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CMGT 552: Visual Storytelling: Production, Management and Culture

Fall 2014

Section: 21745D Day: Thursday

Classroom: ANN 409ABC Time: 6:30-9:20pm

Lecturer: Dr. David Craig IMDB:

Cell: 213-281-1613 Email: david@

Office: Annenberg 321 Hours: before class; email me for an appointment

CO-LECTURER: Bob Levy is a veteran film, television, and web series producer and former network executive. Levy’s credits include Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, Huge, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, and numerous web series.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In the digital age, visual storytelling has become a branding and marketing strategy to promote brands, products, services, communities, and causes. In fact, films and television may arguably be considered to be marketing tools for promoting entertainment intellectual properties that may later be sold as plush toys, t-shirts, and theme park rides. This course considers visual storytelling as a communication strategy for use by communications and media professionals, publicity and marketing executives, and digital content strategists operating in any industry. We will review the multiple creative and business practices required to generate visual stories, whether for film, TV, or new media and provide an opportunity to produce an original scripted web series. In addition, we will discuss the value of visual storytelling as marketing for all industries as well as the nature of production culture in the digital age including the precarity of what’s been coined “affective labor”.

COURSE GOALS

• To recognize digital and visual storytelling as a communications and marketing strategy.

• To understand the best practices for Hollywood visual storytelling, including the unique nature of production culture and labor;

• To engage in a creative management practice to produce an original web series, and,

• To cultivate a broad range of skills for conducting research, writing professional papers, making state of the art presentations and developing networking skills.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Brown, R. (2014). Create your own TV series. Michael Weise Publications.

• Garfinkel, A. (2007). Screenplay Story Analysis. Allworth Press.

• Lotz, A.D. (2014). The Television will be Revolutionized. NYU Press.

• MacDonald, P. and Wasko, J. (2008). The Contemporary Hollywood Film Industry.

• Rose, F. (2012). The Art of Immersion. W.W. Norton.

• Additional Reading (subject to change; will be posted on Blackboard)

SYLLABUS (Subject to Change)

|Week |Topics/ Presentations |Reading/Assignments (Due that Week) |

|8/28 |Introduction; Sample Web Series | |

| |Produce Vines Series; Screen: Episodes; | |

|9/4 |Lecture: Coverage |Read Screenplay Story Analysis |

| |PREZUMES |POST PREZUME |

|9/11 |Lecture: Pitching |Read screenplay of your choice |

| |PREZUMES | |

|9/18 |Lecture: Web Series production |POST COVERAGE |

| |: Mike Tringe |Create your own TV series/ Preface-8 |

| | |START BLOG |

|9/25 |WEB SERIES PITCHFEST; Choose Teams |Create your own TV series/ 9-Epilogue |

| | |Christian/ Web Series Production |

|10/2 |Lecture: How films get Made |Hollywood Film/Intro-6 |

| | |Finney/ Managing Film Projects |

|10/9 |Guest film producers |Hollywood Film/ 7-12 |

| |In class Review scripts |Deliver 1st draft |

|10/16 |Lecture: How series get made |TV will be revolutionized/pp. 1-118 |

| |In class Review scripts |Deliver 2nd draft |

|10/23 |Guest TV and web producer |TV will be revolutionized/pp. 119-256 |

| | |Deliver Final Draft; Start Production |

|10/30 |PRESENT: MAKING OF FILM |The Art of Immersion/ Prologue-6 |

|11/6 |PRESENT: MAKING OF TV SERIES |The Art of Immersion/ 7-13 |

|11/13 |PRESENT: MAKING OF WEB SERIES |Christopherson/ Creative Workers |

| | |Lee/ TV Production |

| | |Caldwell/ Creativity in Film and TV |

|11/20 |Lecture: TBD |Caldwell/ Hive-Sourcing |

| |In class Review Rough Cuts |Gregg/ Learning to Love Labor |

| | |Mann/ Next Gen Web Workers |

|11/27 |THANKSGIVING | |

|12/4 |WEB SERIES FESTIVAL | |

| |Essay Exam Instructions posted | |

|12/11 |Essay Exams due 6pm via email | |

COURSE GRADING and ASSIGNMENTS

25% Blog, Coverage, and Pitch

25% Film/TV/Web Series Presentation

25% Original Web Series (Group)

25% Final Essay Exam

PREZUME (your resume in Prezi)

• THIS WILL NOT BE GRADED.

• Go to , sign up for a free educational account, take the tutorial and get started.

• Maximum 5 minutes to “Show me” 5-7 things I should know about you: where you are from, where you went to school, your work experience, why you picked this course, etc.

• Use images, pictures, logos, and video. Limit your text as much as possible. Be creative.

• Post the link to your Prezi on the class blog.

BLOG

• Find a news item about media that relates to the reading.

• You may only post during the week due. NO going back for missed posts or reading.

• Write a brief description (2-3 lines), telling me what the article was about and HOW IT RELATES to that week’s reading.

• Make certain to cite which reading and create a successful hyperlink.

• Be prepared to discuss in class (although this may not always happen).

• Do not mention something already listed by another student.

• Sources may include the following, although you are welcome to look elsewhere.

o Cynthia’s Cynopsis/ Nikki Finke’s

o Hollywood Reporter/ Variety

o New York Times/LA Times/ Wall Street Journal

o Re/Code/ Tubefilter/ Webseries Today/ Tangled Web Watch

COVERAGE: Each student will need to find and read a feature film script based on a US Film produced in the past 10 years and write coverage, which means story analysis describing the story narrative, characters, themes and tone. Instructions will be provided in class.

FINAL ESSAY EXAM: the questions and instructions will be posted on Blackboard towards the end of the semester. This is typically a 10-15 page essay based on a question that requires that you have attended class, performed the readings, completed your assignments and synthesized the knowledge from the lectures, reading, presentations and speakers.

FILM/TV/WEB SERIES PRESENTATIONS: The class will be divided into groups and each person in the group will be present on the making of a feature film, TV or web series.

• Follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so will affect your grade.

• You must present using Prezi. See instructions in syllabus.

• You must conduct an interview with someone directly involved in the creation of the film or series, whether producer, writer, director or production, programming or web executive. You MUST clear this person with me in advance since it can be very hard to know who was directly involved with these projects. I will provide instruction and resources on how to network and reach these people.

• Grading will be based on your content as well as your Prezi design and presentation skills.

• Length is TBD and will depend on the number of students in the class.

• Your presentation should cover all the stages of production, distribution and exhibition, including development, financing, production, marketing, and any award-campaigns on behalf of your project.

• You should also discuss concerns over the culture and use of labor in the development and production of your project. We will discuss further in class.

• Your project must be approved in advance. Consult me before changing projects.

• The film must be a live action (no animated) feature produced by a U.S. company, released theatrically by a US Studio in the past 12 months.

• The TV series must be a US distributed series on a major broadcast or cable network that aired in the past 12 months; scripted series only, whether drama or comedy.

• For web series, the series must be US-based and debuted online, whether YouTube, their own website, or a video platform (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, etc.) in the past 12 months.

PITCH and ORIGINAL WEB SERIES:

• Every student must pitch an idea for a scripted web series. Details will be provided in class.

• The class will vote on their favorite series ideas and then be divided into production teams.

• Each team will write a screenplay, produce an original series, and post the series online.

• Follow the schedule in the syllabus. Failure to meet deadlines will lower your grade.

• You must deliver at least 3 episodes totaling no less than 8 minutes.

• Tips:

o See CreatorUp for more production advice. Feel free to take courses on your own.

o You may bring in outside resources, including writers, directors, actors, etc.

o Watch and find similar web series for ideas/suggestions.

o Calculate twice the time you think it will take to complete each task.

o Pay attention to lighting and sound. Do not make this an afterthought.

• Pay CLOSE attention to the process, the management of the project, the communication between the team, the creative and technical struggles, the use of resources, the limitations with time and focus, etc. All these factors reflect the unique culture of producing.

HOW TO NETWORK:

• Become active in TEC (Trojan Entertainment Connection) at

• Join the Linked In Annenberg Media & Entertainment Professionals Group at

• Start Early!!! That’s not early enough. Start NOW!

• Make a list of candidates and have these approved by me via email ASAP.

• Make certain their name is in the MAIN TITLE CREDITS.

• Locate their office and/or representatives through any means possible, whether the Internet, e.g., IMDB PRO or Hollywood Creative Directory.

• Call, write or email them to request permission to interview them, either by phone, in person or by email.   This will probably require numerous attempts.

• DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! Consult our Linked In page; go through your friends, parents, and professor. Send cards, deliver gift baskets, and take out an ad, ANYTHING YOU CAN!

• Be discreet!

HOW TO PRESENT:

• You should do your research and have an outline prepared BEFORE starting your Prezi.

• You should be careful to use credible sources and cite these in your handout.

• This is not POWERPOINT. The PREZI should compliment your lecture, not repeat it.

• Use as many logos, images, pictures and audio and video clips as possible.

• Use limited text; no full sentences; try to use no more than three brief bullet points.

• If you use charts or graphs, make sure they are simple and legible.

• Take advantage of the movement...try to make it fun, unusual, animated.

• Pay attention to design. Make your Prezi legible but also interesting. BE DARING!

• Show, Don’t Tell. Avoid long breaks between Prezi points where you are just talking.

• Be professional and confident, even if you have to fake it.

• DO NOT RUN OVER TIME. I will cut you off.

• Practice.  When you've got it down.  Practice some more. And then, practice.

• For your handout,

o Use Word only.

o This should be your outline for your Prezi.

o Make sure it can be understand with or without the Prezi.

o Include any links from you Prezi in the handout, just in case.

o Handouts should be no more than 3 pages, stapled and easy to read.

• For your interviews,

o You must cite your interview subjects in your Prezi.

o You should include an image and explanation for their expertise.

o Recording and including the interview in your Prezi is not mandatory but will count as extra credit. If you do include an interview, the Annenberg Media Lab and Facilities can assist with a camera and editing, lighting and sound.

Late assignments/Emergencies: No late assignments will be accepted. If you have a legitimate and verifiable emergency that makes it impossible to turn in your assignment on time you must: (1) email me before the beginning of class the day the assignment is due to notify me of your emergency, (2) provide official proof (doctor’s note or other evidence) and (3) arrange to email the assignment at a time to be determined.

Statement for Students with Disabilities: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Statement on Academic Integrity: USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: . Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: .

All work you submit must be your own and you may not inappropriately assist other students in their work beyond the confines of a particular assignment. There is a no-tolerance policy for academic misconduct in this course! The minimum penalty for academic misconduct will be a failing grade (F) for the course – further academic and disciplinary penalties may be assessed.

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