SYLLABUS
Course Title: EIS 1220.01 – Survey of the Entertainment Industry (3)
Semester:
Fall 2007
Location:
Massy Center 414
Instructor:
Mark Volman, B.A., and M.F.A.
Phone/Fax:
615-794-5801
E-mail:
volmanm@mail.belmont.edu
Office Hours:
by appointment
Meeting Time: Monday,
Wednesday & Friday 11:00 – 11:50AM
Final Exam:
Thursday - December 6th – 11:00AM
Educational
Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) to
provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes
leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship. 2) to equip students with the tools
to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make
successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize
quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian
principles.
Course
Description:
A study of knowledge needed to break into the communications, media and
entertainment industry. Attention is given to the practical application as well
as the theoretical foundations. To provide an In-depth study of the
entertainment related organizations and a comprehensive overview of the
entertainment industry.
Performance criteria: 1. Analyze business-related issues and
skills necessary for effectively maintaining a career in all sectors of the
entertainment industry 2. Explain the options where the entertainment industry
continually intersects with the music world 3. Explain career possibilities in
the entertainment industry 4. Compare
the vocabulary and terminology of the entertainment industry and the
distinction between art and commerce in the entertainment business at the
corporate level.
Learning Outcomes: Through homework, quizzes and a student
driven research driven project, the students will synthesize all course outcome
through understanding of common business practices related to the complex study
of entertainment related topics.
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.
Attendance: Missing classes are UNACCEPTABLE and WILL affect your final
grade. Lectures are only
given once, and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain any missed notes
from a fellow student. You are
responsible for all material covered in class and class readings. MISSED CLASSES WILL LOWER YOUR GRADE.
Notebook: Students
should keep a notebook. You will want to
keep a notebook of this material, which will not be available in the
textbook. It could be on the quizzes.
Textbooks:
“Entertainment Industry: The Business of
Music, Books, Movies, TV, Radio, Internet, Videogames, Theater, Fashion,
Sports, Art, Merchandising, Copyright, Trademarks, and Contracts.”
By:
Mark Vinet
Grading Procedure:
There will be 5 quizzes given during the semester based on weekly
lectures. Each quiz is worth points that
accumulate till the end of the year. If
the student misses a quiz, there are no make up
quizzes given.
Term paper: You will be required to complete a
research paper. This paper will be a minimum of 10 pages long and will
be due the day of the Final Exam. This
paper must include a bibliography of at least five sources. An outline of your paper is not optional and
will be worth points toward your final grade. You are required to complete an
outline and it is due by Oct11. The
outline should include:
·
The
topic/thesis (must be "Entertainment Industry" related)
·
Your
expected content…in outline form
·
A
summary of sources you plan to use (at least 5 sources)
·
What
you hope to learn from this paper
The
research paper will be due on the day of your
final exam.
The research paper should include:
·
Technical
requirements:
1).
Must be typed!
2).
Minimum 12 pages of topic coverage
3).
12 pt. "Times" font
4).
Margins: 1" top and bottom;
1.25" left and right
·
Your
outline (attached to the back of your paper)
·
It
should follow your outline content
·
Bibliography
with at five sources
Some suggested Thesis/Topics for Term Paper:
1.
An interview with a person(s) in the entertainment Industry (i.e.
managers, agents, production, business managers, talent, media company
executives, Information industry, promotion, etc.). This paper should have a thesis related to an
area of the business that personally interests you from our course of study.
2.
A research paper on convergence issues including the inception and
pitfalls of an entertainment business career. This does not need to be a successful media
artist, just a "real" story of a director, writer, etc. This is not to be a
biography.
3.
Compare
and contrast entertainment delivery formats.
Use a minimum of six different styles and examine the techniques of how
they successfully make themselves different (i.e. programming, sales,
promotion). Interview an on-line
publisher, radio executive, film director, etc.
4.
A research paper of one topic of study we may not have covered from any
decade in entertainment history. You may
relate this to any sector of the entertainment or media industry. You should consider:
*History *Consumer *Possibility
of Success
*Formats/Platforms *Business Models *Social
implications
*Branding *Competition * Moral
Issues
*Global
Issues *Job
Opportunities *Outlook
& Future
Homework Assignments: There also will be homework assignments
during the semester given for more point credit.
Grading Scale:
Final grades will be points accumulated from: attendance, homework, quizzes,
extra credit, and your final paper.
95 -100% = A 90
- 94% = A-
85 - 89% = B+ 80
- 84% = B
77 - 79% = B- 74
- 76% = C+
69 - 73% = C 65
- 68% = C-
60 - 64% = D+ 56
- 59% = D
50 - 55% = D- Below
50% = Fail
Topics and Lectures: This schedule is subject to change,
but we will try and cover:
8/22 Opening Class/Introduction – “Is
it your world anymore?”
8/24 Television- History, overview
8/27 Television- Jobs, engineering and
sales
8/29 Television - Programming,
production
8/31 Television
- Who does what and News, Primetime,
9/3 LABOR DAY -
NO SCHOOL
9/5 Television
- Soaps, Cable, Sports and Careers
9/7 Movies
- History, Making movies
9/10 - Movies
- Budgeting and Screenwriting
9/12 Movies
- directing, testing & marketing – Quiz # 1
9/14 Movies
- Who does what, negotiating
9/17 Movies
- Independents, Music video & Documentaries,
9/19 Movies
- Video, DVD and Beyond
9/21 Special
Effects - History & Living digitally
9/24 Special
Effects - The People
9/26 Special
Effects - and the Jobs
9/28 Special Effects - Animation, Pixar,
“Mickey Mouse to the Dark Knight”
10/1 Special
Effects - “Computers don’t animate, People do”
10/3 Advertising
- History & Promotion – Quiz # 2
10/5 Advertising
- Media, agencies
10/8 Advertising
- structures & the Mega-brands
10/10 Radio
- History, AM & FM & Public radio
10/12 FALL BREAK - NO SCHOOL
10/15 Radio
- Who does what & Satellite,
10/17 Radio
- Programming, news, the future
10/19 Public Relations - History and what
it is
10/22 Public
Relations - who does what, Public service,
10/24 Public
Relations - Corporate Vs. independents, Entertainment
10/26 Book
Publishing - History, Structure & who does what – Quiz # 3
10/29 Book Publishing -Publishers, Agents
10/31 Book
Publishing - submissions and the Nuts and Bolts
11/2 Magazine
Publishing - History, editorial side, who does what and salaries
11/5 Magazine
Publishing - Productivity, Creativity, Freelance, Desktop Revolution
11/9 Newspaper
Publishing - Who does what and salaries
11/12 Newspaper
Publishing - Sales & Going on-line,
11/14 New
Media - History & The Web – Quiz # 4
11/16 New
Media - Desktop publishing, On-line graphics & Web Design
11/19 New
Media - The Information Highway, programming online and Specialization
11/21 Thanksgiving
11/23 Thanksgiving
11/26 New
Media - Video Game, History
11/28 New
Media - Who does what in design and programming
11/30 New
Media - Sports Management
12/3 New
Media - Sports Agents
12/5 WRAP
UP
12/6 Finals Quiz # 5 and Paper
due