BELMONT UNIVERSITY
MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS
COURSE SYLLABUS


Course Title:  The Entertainment Industry

Course #:  EIS 1220.01

Credit Hrs:  3
Semester:  Fall 2006

Class Location:  Massey Business Center 414
Meeting Time(s): MWF 11-11:50 AM

Final Exam:  Thursday, December 7 11:00 AM

Instructor:    Jonathan Watkins & Ruta Sepetys

Contacts:    Phone:  310.927.3561     Email:   jonathan.watkins@sbcglobal.net

                    Phone:  615.781.6000      Email:  ruta@sepetys.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

EIS 1220. The Entertainment Industry (3). Students participate in an overview of the major areas of the entertainment industries. This course serves as an introduction to the structure and internal organization of the entertainment industries. Attention is given to practical application based on theoretical and historical foundations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Entertainment Industry Studies 1220 will investigate the fundamentals of diverse areas of the entertainment industry, including—but not limited to—Film, Television, Radio, Theater, New Media, and Music.  Students will become familiar with various careers related to each area in order to heighten an awareness and knowledge of career opportunities.  Students will study and discuss movies, television and radio shows, theater performances, music, websites, and other new media (such as video games and cell phones).  Students will be exposed to industry professionals and given the opportunity to further explore areas of interest through a final research project. 

GOALS OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS:

The following objectives will be applied toward course completion:

  • To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.
  • To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments.
  • To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

HONOR CODE:  It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code.

“In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”


ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES:

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.    Attendance:    As per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. 

2.    Materials:    Vinet, Entertainment Industry: The Business of Music, Books, Movies, TV, Radio, Internet, Videogames, Theater, Fashion, Sports, Art, Merchandising, Copyright, Trademarks, and Contracts.
Claire, et. al., Entertainment 101: An Industry Primer.

 

3.    Participation and Prepared assignments:  Students will prepare a final project/paper selecting one aspect of the covered units. Project should detail what the path of a career in that particular field would be like, how one would pursue that type of career, and how selected career interfaces with other branches of the entertainment industry outlined in the course. Paper will be at least twenty pages, double-spaced. Details of the final project/paper will be discussed with the instructors and students will prepare an outline. No late projects/papers will be accepted.

 
4.    Testing:          September 22        Test #1 (Covers Music & Film)

                                October 11             Test #2 (Midterm Exam – Covers Music, Film & New Media)

                                November 8           Test #3 (Covers Television, Radio & Sports)

                                December 7           Test #4 (Final Exam Covers all Units)

                There will also be Quizzes throughout the semester which will count towards 15% of the Students Overall Grade.

                               

5.    Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.

ITEM CREDIT

A.  Tests (4)          40%
B.  Attendance     25%
C.  Quizzes             15%
D.  Final Project    20% 


6.    Class Schedule


INTRODUCTION:

 

Wednesday, August 23       JW & RS Syllabus Overview,

Reading: ENT101 Introduction, pp. 101-125 (Music)

 

Unit One: Music

Friday, August 25               JW: Basic overview of Music Industry with Artist At Center

                                                Reading: EI Introduction, Prologue & Chapter 1: Copyright

Monday, August 28             JW: Music Publishing, Songwriters, Royalties

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 4: Music

(Note: Tuesday, August 30 is Last Day to Drop with Full Refund)

Wednesday, August 30       Guest Speaker:

Friday, September 1           RS: Record Labels

Monday, September 4:       NO CLASS, LABOR DAY

Wednesday, September 6   RS: Attorneys, Managers, Agents

Friday, September 8           RS: Touring, Promoters, Venues

Monday, September 11      RS: Music Review

                                                Reading: ENT101 pp. 11-66 (Film)

 

Unit Two: Film

Wednesday, September 13 JW: Above the Line: Producers, Screenwriters, Directors

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 6: Movies

Friday, September 15         JW: Below The Line: Music Editors, Music Composers, DP, AD

Monday, September 18      JW: Foley, Art Direction, Set Designer, Makeup Artist

Wednesday, September 20 JW: Box Office, Marketing, Distribution, Behind the Scenes

                                                Film Review

Friday, September 22         JW: Test #1 (covers Music & Film)

Monday, September 25      JW: Guest Speaker: Maureen Crowe (Music Supervisor)

                                                Reading: ENT101: pp. 127 – 157 (New Media)

 

 

Unit Three: New Media

Wednesday, September 27 JW: New Media The Concept

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 9: Internet

Friday, September 29         JW: The Internet

Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W”

Monday, October 2             JW: Site Designers, Dig Artist, My Space

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 10: Video Games

Wednesday, October 4        JW: Video Games, Mobile

Friday, October 6                JW: Review for Mid-Term

Monday, October 9             JW: Guest Speaker: Steve Schnur (Electronic Arts)

Wednesday, October 11     JW: Test #2 (Midterm Exam – Covers Music, Film, New Media)

Mid Point

Friday, October 13:            NO CLASS, FALL BREAK

Midterm grades due (note to self, not to students)

 

Unit Four: Television

Monday, October 16           JW: TV Overview

                                                Reading: ENT 101: pp. 67 – 99 (Television)

Wednesday, October 18     JW: Above the Line: Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers        

Friday, October 20             JW: Guest Speaker:

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 7: Television

Monday, October 23           JW: Themes, Composers

Wednesday, October 25     JW: Networks, Cable, Pay

Friday, October 27             JW: Below the Line Jobs

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 8: Radio

 

Unit Five: Radio

Monday, October 30           RS: The Charts and Radio Formats

Wednesday, November 1    RS: Guest Speaker:

                                                Reading: ENT 101: pp 181 – 203 (Radio)

Friday, November 3            RS: Singles, Radio Promotions

                                                Reading: EI Chapter 13: Sports

 

Unit Six: Sports

Monday, November 6         JW: Guest Speaker:             

Last day to withdraw with “WP” or “WF”

Wednesday, November 8    JW: Test #3 (Television, Radio & Sports)

                                                Reading: ENT101: pp 159 – 180 (Theatre)

 

Unit Seven: Theatre, Books, Art & Fashion

Friday, November 10          JW: Theatre

                                                Reading Ea Chapter 11: Theatre

Monday, November 13       JW: Theatre - Guest Speaker:

                                                Reading EI Chapter 5: Books

Wednesday, November 15  RS: Book Publishing

                                                Reading EI Chapter 14: Art

Friday, November 17          JW: Art

                                                Reading EA Chapter 12: Fashion

Monday, November 20       JW: Fashion

Wednesday, November 22: NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING

Friday, November 24:         NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING

 

 

Monday, November 27       JW & RS: In Depth Discussion Review

Wednesday, November 29  JW & RS: In Depth Discussion Review

Friday, December 1            JW & RS: Review for Final Exam

Monday, December 4          JW & RS: Review for Final Exam

 

Final Exams: Thursday, December 7 11:00 AM Test #4