Marketing Fundamentals - BUAD 307 s19

CTPR 499 Special Topics and Producing Visual Effects Units: 2 | Pre –requisite CTPR 310 or CTPR 508 Fall 2017—Wednesday—4:00 PM Classroom: SCI 209

Instructor: Joyce Cox Office Hours: BY Appointment Contact Info: [email protected] (323)-377-5806

Teaching Assistant: Stephanie Hernandez Contact Info: [email protected]

Course Description The art of visual effects continues to grow into a key component for major motion pictures as well as small independent films and television. Students will be exposed to the various types of visual effects methodologies and processes. This course is designed to prepare students to navigate the creative, technical, financial, political and logistical demands encountered when incorporating visual effects into their film projects, from initial pre-production through final completion. This course is recommended for any film student pursuing directing, producing, cinematography, production design, VFX supervision and editing. Students will work in teams to break down, plan, budget, schedule and manage visual effects. Following are the general topics to be addressed over the duration of the course as each student does the work of script breakdown, budgeting and scheduling films: Elements •Principal, 2nd Unit & VFX Unit Photography •Blue or Green Screen •Live Action Elements and Special Effects Photography •Animatronics, Puppets and Rigs •3d Computer Generated Models, Textures and Lighting •Animation (digital, cell and stop motion) •CG FX & Simulations, (smoke, fire and liquids) •Miniature and Model Photography •Matte Paintings •Motion Control, Motion Capture & Virtual Camera •Cyber and Lidar Scanning

Pre-Production Period •Shot breakdown from script, storyboards and pre-visualization •Shot and asset allowances •Pre-visualization, technical breakdowns •Budgeting VFX •Color and technology protocols and pipeline planning •Digital facility bids, contracts and negotiations

Syllabus for CTPR 499, Page 1 of 9 •Digital asset design and development •Development of database and storage for digital assets, reference, and on-set data

Principal Photography Period •VFX staffing •Continued development of database and file management •On-set data collection •HDRI capture •Texture and reference photography •Plates and tiles •CG asset design, build and development •VFX specialty photography and technical units •Budget and schedule management •Rough cut analysis •Keystone shot turn over

Post Production •Cut sequence bids and negotiations through director’s cut •VFX shot turn over for start of digital shot production •Director reviews of works-in-progress •Assets builds & texturing •Animation & motion development •Shot design and layout •Animation within shots and scenes •CG lighting •Digital FX •Compositing •VFX Final Approval •Interfacing with the editorial department •Reel closing schedule •Final deliveries

Studio •Studio concerns and requirements •Marketing (trailers, virtual reality, commercials) •Merchandising •Special projects (Comicon, D23, etc.) •Franchising

Learning Objectives Students are expected to achieve an understanding of how to interpret scripts for visual effects, and further, how to budget, schedule and manage the process through collaboration with all departments.

The course objectives are: (a) Expose students to the creative, technical, financial, logistical and political dynamics of working with visual effects, from initial pre-production through final delivery (b) Inform students about how visual effects interfaces with all departments of a film project 2 (c) Instill guidelines for budgeting and scheduling visual effects from concept or script through final delivery. (d) Expose students to the management and coordination requirements of the digital pipeline (e) Guide students toward achieving an understanding of how to support the creative process as a visual effects producer and represent a film’s VFX needs to a director, producer and studio

Technological Proficiency and Hardware/Software Required All work can be done with word processing & spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel and/or with Vero, a cloud based VFX financial management tool which will be made available for use during the course.

Required Reading •The Visual Effects Producer Understanding the Art and Business of VFX, Charles Finance & Susan Zwerman

Supplementary Materials •The Filmmaker’s Guide to Visual Effects by Eran Dinur •VES Handbook of Visual Effects by Visual Effects Society, Focal Press

Syllabus for CTPR 499, Page 3 of 9 Description and Assessment of Assignments Assignments will be to analyze and breakdown a theatrical film script for visual effects shots, digital development, cost projections and schedules. Students will work in groups on a project basis.

Grading Breakdown Script Shot & Asset Breakdown 20% Calendar & Schedule 10% Vendor Bid Request Package 10% Shot & Asset Budget Projections 15% Production & Overhead Budget 15% Final studio presentation & VFX Budget Summary 20% Class participation 10%

Assignment Submission Policy Assignments are to be submitted on paper or as pdf. Due dates for assignments to be given in class.

Additional Policies Use of computers for note taking is acceptable. Use of cell phones and computers not related to the class will not be allowed. Video or audio recording of classes require prior approval. Late submission of assignments will result in the loss of a point.

Assignments from missed classes can be made up but will result in the loss of a point unless a valid reason for missing the class is provided, such as family emergency or illness.

Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown All assignments will be due at the beginning of the next class.

WEEK REVIEW LECTURE DEMO SPEAKER HOMEWORK Outline course Explain the role and Before & after N/A Analyze film trailer objectives responsibilities of a examples of visual for the types and VFX Producer and the effects in features number of vfx shots Define visual difference between including small, contained effects production side vs. medium & complex facility difficulty levels REVIEW VERO TUTORIALS Discuss types of visual Read: 1 effects and the various Visual Effects 08/23/17 elements used to Producer create them. Understanding the Art & Business of VFX –Chapters 1 through 4: Basic Technologies, Methodologies & Crew

4 Review & Script analysis and Example VFX script VFX Supervisor – Divide students to discussion of breakdown for VFX breakdowns from a TBD teams of 3 or 4 and reading script into scenes, the roles of VFX assignment sequences & shots Producer, VFX Supervisor, Review and Director, Key Dept discussion of Heads student’s Show featurette on breakdown of LUNA MAX sequence Assign sequence the assigned LUNA MAX for trailer vs. actual analysis and 2 vfx & breakdown for 08/30/17 methodologies shots, assets & used methodologies

Vero Q & A Isolate questions that must be answered to inform budget & schedule process

Read: Chapter 5 pages 79-88: Script Breakdown

Review and Growth Factor LUNA MAX Final Cut Studio Executive Update/Refine discussion of TBD LUNA MAX 3 reading LUNA MAX Final Shot Breakdown, ADD 09/06/17 assignment & Asset Lists WU sequence breakdown for Review WU’S Featurette shots & assets,– student’s LUNA Before & After Export to Excel MAX sequence shot & asset breakdowns and compare to final cut

Review & discuss questions to inform budget and schedule Working with Examples of PreVis Supervisor Read: Chapter 5 – Review and storyboards, previs storyboards, previs, TBD pages 89-109: discuss and beat sheets etc. Estimating & student’s Bidding Digital Costs Breakdown for Estimating Digital LUNA MAX & Costs Revise WU WU breakdown with 4 pre-vis & prepare 09/13/17 ballpark budget for VFX shot & digital assets

DUE FOR GRADE WK 5 - SHOT & ASSET BREAKDOWN

Syllabus for CTPR 499, Page 5 of 9 DUE FOR GRADE Scheduling VFX Digital Production & Post TBD Create VFX calendar SHOT & ASSET Production Schedules for pre-pro, BREAKDOWN production & post, LUNA MAX & Turn Over Schedules Turn Over Schedules including turn over WU SEQUENCES schedule for LUNA Vendor Schedules MAX & WU Review and SEQUENCES discussion of reading Continue to refine assignment VFX Breakdown & Budget 5 Review , Q & A - 09/20/17 Student’s Chapters 15 & 16: ballpark digital Integrating VFX budgets LUNA w/Post Schedule MAX & WU SEQUENCES DUE FOR GRADE WK 6 – VFX CALENDAR WITH TURN OVER SCHEDULE FOR LUNA MAX & WU SEQUENCE Competitive Bidding Vendor Bid Requests, Vendor VFX DUE FOR Bids and Producer Prepare bid request REVIEW & Technical bid Comparisons TBD package for vendor GRADE VFX specifications CALENDAR Read: Chapter 14 Pgs 249- Review and 259: VFX Editorial 6 discussion of 9/27/17 reading DUE FOR GRADE assignment. WK 7 – VENDOR BID PACKAGE Q & A – Ongoing VFX Budget Refinement

DUE FOR GRADE Working with Editorial Examples of Post-Vis VFX Editor VENDOR BID & Pre-Vis TBD Continue to refine REQUEST Post-Vis & Pre-Vis breakdown, digital PACKAGE Rough Cut ballpark budget & Vendor Reporting Calendar Review & Editorial Hot Sheet Discussion Read: Chapter 13 – 7 reading Digital Workflow, 10/04/17 assignment VFX Editorial, Post Schedule

6 Technology & color Technical & Editorial Colorist? VFX Sup? Read: Chapters 8 – Review & pipelines Pipeline Diagrams DP? TBD pages 161-168 – Discussion of Databases reading Digital Workflows Color Pipeline Chapter 10 Pgs 201- assignment Workflow 213 – On-Set VFX Protocols Reference 8 Virtual Production 10/11/17 Workflow DUE FOR GRADE WK 9 – LUNA MAX Protocol Documents & WU BREAKDOWN AND DIGITAL BALLPARK BUDGET

DUE FOR GRADE IT VFX Daily Production VFX Production LUNA MAX & Databases Report Manager Read: Chapters 6 & WU Communications TBD 7 Pgs 111-159 – BREAKDOWN Weekly Studio Scheduling & 9 AND DIGITAL Report Budgeting 10/18/17 BALLPARK Production Support BUDGET Weekly Vendor Report

Example Databases

Review and VFX Crew & Production Budgets: Assistant Director Prepare VFX Discussion of Photography Units Excel & Movie Magic TBD Production & reading Overhead Budget assignment Working with other VFX Dept Job Departments Descriptions Create Budget Summary 10 Budgeting VFX Ballpark Cost 10/25/17 Production & Guidelines for Crew Read: Chapter 9 Overhead Costs & Services Pgs 181-199 – On- Set Operations Budget Summary Creating single Excel Chapters 11 & 12 – workbook containing Pgs 215-238 – VFX Budget Summary, Units, Models & Shot List & Asset List Miniatures Review & Budgeting for 3D 3D Budget VFX Accountant Continue refining Discussion of Conversion TBD the VFX Budget reading 3D Turn Over including 3D assignment Tax Incentives Schedule conversion and tax incentives 11 Review & 11/01/17 discuss Read: Chapter 20 student’s first Pgs 337-346 – draft VFX Working Overseas Production & Overhead Budget

Syllabus for CTPR 499, Page 7 of 9 Studio Presentation & Final Budget TBD Prepare Studio Review & Financial Reporting Summary Presentation Discussion of Package reading Vendor Contract VFX Turn Over assignment. Awards Schedules

12 Studio Financial 11/08/17 Report

Hot Cost Report

Special Reports

Ongoing creative Director Review TBD Continue to refine Review and development Agenda Studio Presentation discuss package student’s studio Working with a Editorial Review presentations Director Read: Chapter 17 Examples of design, Pgs 297-307 – Design, Development, development & Changes & Asset & Shot models for Approvals 13 Development characters and 11/15/17 environments Chapter 18 Pgs 30- 314 – Crossing the Finish Line

Chapter 19 Pgs 317- 336 – Legal

14 Thanksgiving – 11/22/17 No Class

Review & Managing Reel Reel Closing Psycholoogist DUE FOR GRADE Discussion of Closings Schedules TBD FINAL WEEK 12/6 reading FINAL STUDIO assignment Marketing & Special PRESENTATION Projects Cover, Budget General Q & A Summary, Shot List, 15 for FINAL The psychology of Asset List, Calendar 11/29/17 project due for filmmaking. with Turn Over FINAL grade Schedule Finals Week Managing people in group dynamic.

DUE FOR GRADE N/A N/A FINAL WEEK Virtual production, 12/6 FINAL motion/performance STUDIO capture & simulcam PRESENTATION Finals Cover, Budget Producing Virtual week Summary, Shot Reality 12/06/17 List, Asset List, Calendar with Turn Over Schedule

8 Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

Academic Conduct Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standardshttps://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-violating-university- standards-and-appropriate-sanctions/. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct/.

Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity http://equity.usc.edu/ or to the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us. This is important for the safety whole USC community. Another member of the university community – such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person. The Center for Women and Men http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage [email protected] describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute http://dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programs http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.htmlprovides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information http://emergency.usc.edu/will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

Disruptive Student Behavior: Behavior that persistently or grossly interferes with classroom activities is considered disruptive behavior and may be subject to disciplinary action. Such behavior inhibits other students' ability to learn and an instructor's ability to teach. A student responsible for disruptive behavior may be required to leave class pending discussion and resolution of the problem and may be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs for disciplinary action.

PLEASE NOTE: FOOD AND DRINKS (OTHER THAN WATER) ARE NOT PERMITTED IN ANY INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES IN THE CINEMATIC ARTS COMPLEX

Syllabus for CTPR 499, Page 9 of 9