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Film & TV · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Working with a Film Crew

Success in the film industry relies heavily on collaboration and protocol. This course prepares students for the realities of professional set life, focusing on hierarchy, etiquette, and safety. Students will explore every role on a call sheet—from the Production Assistant (PA) to the Unit Production Manager (UPM)—learning how departments interact and how to navigate a career in the “Below the Line” trades.Getty Images

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Understand the "Chain of Command" and the roles of Above-the-Line vs. Below-the-Line crew
  2. Master set etiquette, radio communication protocols, and conflict resolution
  3. Interpret professional production documents (Call Sheets, Shooting Schedules, DPRs)
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of set safety (Firearms, Electricity, Stunts)
  5. Execute the duties of entry-level positions (Production Assistant/Runner)
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Hierarchy: Producers, Directors & The Unions
  2. 02Pre-Production Roles vs. Production Roles
  3. 03Set Etiquette 101: "Quiet on Set" & Behavior
  4. 04Communication: Walkie-Talkie Codes & Lingo
  5. 05The Assistant Director (AD) Team: Running the Show
  6. 06Understanding the "Call Sheet" & Military Time
  7. 07The Production Assistant (PA) Survival Guide
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Camera Dept: DP, ACs, DIT
  10. 10The G&E Dept: Gaffers, Grips & Best Boys
  11. 11Art Dept: Production Design to Props
  12. 12Sound & Wardrobe/HMU Departments
  13. 13Set Safety: Pyrotechnics, Weapons & Stunts
  14. 14Freelance Finance: Invoicing & Deal Memos
  15. 15Networking & Building a Crew Reputation
  16. 16Final Project: Production Simulation

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: Production Simulation

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Set Survival Guide: Live the Dream, Survive the Job by Safe Sets
  2. Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde: An Insider's Guide to Film Slang by Dave Knox
  3. Production Management 101 by Deborah S. Patz
  4. The Complete Film Production Handbook by Eve Light Honthaner
  5. Cinematography: Theory and Practice (Crew Roles Section) by Blain Brown
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