H68.2007.901       2 Credits

This introductory producing course concentrates on the professional method of Production Management.  The course provides the student with the information and basic techniques of managing the making of a film, that are common in principle whether one is shooting a feature length film or a short.  Film production has many elements that must be organized and coordinated before the shooting of a film begins. It is not simply securing a camera, film and actors, but much more.  The course will explore those management elements that a filmmaker needs to fulfill in order to prepare a shoot.   

We will examine the structure of the crew and the collaborative responsibilities of crew members, the legal issues of location permissions and permits, insurance, rights, clearances and trademark permissions, the management of the production including scheduling, budgeting, transportation, and the production’s responsibilities to cast and crew.  We will pay particular attention to professional practice concerning the structure of the workday, hours and turn around time and safety issues that are the mutual responsibility of the producer, director, DP and shop steward.  The course will explore techniques for casting, location scouting, tech scouts, and read-throughs.  Each student will be required to prepare a production book for his or her shoot by the fifth week of class that will include final marked script, AD script breakdown pages, shooting schedule, budget, cast list, crew list and location lists.  

Additional sections of the same course (H68.2007.902, .903, etc.)may be offered.