Producing Minor

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

This course builds on the storytelling fundamentals learned in Story, Genre and Structure, with specific application to writing for the screen. The student will learn the basics of scriptwriting and will combine this with previously acquired writing and storytelling skills to write a spec script for an existing half-hour or hour-long television series. Students will hone their presentation skills to pitch their television story. Class time will be dedicated to covering beginning and intermediate topics including breaking stories, scene writing, dialogue, subtext, direction, giving and receiving notes in a writers’ group, and script format. Students will critique one another’s work in small groups, with instructor guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write outside of class. Students will read and respond to the required texts as well as assigned episodic television scripts.

Prerequisite: ENTM101

The Producer: Planning for Production provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the role of the film producer in five principle areas: 1) creative development, 2) packaging, 3) financing, 4) budgeting, scheduling and hiring, and 5) marketing and distribution.

This class will study some of the most important films in American cinema to understand the cultural context in which they were created, the role of the director in the filmmaking process, and the lasting legacy that the various films enjoy.

This course builds on student understanding of screen storytelling established in Story, Genre and Structure and Writing and Pitching a Script. Students will develop an original feature-length screen story from multiple ideas through idea evaluation and selection, character creation and development, story structure, treatment, pitch and beat sheet. At the end of the course, students will register their work with the WGA (a $20 fee). Students will consider more advanced screenwriting concepts presented in the text and will apply those principles to their developing stories.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM105

In this class, students will work as part of a collaborative production team that will write, produce, film and edit a short-form narrative film. Students will gain an understanding and knowledge of the key personnel positions required to produce a film, and will execute those job functions by taking a project through pre-production, production and post-production.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM104

This course explores the principles of Film Finance including using private equity, tax incentives, distribution, crowd funding and other traditional and emerging methods of funding media projects.

Prerequisites: ENTM104, ENTM203

This course builds on the storytelling fundamentals learned in Story, Genre and Structure, and Fundamentals of Story Development, with a focus on the principles and skills of adapting for the screen a story which originates in another medium, as well as adapting true stories for the screen. The student will consider the challenges inherent in adapting a story from another medium, and from true life, and will gain skills and experience by writing, developing, and/or pitching multiple stories of this type. The knowledge, skills, and experience gained in this course will serve aspiring screenwriters, as well as aspiring producers, directors, agents, managers, and executives who will involve themselves in the development of story material for the screen. Students will pitch their adaptations and will critique one another’s work in large and small groups, with instructor supervision and guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write and develop stories outside of class. Students will read and respond to the required text.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM200

This course will build on the principles learned in ENTM203. Advanced Producing will provide students with an in-depth study of the specific tasks and responsibilities of film producers. Students will be responsible for pre-production of a script, including green light analysis and creating a preliminary budget and schedule for a feature film script. Students will gain a better understanding of various types of specialized producing positions.

Prerequisites: ENTM104, ENTM105, ENTM203, ENTM211

Hollywood spends hundreds of millions of dollars making Christian movies every year... they just don’t know it yet, and neither do most audiences. Many writers aspire to write stories with deep faith and spiritual themes, that will speak to a wide audience. Very few, however, succeed at doing more than preaching to the choir, if their films ever get made at all. This course is meant for students who wish to write faith-based stories that will speak to — and get made by — people who wouldn’t be caught dead anywhere near a “Christian movie.” This course will offer tips for the aspiring Christian screenwriter, not only for how to craft such stories, but how to survive as a Christian in an industry that seems completely unfriendly to them.

This course explores the craft of screenwriting through analyzing and studying successful screenplays in a wide variety of genres and styles. Students read excerpts from numerous masterworks of screenwriting and strive to craft writing samples that achieve artistic and technical excellence guided and inspired by what they have read.

Prerequisite: ENTM101

Advanced Distribution and Marketing Strategies is a forward-looking, upper-level course that prepares students with a knowledge of historic and existing strategies for the marketing and distribution of media products in particular as a way to understand the marketing and distribution of all products more generally. The course prepares students to appreciate the rapidly developing opportunities presented by new media, and to devise new marketing and distribution strategies which take advantage of those opportunities.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM104, ENTM203

This course is part of the feature film program. Students actively participate in the creative development and pre-produciton process on an independent feature film. This course is open to students from various disciplines including producers, directors, cinematographers, production designers, 1st assistant directors, concept and storyboard artists, advertisers, graphic designers and sound recordists. Students gain insights into the filmmaking process by fullfilling hands-on tasks with real-world stakes and through collaborating with the other various departments. Industry professionals will participate in this course to provide mentorship to the various disciplines involved.

This builds upon the collaboration between students that begins in Feature Film: Pre-Production II. Students are invited to participate in various roles as the pre-production process progresses from creative development through scheduling, budgeting, casting, camera and lighting tests, scouting locations, storyboarding, and more.

Prerequisite: ENTM424

This course is part of the Feature Film Program. Students apply for specific on-set positions that align with their unique skills and career goals and fulfill that role throughout principle photography on a narrative feature film project. This class may be taken as a 3 unit or 6 unit class based on the student's role and class status.