Cinema 30 Syllabus – Production Planning – FALL 2021

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, your personal email is better. Or if you like, connect your personal 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 a third 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. 50% of your grade is based upon the homework and participation, 50% 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 15%, the doc budget assignment is 10% and the final budget assignment is 10%. The midterm and final tests are each 25%.

Texts: Recommended – The Complete Film Production Handbook by Eve Light Honthaner, and for less dough, the Indie Film Production: The Craft of Low Budget Filmmaking by Suzanne Lyons is good.  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 must reads, the later being about screenwriting and how to be successful at it. (Which means I highly recommend you read them!) You are not required to purchase these books for class. There is a module with folders 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.

Class Schedule for Cinema 30 – Fall 2021

August 16 – 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 23 – 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? I'll be giving an overview.

August 30 – 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.

Maybe a Guest Speaker on Zoom TBD.

September 6 – Holiday – No Class

September 13 – 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 20, 2021.

September 20 – 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 27 – 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 October 18 , 2021

October 4 – 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.

October 11- No Class

October 18 – Midterm Test

October 25 – Introduction to budgeting larger projects – particularly long format doc movies A "doc" StudioBinder Budget template are in a folder for tonight's class module. How to use it will be the focus of this class. Notes on your upcoming midterm will be given.  Maybe a Doc filmmaker guest TBD.

Your documentary budget officially assigned. Doc budget due on November 15, 2021

November 1 – Unions – Working on union features and television. What you need to know about getting involved with the unions and why they are important. Should you join? Also, if time permits, we will discuss more a few more  legal details and how to find a good attorney. When do you need one?

November 8 – 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. You can choose the budgeting format you'd like to use – Studiobinder or Google budgets, or if you are so inclined, Movie Magic Budgeting software offers a free 30 day trial I'd recommend trying if you are adventurous.  The final budget project is officially assigned and is due on December 13, 2021.

November 15 – This class focuses on Post Production. There are potential pitfalls in post and you have to be on top of it. There are many options – we’ll talk basics as there are choices. Guest Speaker TBD.

Documentary Budget Due. Your third and final discussion assignment: "Thinking in Pictures" is given.

November 22 – 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! Today it would likely cost a bit more.

November 29 – 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 6 – 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 13 – Final test given! Final Budget Due!