corrections and revisions

Class 12:Class 12:Wed, OctoberWed, October22, 201422, 2014

-Discuss Scheduling (contd)

-Assignment: Continue to create a schedule for your film. Continue to work onother production book assignment corrections and revisions

Class 13:Class 13:Mon, OctoberMon, October27, 201427, 2014

Field Trip: FILM FESTIVAL Attend at least one feature screening and one panel)

-Assignment: Fill out Film Festival Assignment #1 on course blogsite and haveready to turn in next class meeting. Continue to create a schedule for yourfilm. Continue to work on other production book assignment corrections and

revisions

Class 14:Class 14:Wed, OctoberWed, October29, 201429, 2014

Turn In Film Festival Assignment #1

Field Trip: FILM FESTIVAL Attend at least one feature screening and one panel)

-Assignment: Fill out Film Festival Assignment #2 on course blogsite and haveready to turn in next class meeting. Continue to create a schedule for yourfilm. Continue to work on other production book assignment corrections andrevisions

Class 15:Class 15:Mon,Mon,November 3,November 3,20142014

-Discuss the Look Book

-Discuss the Production Book

-In Class: work in groups on your final project

-Assignment: Create your Look Books and continue to refine/revise yourProduction Books

Class 16:Class 16:Wed,Wed,November 5,November 5,20142014

-Discuss Festival Strategy and Distribution

-Assignment: Continue to create your Look Books and continue to refine/reviseyour Production Books

Class 17:Class 17:Mon,Mon,November 10,November 10,20142014

-TBD

-Assignment: Continue to create your Look Books and continue to refine/reviseyour Production Books. Be ready to present them to class.

Class 18:Class 18:Wed,Wed,November 12,November 12,20142014

- Present Final Projects

Class 19:Class 19:Mon,Mon,November 17,November 17,20142014

- Present Final Projects

Class 20:Class 20:Wed,Wed,November 19,November 19,20142014

-Final Exam

Grading Opportunities:Grading Opportunities:Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:

AssignmentAssignment WeightWeight

10.000percent

Production Company/PROJECT Pitch

Midterm Conference/Assignment Presentations10.000percent

Midterm Exam10.000percent

Film Festival Assignments10.000percent

Final Presentation: Look Book 20.000percent

Final Presentation: Production Book w/revisedassignments

20.000percent

Final Exam10.000percent

Professionalism10.000percent

Total WeightTotal Weight 100 percent100 percent

Grading StandardsGrading Standards RangeRange

Letter grade: AA = excellent 90 100 percent

Letter grade: BB = good 80 89 percent

Letter grade: CC = ** 70 79 percent

Letter grade: DD = ** 60 69 percent

Letter grade: FF = failing 0 59 percent

**Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Course Information:Course Information:

Field Trip(s):Field Trip(s):

Savannah Film Festival

Workshop: Crafting the Festival Friendly Short Film

Extra Help Session(s):Extra Help Session(s):

Students with an average of "C" or less are required to attend extra help sessions.

Extended Learning Opportunities:Extended Learning Opportunities:

Other Course Information:Other Course Information:

Midterm conferences are mandatory.

Course Materials:Course Materials:

Required Text(s):Required Text(s):

Specific textbooks will not be required for purchase. The professor will make required materials available to studentsvia the course blog site: http://wolfe-scad-film105.blogspot.com

Recommended Text(s):Recommended Text(s):

Scheduling and Budgeting Your Film: A Panic-Free Guide by Paula Landry (c) 2012 Focal Press ISBN:978-0-240-81664-7

Getting It Done: The Ultimate Production Assistant Guide by Joahua A. Friedman (C) 2011 Michael Weise ProductionsISBN: 978-1-932907-88-9

Required Material(s):Required Material(s):

Access to Computer

Access to scriptwriting, budgeting and scheduling software

Access to a working stapler

University Policies:University Policies:Academic Integrity:Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff andother students.

In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Anywork that is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. Students must not engage inacademic dishonesty; doing so can have serious consequences.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:1. Cheating, which includes, but is not limited to, (a) the giving or receiving of any unauthorized assistance inproducing assignments or taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (b) dependence on the aid of sources includingtechnology beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems orcarrying out other assignments; (c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belongingto a member of the university faculty or staff; or (d) the use of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of works ofart.2. Plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published orunpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. Plagiarism also includes theunacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or otheracademic materials.3. Submission of the same work in two or more classes without prior written approval of the professors of the classesinvolved.

4. Submission of any work not actually produced by the student submitting the work without full and clear writtenacknowledgement of the actual author or creator of the work.

Attendance and Attendance and Personal Conduct: Personal Conduct: Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend and participate in that class. Students are expectedto attend and participate in all scheduled classes and examination periods. Absences in excess of four class periods perquarter, or 20 percent of the course, result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Tardiness, earlydeparture or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session is considered absence for the classsession.

The student's appearance and conduct should be appropriate and should contribute to the academic and professionalatmosphere of SCAD. The university reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw the privilege of enrollmentfrom any student whose conduct is detrimental to the academic environment or to the well-being of other students,faculty or staff members, or to the university facilities.

Enrollment policies:Enrollment policies: Students are responsible for assuring proper enrollment. See the SCAD catalog for information on add/drop,withdrawals, incompletes, and academic standing.

Midterm Conference(s):Midterm Conference(s): Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor.Students are expected to keep this appointment.

Academic Support and Tutoring:Academic Support and Tutoring: Academic support for students at all SCAD locations can be found in MySCAD, under the Student Workspace tab,Department Directory, Academic Resources.

Course Evaluations:Course Evaluations: SCAD offers students the opportunity to evaluate all scheduled courses during each quarter term. Student feedback isessential to continuously improve academic services at SCAD. Evaluations will be available the end of each quarter atthe beginning of Week 8 and must be completed online by the Monday following Week 10. A sample course evaluationfor on-ground courses is available here.In order to access course evaluations, the student should take the following steps:

1. Log on to MySCAD2. Click on the Student Workspace Tab3. Locate the Course Evaluations link under My Courses channel4. This will bring up a page that says current surveys and lists all the courses that are currently available for

evaluation.

For more information or questions, contact us at evaluations@scad.edu.

Student Surveys:Student Surveys:The SCAD Student Survey and the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory will both be administered in Week 4 ofspring quarter . SCAD's office of institutional effectiveness is responsible for gathering and delivering survey results todecision-makers on campus. For more information or questions, contact surveys@scad.edu.

Please refer to the college catalog or the student handbook for all college policies and procedures.