Cinema 30 Syllabus – Production Planning – FALL 2020

Debbie Brubaker Instructor 
(415) 225-0250 cell / debbiebrusf@gmail.com

Please note – I would like to have your preferred email address for you! I can use the CCSF one, but if you are interested in staying in touch beyond the class it’s a better one for me. Or better yet, connect your email to your CCSF email address.

Class Schedule – The following is subject to minor changes. This class will attempt to conform as closely as possible to the listed format, but please allow for some flexibility for changes.

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

• Outcome 1: Identify and implement logistical and municipal components of film production.
• Outcome 2: Generate a schedule for film production.
• Outcome 3: Evaluate and analyze different types of film production to estimate budget.

Upon Completion of this course you should be able to have:

1. Understanding of the people, locations, and tools required for a specific type and size of media project and how to calculate the cost for said project. Learn to Identify and implement logistical and municipal components of film production including safety and up to date protocols.
2. The ability to evaluate and analyze different types of film/video productions to estimate written schedules and budgets for a proposed project, working from a synopsis, screenplay, treatment or final script.
3. Basic understanding of different legal documents associated with a film project, such as a crew deal memo, location agreement, talent release and municipal permits.
4. Students will calculate and write four budgets for four different types of media projects, from development through completion of post-production.
5. Understanding of the personal skills and tools for seeking gainful employment on a media project and an understanding of what to expect while working in the entertainment business. Job-hunting and prospects discussed.

Grades: During the semester there is homework – Three class discussion assignments on Canvas, four budget assignments – some of which require writing, a midterm test, and a final test. The last budget assignment will be to budget approximately half of a feature film with a script that will be assigned. All these combined will factor into your final grade. Accuracy and presentation of these as well as online discussions and class participation count as well. Note that if you miss a class you will able to watch it, as all classes in Zoom or Pre-recorded will be posted. 60% of your grade is based upon the homework and participation, 40% of your grade is based upon the Midterm and Final Tests. The breakdown of this is, the three discussion assignments together total 15% or 5% each, the first two budget assignments together are 20%, the doc budget assignment is 10% and the final budget assignment is 15%. The midterm and final tests are each 20%.

Texts: Recommended – The Complete Film Production Handbook by Eve Light Honthaner, and Before You Shoot by Helen Garvey. Also, The Director’s Team by Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward. And if you want to read about movie reality – If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell AND That’s Not The Way It Works, by Bob Saenz are a must reads. (Which means I highly recommend you read them!) You are not required to purchase these books for class. There is a folder for each class on CCSF Canvas. Before coming to class, you should read and review all the documents in the folder that is on the Cinema 30 Canvas web pages. You should have in your possession a flash drive for this class. You will need to download several files for the class from Canvas.

Movie Viewing Recommended – Most of the media for this class will be imbedded in Canvas or there will be links to view or rent features. Canvas imbedded films are required viewing. There are two feature films you should see toward the end of the semester that are streaming on Amazon. The Diary of a Teenage Girl and Sorry to Bother You are the films that are recommended viewing.

Class Schedule for Cinema 30 – Fall 2020

August 17 – Introductory Zoom Class Overview – and assignment to watch "Lost in La Mancha". You will find the link to see this film in the Assignments Section on Canvas. You’ll learn a lot by watching what happened to Terry Gilliam’s project that was over 30 years in the making. Discussion Assignment #1 given

August 24 – Brief discussion of "Lost in La Mancha". From the Personal Narrative or Non- Narrative movie to planning and execution of a feature story or doc – why planning is so important and what the budget is for. Who is does what on a movie?

August 31 – Business of Film. Basics on the understanding the people, places and tools needed to get any media job done. We’ll touch briefly on organization, casting, equipment, how to know who do you need to make a movie. We scratch the surface and begin talking about the Business of Film, organization and priorities. How the script dictates the size of a show and affects the budget.

Guest Speaker on Zoom - a first or second AD.

September 7 – Holiday – No Class

September 14 – More Business of Film. Insurance, storyboards, crew, deal memos, lawyers, guns and money. Lots of legal and non-legal paperwork – what is necessary? Moving all this stuff to online.  Details are important and if it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen! Actor’s releases, locations releases, deal memos, and permits. We’ll talk about short student films – budgeting for details. First Budget Assignment given -look on Canvas for details.  Write a script for a short student film + budget for your short student film. Due on September 21^st, 2020.

September 21 – How do you get a job in this industry? Independent Contractors versus Employees, taxes, things you should know as a freelancer. Assignment to watch "Who Needs Sleep?" and begin 2^nd Discussion.    Guest Speaker Robin Kincade talks about here online series about how to be a Production Assistant.  

Your Student Film Budget is due today.

September 28 – Short Films, Music Videos, Commercials and Corporate Videos. There will be links to examples of short films, commercials, a token music video, a demo for a reality show and a segment of a TV show that’s a remake of part of a film all good reasons to understand the importance of knowing – why make a short Budgets for the examples are on canvas for you to study as you watch. Working on bits and pieces of larger projects is examined. Your student film budget is discussed briefly.  Guest Speaker tonight is TBD

Your second budget assignment is given and due on October 19^th, 2020

October 5 – Brief discussion on the first two budget assignments. Tonight we will talk about Documentary Films – Non-Profit versus for Profit. Budgeting for documentaries and we’ll talk about funding them. Assigned viewing; the feature doc Miss Representation. The budget for this movie for your perusal is on Canvas under today’s date. We’ll also have a brief discussion on the upcoming midterm test on October 19th.

October 12 – Flex Day, No Class.

October 19 – MIDTERM TEST – Your second short film budget assignment is due.

October 26 – Tonight we get our first look into working with Movie Magic Budgeting software for your documentary assignment. Doc filmmaker guest TBD.

Your documentary budget officially assigned.

November 2 – Unions – Dancing with features and professionals. What you need to know about getting involved with the unions and why they are important. Should you join? Also, we will discuss more legal details and how to find a good attorney. When do you need one? Guest Speaker tonight – TBD.

November 9 – Script Breakdown and Budgeting – This class is very important to your final feature budget assignment.  We will go into great detail about how to break down a script in preparation for budgeting a feature film, discuss scheduling the information from the breakdown and how to translate that into a budget. Further delving into Entertainment Partner’s Movie Magic Budgeting Software will be given. The final budget project is officially assigned and is due on December 7^th.

November 16 – Zoom Class on Post Production. There are many pitfalls in post and you have to be on top of it. There are many options – we’ll talk basics as there are many choices. Guest Speaker TBD.

Documentary Budget Due. 3^rd and final discussion assignment: "Thinking in Pictures" is given.

November 23 – Feature Indie Narratives. Link to view All About Evil is in assignments.  We will talk about low budget indies - we will look at the budget for AAE and discuss it – You’ll watch the movie. Horror still sells. This one was made for less than a mil!

November 30 – The Diary of a Teenage Girl – a bit over 1.5 mil and pretty successful. As the budgets get bigger, see if you can see a difference. We will discuss the budget and your recommended assignment is to watch and pay attention to some of the elements we discussed.

December 7 – Sorry to Bother You – a bit over 4 mil and successful. We will discuss the budget and your recommended assignment is to watch it. Your Final "Feature" Budget Assignment is due. Brief discussion about next week’s Final Test.

December 14 – Final test given!