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Course #/Title: |
EIS 3840.1/ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION & PROMOTION |
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Semester: |
SPRING 2008 |
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Instructor: |
Sarita Stewart |
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Instructor Contacts: |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
M 11 am – 3 pm; T 11 am – 12 noon; W 12 pm – 3 pm; by appointment |
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Course Credit: |
3 Hours |
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Class Location: |
Massey 209B |
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Meeting Time(s): |
M/W 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm |
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Final Exam: |
Friday, May 2 at 5 pm |
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: This course is an in-depth study of the channels of distribution and methods of promotion of entertainment products including movies, television, recorded music, video games, software and books.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, each student be able to demonstrate the following: 1) Students will read a script and be able to effectively summarize the details into a short synopsis 2) Be able to prepare and present a pitch around a movie or television project 3) Prepare a budget outlining above and below the line costs 4) Plan, write and execute a distribution and strategy around a film or television development project 5) Develop a publicity campaign around a book launch.
Performance Criteria: Student will demonstrate their understanding of entertainment distribution and promotion thorough the use of a group paper and presentation. Each student will also have the opportunity to develop a publicity campaign around a book launch. The goal of these projects is to give each student both individual and group experience in the strategy planning and execution around the launch of an entertainment oriented product.
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 is critical during the duration of this course, due to the nature of the individual and team projects incorporated throughout the semester. Each student is expected to attend all of the class meetings for the best possible learning experience. Every lecture will cover material necessary to a thorough understanding of the concepts.
This course follows the attendance policies as stated in the current Belmont University Bulletin. If you miss more than eight classes, you may be involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF.” Absences are considered excused if the instructor is given prior notice, and for reasons such as family emergencies, extremely sick, etc. Additional accepted excuses are official university sanctioned events with an excuse from the Provost’s Office. Attendance will be taken each class period through the use of a class signup sheet.
Course Requirements (continued):
2. Materials: Entertainment Marketing & Communication (Sayre) (Required)
The Truman Show: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Services) (Optional)
Entertainment Weekly magazine (Required)
The instructor may choose to assign additional readings as necessary. All additional readings and handouts will be posted on Blackboard.
3. Assignments:
Class participation: While class participation is not an “assignment,” it is very important element of your grade in that it accounts for 5% of your overall grade. It is recommended that each student come prepared to discuss the various class topics highlighted for the day. The class participation grade is composed of several different elements, including regular class attendance, as well as participation in class discussions and the group project.
Assignments: A combination of individual and group assignments will be given relating to class material and are due on the assigned dates given in class and listed on Blackboard. Assignments are due at the start of the class period. All assignments will be returned to the students graded with comments. Points will be deducted for late assignments. Assignments are expected to be typed and turned in via “hard copy” unless alternative arrangements are made with the instructor. It is your responsibility to print and turn in your assignment. NO EMAILS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Students are expected to keep up with all assignment due dates, and not being present at the time of a class assignment is not considered an excuse for a late completion. No assignments will be accepted after the final course grade has been turned into the registrar unless previous arrangements are made with the instructor.
The assignments given are designed to be able to successfully complete and demonstrate competence in the understanding, creation and execution of the following:
Group Project: Students will be placed in assigned groups. The team will engage in a variety of exercises throughout the semester that are designed to give the student a look at the industry from a producer’s viewpoint. Each group will be responsible to develop an overall distribution and marketing campaign around a movie or television development concept. More details will be presented on the group project during the course of the class.
Group Presentation: Each group will give a class presentation that outlines the strategies and work that the group undertook around their movie or television development project. Presentations will take place the week of 4/7. More details to be presented during the course of class.
Peer Evaluation: Additionally, there will be a confidential team peer evaluation given at the class mid-point and upon final project completion. The combined average contribution score (0 – 100%) will be applied to the individual part of your team grade. The Peer evaluation will rate participation, meeting team deadlines, overall cooperation, work quality and amount of contribution. These two assessments will reflect 5% of each student’s overall grade.
4. Testing
Exams: Exam 1 is scheduled to be held in class on 2/25/08. The final for the class is to be held on Friday, May 2 at 5 pm. Material for both tests will be taken from a variety of sources, including assigned readings, discussions, assigned and all other materials presented. Exams may not be “made up” if absent, unless it is excused through an official university function. Exams will consist of a variety of question types including multiple
choice, true/false, short answer, matching, or essay questions. Exam grades are final and are graded on a traditional scale of 0 to 100%.
Instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus as needed.
5. Basis of grade evaluation:
Grading Scale:
(97–100) = A+ (87-89) = B+ (77-79) = C+ (67-69) = D+
(93– 96) = A (83-86) = B (73-76) = C (63-66) = D
(92–90) = A- (80-82) = B- (70-72) = C- (60-62) = D-
Grading:
Class Participation 5%
Exam 1 15%
Script Synopsis 15%
Budgeting Exercise 10%
Project Pitches 10%
Group Project 20%
Group Presentation 10%
Group Peer Evaluation 5%
Final Exam 10%
Final Grade 100%
6. Class Schedule: (Subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
Week Date Topics Reading assignment
1 1/9 Class Introduction
2 1/14 Current industry trends Chapter 1
1/16 The Producer Chapter 2
3 1/21 NO CLASS – MLK Holiday
1/23 The Producer Chapter 3
4 1/28 The Script The Truman Show script
1/30 The Script Chapter 5
5 2/4 Budgeting Chapter 4/Assignment #1 due
2/6 Budgeting
6 2/11 The Deal Chapter 14
2/13 The Deal Assignment #2 due
7 2/18 The Creative Package Chapter 15
2/20 In-class project pitches
8 2/25 The shoot Assignment #3 due
2/27 Post-Production
6. Class Schedule: (Subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
Week Date Topics Reading assignment
9 3/3 Exam #1 In-class exam
3/5 Case study
10 3/10 Marketing/Publicity Chapters 6, 8
3/12 Marketing/Publicity Chapter 9
11 3/17 Marketing/Publicity
3/19 Film Festivals
12 3/24 – 3/26 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
13 3/31 Broadcast Market Chapter 10
4/2 Broadcast Market Oprah case study
14 4/7 Group Presentations
4/9 Group Presentations
15 4/14 Book Marketing Group paper due
4/16 Book Marketing Postscript
16 4/21 Nashville Film Festival Field Trip Required attendance
4/23 Book Marketing
17 4/28 Last Day of Class