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ACT TWO EXECUTIVE PROGRAM:
Feature Film Development - From Idea to Screen
We are pleased to announce the new Act Two Executive Program: Feature Film Development – From Idea to Screen.
Program Description :
The goal of the program is to train Creative Producers in the Fundamental Industry Standard Analytical Tools and Principals necessary for presentation of projects into the marketplace. The course emphasizes Idea, Story and Script development, and all skills attendant to these. The course will also address casting, marketing and business strategies.
The course will be lead by Bobette Buster. Ms. Buster is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California’s George Lucas Graduate School of Cinema-Television, The Peter Stark Producing Program, MFA from 1992 – 1999/2005
Ms. Buster’s students achieved such immediate success as major screenwriters, directors, Industry executives and producers that she has been invited to teach her course all over the world, including in-depth development programs wherein the students develop their own original scripts . Some examples of projects created or headed up by Ms. Buster’s former students include: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the “Harry Potter” franchise, “Wild Hogs”, “Training Day”, “Far From Heaven”, “Chocolat”, “Dodgeball”, “What Women Want”, “Rush Hour”, “Shanghai Noon”, “Big Fish”, “Smallville”, “The King of Queens”, “Swimming Pool”, “8 Femmes”
Program Details :
Students will be mentored and advised on the “Big Idea” of their projects. They will learn to sharpen focus on this “idea” in their scripts, as well as how to sell their project via the “Big Idea” in their one-liners, query letters, pitches and one-sheet formats. The courses will also emphasize the importance the properly developed story, the role of the producer as he or she works with the writer during re-writes. The program will run from November 9, 2007 through January 26, 2008 .
Students will learn to apply all these concepts on projects they have already optioned prior to their acceptance to the program. Every project must be submitted with all releases and agreements necessary to begin development on the property, including an attached writer or completed script.
The six-week program provides advanced training for Creative Producers on the industry presentation standards for pitching a feature film idea. The curriculum includes an opening retreat and closing party. During the first five weeks (November 9 – December 15), students are trained in:
- Working with writers on rewrites
- Taking and giving a pitch
- Preparing stories the can cross over to other markets
- Brainstorming diversified casting lists
- Preparing a marketing strategy
- The Fundamentals of Budgeting
Students will then break for six (6) weeks to work on their business plan and pitch. They will return for a sixth week (January 21, 2008) of class where they will present their pitch and plan to a panel of industry professionals. A supplemental budgeting class will be offered during the program hiatus in January.
In addition to the in class lectures, the instructor will set up one-on-one meetings with the students to assess the progress of the project and give development notes.
Students will also be required to read one-to-two scripts a week, plus required viewing of films, and possible outside speakers.
Requirements for applying :
- Completion of the Act One Executive Program
- A completed application
- $50 application fee
- As this is a program "Advising and Mentoring the Creative Producer," applicants are recommended to submit up to three projects, complete with log-lines and one-page synopsis of each project/script. The selection committee will choose ONE project for the purposes of the course
- If applicants are submitting a book adaptation project, they must submit a logline and a treatment (no more than 5 pages) of the book. If any book submission is chosen, an additional fee will be assessed for reading of the book.
- Pertinent agreements, releases or contracts
- Agreement with a writer attached to project
- No TV scripts or animation projects accepted at this time
Location:
Classes will be held at the Act Once offices: 2690 N. Beachwood Drive, Hollywood, CA 90068
Tuition :
The tuition for the Act Two Executive Program is $1300 per student. Students may apply with a producing partner. The tuition will be discounted to $800 for the additional person applying with a partner making the total tuition for partnerships $2100 .
A $500 deposit is due upon acceptance to the program. The balance of the tuition is due by the first day of the program, and is payable via check or credit card.
