368442: the Business of Entertainment > Syllabus | Concourse

368442: The Business of Entertainment MGMT-X 403.31 Summer 2019 Section 1 4 Credits 06/27/2019 to 09/05/2019 Modified 09/15/2019 Meeting Times The class meets Thursdays from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM beginning Thursday, June 27, 2019 and with the last class on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Location: UCLA, Dodd Hall, Room 161 I will open the modules for each week on Monday morning so you have time to review the topic of the week and look over the articles I recommend to read that cover the topic as well. Description With the entertainment industry converging into a worldwide mass media, both business and operation models continue to rapidly evolve. This introductory course for producers, directors, writers, development personnel, and aspiring media executives examines the changing business issues associated with the entertainment industry. Through lectures, discussions with industry guests, and case studies, instruction focuses on current business and production issues and introduces new business models to navigate content onto new distribution platforms. Some history is highlighted to provide a context for current practices and potential. The course also features opportunities to meet senior entertainment industry executives in various sectors. Topics include financing, contracts, intellectual property issues, licensing, worldwide theatrical marketing and distribution, worldwide home entertainment marketing and distribution, worldwide television production and distribution, multi-channel network distribution and opportunities, the impact of piracy, and leveraging new distribution platforms. By the end of the course, students should have an understanding of the opportunities available in the business of entertainment. Objectives After 40 years of working in the entertainment industry, I am excited to share what I’ve learned. In this course you will explore all the key steps involved with developing and producing movies, TV series and web content. You will identify how to take an idea and be able to pitch it effectively to industry colleagues, as well as investors, studio execs, network and streaming executives. Once you get a greenlight, you will take a dive into the critical parts of pre-production, filming, and post production. But it doesn’t end there. You need to recognize how to market your project and identify how public relations and social media campaigns can help your project stand out. You will see how to avoid rookie mistakes along with getting inside stories of how this industry really works. Top level producers and industry executives will be guest speakers during the course and will answer questions as well. Although I have confirmed many high level professionals to speak to the class, some speakers may change due to schedule conflicts. Outcomes 1 of 10 Students will be able to identify the elements that make for successful entertainment projects. Students will understand how to develop an idea to present to potential buyers. Students will identify different ways to get projects promoted and funded. Students will understand the roles played by producers, directors, writers, actors, representatives and industry executives Students will be able to engage and interact confidently with industry professionals using knowledge gained in the course Materials Recommended Reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Hollywood Rules by Anonymous Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field These are available at Amazon ** Entertainment Finance by Jeanette Milio (Jeanette is a UCLA Extension Instructor and my better half) Evaluation Criteria and Grades During the course there will be two quizzes, 1 mid-term and one final. Each quiz will be worth 10 points and both quizzes make up 20% of your grade. The Midterm will be worth 30% of your final Grade The Final will be worth 50% of your final grade Extra Credit: There will be opportunities to earn up to 10 points in extra credit. Stay tuned IMPORTANT: This is primarily a lecture series, so it is vitally important that you attend the lectures. It is also important that you read all of the modules, as well as the many articles and websites I recommend. Breakdown A+ 100-97 A 96-94 A- 93-90 B+ 89-97 B 86-84 B- 83-80 C+ 79-77 2 of 10 C 76-74 C- 73-70 F 69 or below Course Policies In my course, there are no stupid questions -- except perhaps the ones you don't ask. I am not a lawyer or accountant. Documents, templates and agreements I share during this course are for informational and educational use only. Do not use any of these for an actual production. I want to have active class discussions and debates as we move through each topic. I am prepared to be very honest about the realities of the entertainment business -- with plenty of real world examples of how this industry works and how it doesn't. To that end, I ask that no in class recording take place without my express permission. I expect students to operate with honesty and openness. Work that is turned in late may be subject to being determined as incomplete. During the course, there will be two quizzes, one mid-term and a final. IMPORTANT: Even though I cover almost of the material in class, it is vital that you read all of the modules. This is also very important for all the quizzes, mid-term and final test. Institutional Policies Student Conduct Students are subject to disciplinary action for several types of misconduct or attempted misconduct, including but not limited to dishonesty, such as cheating, multiple submission, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University; or theft or misuse of the intellectual property of others or violation of others' copyrights. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with policy provisions which proscribe these and other forms of misconduct at: https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/studentConduct.jsp (https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/studentConduct.jsp) Services for Students with Disabilities In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, UCLA Extension provides appropriate accommodations and support services to qualified applicants and students with disabilities. These include, but are not limited to, auxiliary aids/services such as sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices for hearing-impaired individuals, extended time for and proctoring of exams, and registration assistance. Accommodations and types of support services vary and are specifically designed to meet the disability-related needs of each student based on current, verifiable medical documentation. Arrangements for auxiliary aids/services are available only through UCLA Extension’s Service for Students with Disabilities Office at (310) 825-7851 or by email at [email protected]. For complete information see: https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/studentswithDisabilities.jsp (https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/studentswithDisabilities.jsp) Incompletes Your instructor may post the interim grade Incomplete/I if at the end of the class your overall work is of passing quality but a portion could not be submitted for understandable reasons (e.g. illness). It is your responsibility to petition your instructor for permission to submit work late and to provide an explanation, and it is his or her sole decision whether to accept the explanation. If permitted, the Incomplete/I grade will be posted and a time frame defined for you to submit the missing work, ranging from one to twelve weeks. Incomplete/I grades that remain unchanged after twelve weeks will lapse to F, NP or U. Receiving an I grade entitles you to submit only the missing work your instructor has agreed to accept late, and does not allow other work to be retaken 3 of 10 or oblige UCLA Extension to provide continuing access to course materials via Canvas. The Incomplete/I grade is not an option for courses that do not bear credit, such as 700, 800, or 900-level courses. For complete information, see: https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/grading.jsp (https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/str/grading.jsp) All Grades are Final No change of grade may be made by anyone other than the instructor, and then, only to correct clerical errors. No term grade except Incomplete may be revised by re-examination. The correction of a clerical error may be authorized only by the instructor of record communicating directly with personnel of Student and Alumni Services. Sexual Harassment The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. Every member of the community should be aware that the University prohibits sexual harassment and sexual violence, and that such behavior violates both law and University policy. The University will respond promptly and effectively to reports of sexual harassment and sexual violence, and will take appropriate action to prevent, to correct, and when necessary, to discipline behavior that violates our policy. All Extension students and instructors who believe they have been sexually harassed are encouraged to contact the Department of Student and Alumni Services for complaint resolution: UCLA Extension, 1145 Gayley Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024; Voice/TTY: (310) 825-7031. View the University’s full Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence at http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SHSV (http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SHSV). Additional Items Course and Instructor Evaluation UCLA Extension values your feedback on course and instructor evaluations. We ask all students to take a few minutes to complete an end-of-course evaluation survey. Updates to the course and instruction are influenced by your feedback. Understanding your student experience is essential to ensure continuing excellence in the online classroom and is appreciated by your instructor and the UCLA Extension academic leadership.

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