32531 - Laboratory Of Management Of The Film Industry

Learning outcomes

Course Objectives: • Provide an overview of the history of film from a business perspective to better understand the growth of the domestic industry • Learn the basic terminology of filmmaking development, finance and production • Outline indie to studio structures; marketing vs. production, what is the pipeline, film “modeling” - from art house to genre, tent pole, and in-between. • Define the major tools of the marketing executive, their budget, partnership structures and the essence of timing media for film campaigns • Simulate a private equity investment pitch, and the studio green-light process

Course contents

Course Description Commerce and art collide in the film marketplace every day. Is there a line between business and art, content and promotion, the bottom line and award accolades? In this course, students will explore the reality behind big budget art. The course will detail the life of two fundamentally different film products: the independent and studio. From concept inception to final net revenue reality, students will investigate basic aspects of development, finance, production, marketing, and distribution through two roles; 1) as producer, and 2) as studio executive. The course will focus on the U.S. production distribution studio machine as the primary market muscle for the largest product.

Readings/Bibliography

Entertainment Industry Economics, by Harold L. Vogel
Story, by Robert McKee
Film & Video Budgets, by Michael Wiese and Deke Simon
Independent Feature Film Production, A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution, by
Gregory Goodell
Turning Points in Film History, by Andrew Rausch
The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene
Acting without Agony, An Alternative to the Method, by Don Richardson
Film Directing, Shot by Shot, Visualizing from Concept to Screen, by Steven D. Katz
Texts:
Filmmakers & Financing, Business Plans for Independents, by Louise Levison
Marketing to Moviegoers: A Handbook of Strategies Used by Major Studios and Independents,
by Robert Marich
The Filmmaker's Handbook, A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age, by Steven Ascher &
Edward Pincus
Industry Trades:
Daily Variety
Daily Hollywood Reporter
Los Angeles Times, Calendar Section
Sunday New York Times
Weekly sources for discussion:
Nielson and Marketcast film tracking (provided)
Boxofficemojo.com
IMDB.com
Studiosystem.com
Yahoomovies.com
Moviefone.com
Rottentomatoes.com

Teaching methods

A detailed syllabus of each class  will be given during the first lesson.

Assessment methods

GRADING: Student's performance will be evaluated through the following point system: Class Participation there are 8 classes worth 5 points each, totaling 40 points Homework 4 homework projects worth 5 points each, totaling 20 points Final Pitch/Essay 20 points for oral pitch, 20 points for final pitch package Project Bonus 10 points if your film is green-lit by class marketplace 10 points if your company receives investment from Professor Baker's private equity firm TOTAL SCORE: 100 - you must achieve at least 80% to pass this course. GIOCA rules state that students must attend 70% of the lectures to pass, which translates to six classes in this course. The participation grade is evaluated based on active discussion and productive dialogue about class subjects. You must request permission to miss a class if you wish the opportunity to make up the participation grade points by doing a make-up assignment. It is highly recommended you take the participation part of your grade seriously. It is often the deciding factor in passing the course.

Office hours

See the website of Jonathan Theodore Baker