Two-Year Accelerated MASTER OF FINE ARTS in PRODUCING FOR & TV

In the studio, the cabin of an airplane provides a unique production opportunity for our students.

38 LOCATION LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Location is subject to change. For start dates and tuition, please visit nyfa.edu

39 MFA Producing for Film & TV

OVERVIEW

hether it be a feature flm, a television episode, or a web Through the Academy’s MFA series, it is the producer who has the most to do with Producing program, aspiring managing the creative, technical, and fnancial aspects of a production. Producers occupy a unique and producers will learn strong powerfulW position within the entertainment industry. They possess both project management skills the creative and business skill sets needed to select the ideal creative without having to attend talent for a production while also working hand in hand with flm studios business school. Our challenging and TV networks to ensure that a production is both proftable and seen by the largest audience possible. and unique curriculum combines in-class lectures and The producer can be seen as the leader of a production as no other single instruction in the fundamentals person is as involved with a project through every phase, including pre- production, production, and post-production. From the very beginning to of film and television producing the very end, the producer is in charge and nothing happens without the with a continuous series of producer. But for one to succeed as a producer, she or he must possess both project-based assignments a passion for storytelling and business know-how that can harmonize both that give students extensive the creative and business requirements of a successful production. Students eager to control their own destiny in the business world of flm, television, and experience in dealing with the new media fourish in our intensive hands-on graduate program. real-life challenges they will face as professional producers. In the New York Film Academy’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Producing program, students take on the role of a producer from the frst day of class In addition, students study under and are treated as such for the duration of the program --four semesters professional flm and television producers over two years (Students also have the to enroll in a paid ffth who remain active in the entertainment semester in which they will produce either a feature-length flm or television industry, providing students with show pilot). From day one, students develop flm, TV, and web projects as unparalleled insight into the latest trends they produce a series of challenging production projects advancing their and developments in the industry. knowledge and skills.

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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• Mastering the roles and responsibilities of the creative producer in flm, television and related industries. • Gaining a frm understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the line producer through the production and completion of several projects in various media. • Mastering the art of set and crew management as well as gaining a frm understanding of the diferent creative roles on a production. • Formulating creative fnancing models, and creating marketing and distribution strategies for flm, television and related media. • Mastering treatment and structure in both feature flms and television and understanding the importance of the STORY. • Gaining a frm understanding of entertainment law and business afairs as they pertain to flm, television and related industries. • Learning about the industry’s innovators, past and present, and understanding how the past informs the present and future. • Learning how to be the consummate professional on set and in related felds and conducting yourself in the best way possible. • Mastering the art of the and the art of presenting yourself and your work to others. Furthermore, the MFA Producing program encourages students to pursue internships with established TV and film production companies, which can be invaluable learning WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE experiences in addition to helping students find a job upon graduation. SEMESTER ONE • In collaborative groups, students develop, prep, shoot and edit a The MFA Producing degree program is ofered short flm on location. at our Los Angeles campus near Warner Bros. • Students develop and present a reality television series proposal. Studios. QUALIFIED STUDENTS HAVE THE • Each student will write, prep, shoot and edit his or her own short OPTION OF COMPLETING A ONE-YEAR narrative flm. CONSERVATORY PRODUCING PROGRAM AT OUR NEW YORK CITY CAMPUS AND SEMESTER TWO THEN APPLYING THEIR COURSEWORK • In collaborative groups, produce a short documentary. TOWARDS ADVANCED STANDING IN THE • Produce a short narrative flm for a NYFA flmmaker. MFA PROGRAM. • Develop an efective pitch and feature flm business plan or Students must be prepared for full days of television show bible. intensive work throughout the entire two SEMESTER THREE academic years of study. They must be committed to a fast-paced, intensive learning • Develop and write frst draft feature screenplay. and and willing to work • Develop and write a television pilot. collaboratively with Filmmaking, , • Introduction to the production demands of web series, commercials and Acting students. and music videos. • Develop and create an original piece of alternative media. Please Note: curriculum and projects are • Begin in-depth research and development of the MFA Thesis Project. subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most SEMESTER FOUR recently published campus catalog for the • Successfully develop and present the MFA Thesis Project. most up to date course information.

41 MFA Producing for Film & TV

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

YEAR ONE OVERVIEW The Year One curriculum is extremely comprehensive, teaching students the creative aspects of producing, as well as the more technical side of line producing. To be effective producers, they will become immersed in all areas of flm and television production.

SEMESTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING Producing students will gain frsthand knowledge PRODUCERS CRAFT I of fundamental screenwriting techniques and This core introductory course outlines the essential roles, will develop strategies in communicating tasks, and obstacles faced by producers in the entertainment with the producer’s key collaborator in story industry. Topics include navigating the studios, television development, the . Each student networks, and emerging media as well as the relationship will develop and write a fve page original between producers and the unions, guilds, and talent narrative script to be produced in the Short Film agencies. Students will be introduced to and trained on the Production I course. industry standard software used by producers.

DIRECTING FOR PRODUCERS PRODUCING REALITY TELEVISION Efective producers create a collaborative and artistic Students will learn the basics of producing for production environment that enhances each director’s reality television, and the genre’s relationship to skills and provides the support needed to make the other platforms and formats through the analysis best possible project. This introduction to directing of existing successful reality programming. gives students the understanding a producer needs to Students will develop, create and pitch an work with a director. Students will learn flm production original reality television proposal. standards and practices, working in groups with basic production documents, actors, and the fundamentals of SHORT FILM PRODUCTION I telling a story through a camera. Producing students will develop, prep and shoot , LIGHTING & EDITING their own individual short flms. Students will Students will learn the basics of live-action motion picture receive instruction in a workshop setting on the cinematography in a hands-on workshop environment. fundamentals of sound recording. Working in They will gain an overview of working with flm and video teams, students will function as crew on each cameras, lighting, image construction and composition. other’s productions. Students are also instructed in the basic techniques of digital editing. These skills and knowledge will empower SOUND FOR PRODUCERS students as producers. Motion picture sound is often overlooked and ENTERTAINMENT LAW & BUSINESS PRACTICES I taken for granted. In this course, students This course is an overview of contract law and how it will learn about the fundamentals of both impacts the entertainment industry. Producing students production sound and post-production sound will study legal issues regarding television, flms, and gain an understanding of how sound can recordings, live performances, and other aspects of the enhance their stories and what they need to entertainment industry. Students will be introduced to know about sound as producers. fnance, marketing, and distribution models for both studio and independent flms.

42 The most hands-on intensive programs in the world. Producing for Film & TV MFA

PITCHING, BUSINESS PLANS & TV SHOW BIBLES SEMESTER TWO Through in-class examples, students are introduced to successful pitching styles and instructed on how to pitch PRODUCERS CRAFT II to investors and development executives. Students will This course continues the study of the essential develop a brief and efective pitch of the material they roles of and obstacles faced by flm and television choose to pitch at the Producers Pitch Fest. producers. Topics include optioning and developing material, flm festivals, networks and ratings and PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES analyzing U.S. and international tax incentive and This course offers producing students an introductory rebate programs. Students develop professional- exposure to documentary storytelling and filmmaking. caliber résumés, cover letters, lists of references, Working in small collaborative teams, students will and a plan to secure an internship. pitch, develop, and shoot a short documentary.

WRITING THE TV PILOT TREATMENT Our students shoot on interior sets they create on Students will revisit how the television industry the studio sound stage for class projects. operates and how television programs are pitched and developed. Each student will develop and write an original television pilot treatment. SHORT FILM PRODUCTION 2

WRITING THE FEATURE TREATMENT Students will further develop critical line producing Through in-class instruction and critique, skills. Working with NYFA flmmaking students, students will develop storytelling skills within the producing students will line produce a flmmaker’s industry standard format of the flm treatment. Year One Film. In a workshop setting, each student will develop and write a detailed feature flm treatment. INDUSTRY SPEAKER SERIES These informative sessions feature discussions with BUSINESS AFFAIRS producers and other industry professionals. Each Students analyze and discuss legal topics such session includes a Q&A, providing each student access as contract negotiations, marketing projects to to frst-hand impressions of real world circumstances fnanciers and distributors, and audience and faced by working industry professionals. research testing.

43 MFA Producing for Film & TV

SEMESTER THREE

YEAR TWO OVERVIEW THESIS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP I MFA candidates must complete Students begin to conceptualize and develop their Thesis Projects. Topics include executive summary, logline, synopsis, a series of highly specialized story and character development, researching and analyzing classes and deliver a completed comparable flms or televisions shows, and developing and well-executed Thesis Project in efective comparisons. Through lectures and examples, students will learn the critical skills to develop efective order to graduate with a Master of feature flm business plans and television show bibles. Fine Arts in Producing. Students WRITING THE FEATURE SCREENPLAY are required to pursue one of three In a workshop setting, each student will develop and thesis options and those who select write a frst draft screenplay. Structure, style, character Thesis Option C will also be required development, and arcs are some of the topics that will be discussed and put into practice throughout this course. to enroll in a ffth semester to complete their project. WRITING THE TV PILOT SCREENPLAY In a collaborative workshop setting, each producing student will develop an original drama or situational comedy pilot.

PRODUCING ALTERNATIVE MEDIA It is essential for the producer to keep abreast of developments in new media technology and the many new outlets for distribution that continually emerge on an increasingly rapid basis. iPods, webcasts, the dynamic possibilities of multimedia tie-ins and Alternate Reality Games, and the anti-piracy aspirations of digital 3D projection are a sampling of topics presented.

BUDGETING & ENTERTAINMENT ACCOUNTING This course provides an overview of production budgeting and fnancial, cost, and managerial accounting functions specifc to the flm industry, with application to other areas of media production, including television.

POST FOR PRODUCERS This course will explore the entire post-production workfow for both flm and digital formats. In addition to the technical aspects of physical post-production, the artistic and managerial aspects will also be addressed along with post-production for all current exhibition venues, including theatrical, DVD, satellite, and streaming. Students will also learn post production sound techniques and learn to apply them to their projects.

CINEMA STUDIES Cinema Studies introduces students to the evolution of the motion picture art form as a visual storytelling medium and the motion picture industry from their inceptions. Students will be given a thorough creative, technological, and industrial view of the flmmaking art.

44 Producing for Film & TV MFA

“Spare no expense to make everything SEMESTER FOUR as economical as possible.” THESIS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP II Students continue to refne and fnalize their - Samuel Goldwyn Thesis projects. They will participate in a supervised internship for academic credit, SEMESTER FIVE benefting from real-world application of their proposed thesis projects. THESIS OPTION C Through in-class study and critique, MFA students wrap ENTERTAINMENT LAW & BUSINESS the fnal stage of project development and prepare for the PRACTICES II pre-production phase of their projects. Topics include a This course ofers a deeper analysis of contract critical review of prep/shoot/post calendars; set up and law and critical issues raised in contract review of spending procedures, required documentation negotiations. Copyright law and the protection and cash fow; and script, schedule, and budget lock. of intellectual property are further analyzed. Focusing on domestic, international, and FEATURE PREP independent fnance, marketing and distribution, MFA students undertake casting, hiring crew, securing and using case studies of actual campaigns, this locations, and preparing and executing all pertinent course highlights successful strategies for each agreements, contracts, and other documentation required of these vital aspects of producing. to receive a green light to shoot their feature flms.

ADVANCED PITCHING WORKSHOP FEATURE PRODUCTION This course exposes students to a variety Over a supervised production period, MFA students of successful pitch styles and formats in a begin and complete of their feature workshop setting. Students acquire advanced flms. Through on-set visits and consultations, students techniques in developing and executing undertake the daily , troubleshoot effective pitches as they develop and master delays on set, work with actors, and maintain open an effective written pitch. They will pitch these communication with department heads regarding footage alongside their feature flm business plans and shot and budget adherence. television show bibles at Producers Pitch Fest. FEATURE POST-PRODUCTION ADVANCED DIRECTING WORKSHOP Students undertake and complete post-production on their Through in-class exercises, students will gain a feature flms. Post deliverables include raw footage and two deeper understanding of the director’s integral rough cut reviews; ADR prep and completion; fnal sound creative role and craft. In a workshop setting, mix, picture lock and color correction; music score; and students learn advanced camera techniques, main and end titles. lighting concepts, and production sound. FEATURE MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION Students develop a deeper understanding of Through examples and in-class discussions, students cinematography, lighting, and sound needs and prepare and execute the initial steps of their marketing how to creatively meet those needs. campaign. Marketing deliverables include a detailed marketing calendar including festival deadlines and ACTING FOR PRODUCERS materials, prep deadlines and regular uploads, and In a workshop setting, students develop a updates on the flm’s production company website. critical understanding of the acting process Financial deliverables for distribution preparation include and what each actor brings to the collaborative a reconciliation of petty cash expenses, trial balance with process of filmmaking. This experience is outstanding deposits, and a fnal cost report detailing invaluable to them as film producers. remaining amounts still to spend.

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