SYLLABUS
Course Title: EIS 3990.01 – Entertainment Industry Special Studies (3)
Semester:
Fall 2007
Location:
Massy 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 9:00 – 9:50AM
Final Exam:
Monday - December 10 – 9:00AM
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:
“Careers in Communications and
Entertainment”
By: Leonard
Mogel
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:
Aug 22 – Opening
Class/Introduction – “Is it your world anymore?”
Aug 24 - Movies
– History
Aug 27 - Movies
– Making movies
Aug 29 - Movies
– Budgeting
Aug 31 - Movies
– Screenwriting
Sept 3 - LABOR DAY
Sept 5 Movies – Directing,
Sept 7 - Movies – Testing & marketing
Sept 10 - Quiz # 1
Sept 12 - Movies
– Who does what
Sept 14 - Movies
– Negotiating
Sept 17 - Movies
– Independents
Sept 19 - Movies
– Documentaries
Sept 21 – Movies
– Music Video - GUEST
Sept 24 – Movies
– DVD and Beyond
Sept 26 – Special
Effects – History
Sept 28 – QUIZ #2
Oct 1 - Special Effects – Animation,
Oct 3 - Special Effects – “Mickey Mouse to the
Dark Knight”
Oct 5 - Special Effects – “Computers don’t
animate, People do, “ Pixar
Oct 8 - Special Effects – The people and the
Jobs
Oct 10 - Special
Effects – Video Game, History
Oct 12 - Special Effects – design
Oct 15 - FALL BREAK
Oct 17 - Special
Effects – Programming
Oct 19 - Special
Effects – The people and the Jobs
Oct 22 - Quiz # 3
Oct 24 - Television – History and an overview of
jobs,
Oct 26 - Television
– engineering and sales
Oct 29 - Television
– programming
Oct 31 - Television
– production
Nov 2 - Television – who does what
Nov 5 - Television – News
Nov 7 - Television – Primetime
Nov 9 - Television – Daytime and the soaps
Nov 12 - Quiz # 4
Nov 14 - Television
– Cable
Nov 16 – Television
– Sports and Careers
Nov 19 – New
Media – History and the Web
Nov 19 – New
Media – desktop publishing
Nov 21 - Thanksgiving
Nov 23 - Thanksgiving
Nov 26 – New
Media – On-line graphics & Web Design
Nov 28 – New
Media – The Information Highway
Nov 30 - New Media – programming and online
Specialization
Dec 3 - Final Quiz prep and Final papers Due
Dec 6 – 11 Quiz # 5