To complete the requirements for the certificate in Film & Media Industries and Professions, students need to take the three courses listed below. It is possible to complete the certificate in one summer since the three courses will be scheduled in non-overlapping time slots across the various sessions each summer, but the three required courses can also be spread over multiple summers. Please note that these courses cannot be taken during the academic year.
Film 176 Pitch to Production (4 units) – J. Mira Kopell
Session A, T/W/Th 9:00am-12:00pm
This six-week, three-unit course provides an overview of the producing process for students interested in developing their own creative film/media projects. Since there is no one path forward when developing and producing creative material in the entertainment and media industries this class will explore a variety of development/producing case studies based on Bay Area productions. We will cover both short and long form projects, documentary and narrative.
Each week one or more guest speakers (filmmakers and/or industry experts) will hold a Q&A with the instructor and students in order to share their expertise and experience related to specific kinds of project development, financing, production and/or distribution. Through these case studies students will be exposed to filmmakers with a wide range of goals, experiences and resources in order to explore diverse strategies used to produce these projects.
Students are introduced to the basic concepts, terms and principles of producing so that they can effectively and efficiently develop their own project proposal and financial strategy. Unit topics include creating a “pitch” proposal/package, methods of fundraising/financing, legal and ethical issues, managing the production cycle, and securing distribution. There will be in-class screenings. Attendance is mandatory.
Film 177 Entertainment Law (4 units) – Instructor TBD
Session D, T/W/Th 6:00pm-9:00pm
The practice of entertainment law in the United States lies at the intersection of a number of legal disciplines, among them Constitutional law, tort law, copyright law, and trademark law, and applies those disciplines to the world of entertainment. This course will introduce you to basic principles of those disciplines and their use in entertainment law. The goal of the course is to equip practitioners in film and media with an understanding of entertainment law sufficient to recognize legal issues that may arise in their practice so as to either avoid problems or find their solutions.
This course satisfies the L&S breadth requirement in Philosophy and Values
Film 178 Film & Media Professions (3 units) – Brett Fallentine
Session A, T/W/TH, 1-3:30pm
This course is designed to acquaint students with a variety of professions in and around the Bay Area and beyond that are open to those wishing to pursue careers in film and media. A series of guest lecturers drawn from these professions will guide students through the opportunities and work experiences available in a range of fields. Topics may include: studio and independent film production, documentary production for film and television, film curating and archiving, directing, programming film festivals, sound, and previsualization and animation. This will be followed by question-and-answer sessions that give students a chance to interact directly with the speakers and explore specific areas of inquiry.