CUA51020 - Diploma of Screen and Media: Online Producing

Diploma of Screen and Media - Online Producing

OVERVIEW

New York Film Academy Australia delivers an online, nationally recognised program CUA51020 - Diploma of Screen and Media with selected subjects focusing on Producing.

No single position has more to do with the creative, technical, and financial aspects of making a film or TV show than the producer. They hire and they fire and work hand in hand with film studios and TV networks. They develop the material, hire the writers, and find the buyers and financiers. They oversee script development, casting, hiring of the crew, locations, distribution, film festivals, and so much more. Ultimately, the producer is the most involved with a project through every phase (from pre-production to production and post-production).

All teams need leaders, and the producer is every movie's leader. If you love Film and TV with a tremendous passion, then learning how to be a television and movie producer through NYFA Australia’s Online Diploma, is where your career begins. The producer does so much more than just raise finance - they occupy the most important position on any screen project. From the very beginning to the very end, the producer commands the show. Nothing happens without them.

The Diploma of Screen and Media in Producing (Online) is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to produce screen content across various forms of media including film, documentary, and television. Students undergo a thorough regiment of classwork that lays the groundwork for a professional life in the screen arts. The curriculum is extremely comprehensive, teaching students the creative aspects of producing, as well as the more technical aspects of line producing. Students gain an understanding of the entertainment industry and the tools needed to successfully navigate it.

WHAT MAKES OUR ONLINE PRODUCING PROGRAM UNIQUE?
From the comfort of your own home, you will get the opportunity to work with industry professionals as you develop and grow your producing skills. The course schedule has been carefully crafted to ensure that you benefit from favourable work-life-study balance.

Producers are confronted with a number of visual, dramatic, financial, legal, logistical, managerial, and technical challenges. From the first day of class, you will be immersed in an intensive sequence of classes and workshops, and with encouragement from your industry professional teachers, you will rapidly learn the fundamental creative and technical skills you need to produce film, documentary, and television.

Learning Goals:

• Knowledge of the roles, tasks, and obstacles faced by film and television producers.
• Understanding of storytelling concepts of elements, conventions, structure, and style.
• Understanding screen production from the perspective of the screenwriter, director, actor, cinematographer, and editor.
• Introduction and practice of effective pitching skills for various forms of screen and media.
• Drafting script coverage.
• Learn critical elements of effective feature film business plans and packaging strategies.
• Knowledge and understanding of all stages of the development, pre-production, production and post-production cycles.
• Film festival strategies, marketing and an introduction to distribution.

Production Goals:

• Students develop, prep and manage a short script through all stages of production.
• Develop, shoot and edit a micro-documentary project using new media (using personal phone or camera)
• Develop and write original treatments for a feature film and/or a television pilot.
• Participate in virtual round-table pitch and networking sessions with peers and industry professionals.
• Develop an effective pitch, business plan and television show bible.

TECH REQUIREMENT

Program Requirements:

• Personal computer or laptop
• Mobile phone with video camera
• Zoom software (free)
• Screenwriting software (free or professional - Final Draft highly recommended.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint)
• Da Vinci Resolve software (Free Version)
• Access to stable, high-speed internet connection.

Minimum specifications for computers:

• Processor - Intel Core i7 or newer CPU
• Operating system - macOS v10.14.6 or later / Windows 10
• RAM - 8 or 16 GB of RAM (depending on processor)
• GPU - 4 GB of GPU VRAM
• Hard disk space - 50GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (will not install on a volume that uses a case sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices).
• Additional external high-speed drive for media (min. 500 GB)
• Monitor resolution - 1920 X 1080 HD preferred
• Network Storage Connection - 1 Gigabit Ethernet (HD only)

CUA51020 - DIPLOMA OF SCREEN AND MEDIA: ONLINE PRODUCING APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested students are invited to complete the application form, with a personal statement, and attend a virtual interview to determine entrance to the program.

Course Descriptions

Semester 1 Term 1 Safety on Set Producer’s Craft – Budgeting Elements of Screenwriting Track Term 2 Cinema Studies Directing for Producers Film Production Producer’s Craft – Creative

Semester 2 Term 3 Producing Documentaries Post Production for Producers Entertainment Law & Business Practices I Term 4 Writing the Feature Film & TV Pilot Treatment Business Affairs Business Plans & TV Show Bibles

Safety on Set   CUAPPR515 - Establish and maintain safe creative practice

This subject provides an introduction to the essential administrative requirement of the Producer, following industry-standard documents and procedures. The purpose of this subject is to teach the film and performance practitioner to; determine work health and safety requirements in a given environment and occupation, to help them identify hazards and assess and manage risks, and to monitor and enhance the safety of their practice. Having sound practical knowledge of safety is paramount for film sets and sound stages.

Producer’s Craft - Budgeting   CUAPPM431 – Compile production schedules

This core introductory course outlines the essential roles, tasks, and obstacles faced by producers in the entertainment industry. Students will learn the importance of balancing the creative vision of a project with the logistics and budgetary constraints. Students will break down a script, create a shooting schedule, and learn how to identify all necessary elements. Students will also learn to build budgets, make critical assumptions, and learn about unions and guilds. They will learn about film production incentives and how to track those costs. Students will be introduced to and trained on the industry-standard software.

Elements of Screenwriting   CUAWRT401 – Edit texts CUAPPR415 – Develop and discuss ideas for own

The student will begin the process of learning the craft of screenwriting. They will also gain insight into the creative collaborative process of filmmaking as they write, edit, and reflect on their own writing and projects with fellow students and their trainer. Students gain a good understanding of the fundamentals of storytelling and editing text, as they are immersed in essential aspects of writing for the screen, editing, and the collaborative process of developing screen stories. Students will learn correct formatting, how to write scene descriptions, describe characters and locations, and how to develop action sequences appropriate to the genre and style of the project they are writing. They will also learn to appraise their own work, and that of others, engaging constructively in the creative collaborative process of concept development.

Cinema Studies   BSBCMM411 – Make presentations

Cinema Studies introduces students to the evolution of the motion picture industry from its inception. Students will be given a thorough creative, technological and industrial view of the art of filmmaking from historical and theoretical viewpoints. Students will present their own research findings.

Directing for Producers   CUADRT512 - Direct performers for screen productions

Effective producers create a collaborative and artistic production environment that enhances each director’s skills and provides the support needed to make the best possible project. Students will learn the elements of film directing and how to collaborate to tell a visual, narrative story. Students will learn about film production standards and practices, working with actors, basic production documents, and the fundamentals of telling a story through the camera.

Film Production   BSBPMG430 Undertake project work

Students will develop critical line producing skills and gain an understanding of the production management and pre-production process. They will monitor the progress of production and learn how to resolve issues that arise.

Producer’s Craft - Creative   CUAWRT512 Develop storylines and treatments

This subject continues the study of the essential roles of and obstacles faced by film and television producers. Topics include developing material, doing coverage for screenplays and pilots, working with agencies and writers and also packaging, as well as the television industry. Students will develop storylines and devise vision statements for a project and will also learn the basics of when and how to do various kinds of pitches, which they will workshop in class.

Producing Documentaries   CUAWRT415 - Write narration and material for productions, CUAAIR411 – Plan and conduct interviews

This subject offers producing students valuable exposure to documentary storytelling and filmmaking. Working in small collaborative teams, students will pitch, develop, and shoot a short documentary incorporating interviews and coverage. Teams will work collaboratively, pitching to each other, bringing cuts of their footage to class for feedback, and going through a notes process for their rough, fine, and final cuts, ultimately delivering a cut ready for distribution. Students will also learn the fundamentals of both production sound and post-production.

Post Production for Producers   CUAPOS511 - Edit complex media productions

Students are instructed in motion picture editing and post-production techniques. They will gain an overview of non-linear editing, post-production audio, basic visual effects and professional post-production workflow.

Entertainment Law & Business Practices I   CUAIND512 – Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge

This subject introduces the student to the legal and business aspects most commonly encountered in the entertainment business. Topics include intellectual property, fair use, clearance, and licensing issues, music and trademark, and basic contractual terms and clauses. Students are further introduced to business entities, distribution, and marketing models for studio and independent films.

Writing the Feature Film & TV Pilot Treatment   CUAPPR411 Realise a creative project

Through in-class instruction, workshops, and drawing on basic character and story structure principles learned in ‘Elements of Screenwriting’, students will develop an original story and write a feature film or TV series treatment. During this process, students will learn how treatments “sell” stories, the similarities and differences between motion picture and television story development, and how to write a compelling treatment that meets industry standards.

Business Affairs   CUAFIM411 - Obtain revenue to support operations

This subject builds on the skills acquired in Entertainment Law and Business Practices I by introducing the student to the complex contractual negotiations in compensation and deal structure. Students become familiar with the various techniques used to finance both studio and independent film. Students will learn how to do market research and create a case study presentation. Topics include optioning material, and finding and raising revenue to develop and make films.

Business Plans & TV Show Bibles   CUAIND412 - Provide Freelance Services

Through discussions and analysis of case studies, students will learn the critical skills to develop effective feature film business plans and television show bibles, as well as developing their pitching skills. Elements covered include developing an effective casting strategy, how to craft a comparable film or series table, and creating an appropriate financing and marketing strategy. Students will learn about preparation work required to operate as a freelance creative/ freelance producer.