Calendar Description

This course introduces students to the producing functions in the arts and media industry.

The course will cover the genesis of creative producers in the media and hybrid or emergent creative environments, exploring the basis of being a producer for media programs and companies (e.g., internet, television, radio, music industry, and social media environments), for arts and media creative hubs, and for primarily non-profit performing arts sites in Canada (e.g., presenting producers for multi-disciplinary arts venues that host touring companies).

Rationale

Producing is a learned skill that can be applied across a range of deliverables. From the dinner table to the theatre of war to the stage, the cinema, the World Cup soccer fields, and to the Olympic stadiums, producing is a transferable skill. The course is an introduction to the different producing functions that cross over the arts and media sectors.

The Producer is often the backbone projects in the media and arts industries. As such, producers need a complete understanding of all the elements needed to successfully support, shepherd, and deliver creative projects from seed to screen, stage or speakers. This course will introduce students to the specialized knowledge and skills needed to produce in the Canadian media landscape. The course will help students with an understanding of the producers’ role, develop skills that could lead to career development.

Deadlines and Deliveries

Producers inspire teams, create inclusive working environments, and conduct business. They are trusted to manage the budgets, manage the talents, manage the crew, and deliver on time. As such, all assignment deadlines in this course will be strictly enforced. No exceptions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

●   Introduction to the practices and processes of producing.

●   Learn about the ways in which the traditional Canadian media industries and arts sectors overlap and have evolved to include the internet, and podcasting.

●   Learn how to develop a program pitch, loglines, schedules, pitch packages and other professional documents required to be a successful producer.

●   Critically analyze familiar media programs and outputs from a management perspective to better understand the interdisciplinary skills (including patience and generosity) required as a producer.

●   Collaborate with peers through group in translating ideas into production needs, resolve   disputes provided in a case study, generate camaraderie, rapport, and practice providing supportive and productive feedback and evaluation.

●   Build their understanding of the media industry through one of its key management roles (the producer) and better understand some of the ways in which the media industry connects to the arts and culture sectors.

●   Synthesize their learning and build their writing skills through the development of a reflection and essay.

Evaluation and assignments:

1. Individual Assignment - 5% - Logline & Elevator Pitch Due: Week 3

Write a logline and elevator pitch that clearly sets up your project, either for a TV series, feature film, podcast, or web series. The Logline should indicate: an inciting incident, a specific protagonist, objective or obstacle, and consequences. This will be the Logline of two to three sentences, used to develop your final Group Presentations. Additionally, provide a paragraph with more detail that encapsulates the project, describes what will be shown and what the project is about. Word-count limited to 140-170

Submission: in PDF via Quercus – One page Logline & Elevator Pitch

2. Individual Assignment - 5% - Production Breakdown & Schedule Due: Week 4

Provide a draft production breakdown of your project (based on the logline that was written) along with a workback schedule. Specific parameters for this breakdown will be provided in class. Production breakdown schedule

Submission: in PDF via Quercus – Multi-page Production Breakdown and Schedule

3. Group Assignment – 10% - Synopsis & Storyboard for your Project Due: Week 5

Once the group has chosen a project to produce, write a detailed synopsis of your project. Address what the project is about, the story/event, and your target audience, providing answers to: who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Submission: in PDF via Quercus – Multi-page Synopsis & Storyboard – One submission per group is required. With equal contributions from all group members.

4. Group Assignment – 10% - Budget Breakdown: Due: Week 6

Based on the production schedule breakdown, create a simple budget for your project using  the template provided in class or create your own template. The budget must be realistic and have a funding scenario attached to it. The budget must be equal to the amount of funding that will be raised by the various sources – the funding sources must be named.

Submission: in PDF via Quercus – Budget Breakdown – One submission per group is required. With equal contributions from all group members.

5. Group Assignment – 15% - Create a Pitch Deck Due: Week 7

Aa a group, create a pitch deck which incorporates the methods of logline and pitch from assignment 1, synthesized synopsis from assignment 3, and the budget from assignment 4. The pitch deck must be a complete document with all the elements needed. Detailed examples will be presented in lectures. This Pitch Deck will be used for the final Group Presentations for the next assignment. Six to Eight Slides Only

Submission: in PDF via Quercus – Slide Deck with multiple slides – One submission per group is required. With equal contributions from all group members.