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

Course Title: Music Supervision in Film and Television

Course #:  MBU 4990.02

Credit Hrs: 3
Semester: Spring 2008

Class Location: Massey Business Center 413
Meeting Time(s): Monday 5:30 - 8:45 PM

Final Exam:

Instructor: Jonathan Watkins

Contacts:    Phone:  310.927.3561     Email:   jd.watkins@comcast.net

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTIANMENT & 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:
MBU 45501 Music Supervision In Film/TV The course will ice a detailed overview of the creative, legal and production role of the music supervisor in film and television.   Students will learn how to breakdown a script, create a working budget, explore various musical approaches to a project, solicitation of talent, negotiating publishing and master deals, managing post and production schedules, legal contracts, soundtrack deals and capitalizing on marketing opportunities.  

LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of the course:

• Students will be able to define the role of the music supervisor in film and television
• Students will learn how to breakdown a script and create a budget
• Students will learn how deals are made for uses of music in film and TV
• Students will write a pitch to artists, songwriters, producers on a project and negotiate the deal.
• Students will put together a creative and financial approach for various scenarios: a TV show, a low budget film and a big budget film and will also demonstrate a game plan
• Students will cut various selection for music into scenes of a project and pitch it to “the director” 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

• Students will know music supervisor code of conduct

• Student will understand the complexities of interacting with the studio, director, producer, music editor, composer, publicist and marketing depart of the film studio and record companies
• Students will know how to determine the director’s taste, character, location and plot and determine style
• Student will show an ability to cut the music into a project
• Students will be able to breakdown the musical needs of a script and create road map of how to achieve goals
• Student will be able to create various budget strategies  
• Student will be able to request and negotiate for songs and masters
• Students will know how to develop relationships with directors and producers
• Students will know how to capitalize on the film and TV opportunities now and in future media

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:    

ASCAP Film and TV GUIDE (we’ll discuss in class  - do not purchase)

All You Need to Know about the Music  Business  (again – another text may be required – do not purchase).  Also a great book to purchase:  Music Supervision by Ramsay Adams, David Hnatiuk, and David Weiss.  May be provided.

3. ASSIGNMENTS:  Students will be given script and will have to submit two budgets and song choices and be prepared to defend choices. In addition there will be a Cue Sheet and film report where each student will be required to break down an existing film on DVD and create a cue sheet.  In addition, Student will receive a scene/scenes from a film/tv show and will choose two music choices for that scene.  Student will work one time outside of class with a music editor and a team of other students to pick the best music for that given scene and will defend the selections. The professor may choose to assign additional reading.  Articles may be distributed in class or students may be directed to a website.  Test questions may be taken from the assigned reading.

4.    TESTING:  2 main exams and various quizzes. 

5.    BASIS OF GRADE EVAULATION: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.

ITEM CREDIT (or %) item).

Two Budgets                        30%

Mid-Term/legal                    20%

Quizzes                                  20%

Final cue sheet                     10%

Final Exam                           20%

6.    CLASS SCHEDULE

Monday January 14 – Class Introduction – What is Music Supervision

Monday, January 21 - Martin Luther King Holiday

Monday, January 28 – Music Supervisor Overview, Defining the role of a Music Supervisor

(Note – Tuesday, January 15: Last day for Registration & Schedule Changes - Also Last day to drop for a full refund)

(Note – Wednesday January 16: Withdraw with Grade of “W”)

Monday, February 4 – Legal – Break Down a script – Homework: Read Assigned script

Create Budget

Monday, February 11 – Budget Due.  The Budget.  What if it changes?

(Note: Tuesday, February 13, Last Day to Withdraw with a Grade of “W”

(Note: Wednesday, February 14: Withdraw with a grade of “WP” or “WF”)

Monday, February 18 – 2^nd Budget.  High and Low end.  Legal, publishers, master owners, Good Cop / Bad Cop

Monday, February 25 – The Director/Actor/Producer/Editor.  Competing Agendas?  Studio, Director, Producer and Soundtrack Album Label.  The Script – What makes the Music good / How to pick good music

Friday, February 29 – MIDTERM GRADES DUE 4:00PM

Monday, March 3 – Production overview.  Pre-records for on-cameras (union).  Hiring Musicians, playback, lip sync.

Monday, March 10 – Creating a Cue Sheet.  Movies assigned.

Monday, March 17 – Artist, record companies and marketing – What’s in it for them

Monday, March 24 – SPRING BREAK

Monday, March 31 – Cue Sheet Due.  Music editorial and the dub.  Class receives scenes

 (Note: Wednesday April 2: Last Day to withdraw for any reason from Course or University, Grade of “WP” or “WF”)

Monday, April 7 – Your favorite Movie/TV Music scene and why.

Monday, April 14  – Scene review with music added

Monday, April 21 – Open for review – discussion – Guest speaker.

Monday, April 28 – Open

Tuesday April 29 - Last Day Of Classes

Monday May 5 @ 5:00PM  – Final Exam

Wednesday, May 7 – Senior Grades Due 12:00 Noon

Friday, May 9 – Final Grades Due 2:00pm