Three workshops: The Production Assistant / Production Manager / Location ManagerThis new program is made up of three separate workshops: The Production Assistant Workshop / The Production Manager Workshop / The Location Manager Workshop. Each deal with a specific career track in film production. The sequence may be taken in its entirety, or you may enroll in those segments that interest you.
Enrollment is limited to 15 in each segment
Dates: October 22nd through 26th. Welcome get-together on Thursday evening, Oct, 21st at 7 PM
Location: To be announced.
Combined tuition for all three workshops: $795. Workshops prices separately below. Some financial aid may be available.
The Production Assistant Workshop
This two-day workshop will prepare you to work as a film professional on TV commercial and feature film set assisting various department heads.
Dates: October 22nd & 23rd
Length: Two days, begins Thursday evening the 21st.
Tuition: $350
Who Should Attend
Anyone who wants to work on a film set as an assistant. This is also a good introduction to the production process for anyone wishing to work on film productions in other capacities. This is were most film professionals get started.
Course Description
This is where most film professionals begin -- as Production Assistants. During this intensive two-day course we explore the necessary procedures, attitudes, techniques, paperwork and responsibilities of the The Production Assistant. You will learn what’s required and how to prepare yourself for this entry level career position. PAs assist various Department Heads in many ways. They work for the The Producer, the Director, the Prop Master, Head of Wardrobe, the Transportation department, the legal and accounting departments, etc. This intensive, full-time, 12-hour a day course provides an introduction to the paper work, job requirements, and set procedures for working on TV commercials and feature films. By the end of the two days, you’ll feel comfortable being on a real feature film set, as you make a real contribution to the production. This course combines classroom work, lectures, screenings, discussions, with field work and a practical session on set to help you gain an intuitive understanding of film production on a feature film and TV commercial sets.
We cover the following elements:
- Set Procedures, protocol and Etiquette
- Schedules and Call Sheets
- How to read and visualize a script
- Your Attitude
- Job requirements
- walkie-talkie procedures
- Interview technique
- Landing the job
Students should bring:
A transparent ruler, notebook, pencils, a black fine point pen, A highlighter pen and if they have one, a audio tape recorded and a digital camera.
The Location Production Manager Workshop
Budgeting & Scheduling
Enrollment is limited to 15
Dates: October 24th and 25th
Length: two days - Saturday and Sunday.
Tuition: $350
Who Should Attend
This two-day course is for financial, legal and insurance professionals who wants to assist film Producers prepare projects budget, find cost saving options, deal with logistics and legal issues in the preparation of a film to be shoot on the Cayman Islands. A knowledge of accounting, computer software, local regulations and potential production costs are helpful. This is also a good introduction to the pre-production process for anyone wishing to eventually be a producer or work as a Unit Production Manager as a full-time career.
Course Description
Producers considering the Caymans as a location need someone on-Island to research costs, develop a budget, and find cost savings options on the Islands, to include hotels, apartments, meals, transportation, supplies, offices, staffing, phone and Internet services, as well as how to deal with government bureaucracy, and other location costs. This job falls to the Location Production Manager. During this 2 day intensive course you will learn how to read a script, time it, break it down into locations, and begin to identify those elements that will contribute the overall production cost of production. You will learn how to deal with the pre-production paper-work, how to prepare a schedule, and how to find the best possible deals, saving your Producer money. The class includes hands-on exercises as you breakdown part of a feature film script, create a production board, schedule, day-out-of-days and draft a preliminary budget.
We cover the following elements:
- How to read, visualize and interpret a script
- Production Office set-up & operation
- Motion Picture Accounting practices
- Negotiating Deals
- Basic Industry Realities
- Unions & Guilds
- Rent
- Insurance
- Cayman Island Regulations
- The Cayman Islands Film Commission
- Script Breakdown
- Scheduling and the Strip Board
- Call Sheets & Production Reports
Students should bring:
A transparent ruler, notebook, pencils, a black fine point pen, A highlighter pen and if they have one, a audio tape recorded and a digital camera.
The Location Scout & Manager Workshop
Enrollment is limited to 15.
Date: October 26th
Length: one day - Monday
Tuition: $195
Who Should Attend
This one-day course is for real estate agents, property managers, contractors and others who want to work as a Location Scout and/or Managers on film coming to the Islands. A knowledge of local regulations, rental costs, and digital photography are helpful.
What to bring: A digital camera of any kind. A notebook, laptop.
Course Description
Producers considering the Cayman Islands as a location need people who know the Island and its real estate market and are people who know how things are done here. This one-day course covers the role of the Location Scout and the Location Manager, including the paper-work, photography, and what’s required to be helpful to a Producer, and indispensable. The morning is spent going over the two roles, with the afternoon spend visiting various locations, discussing the pros and cons of each. Photography plays an important part of the Scouts job, as does knowledge of the environment, noise, parking, access to electricity and where the sun raises and sets. The role of the Location Manager involves working with the Owners and the Production company to ensure that each property is returned in an “as was” state at the end of each production.
There will be a notebook with samples of all the paper work, along with a script to provide a real world experience. Several hand-outs containing information will be helpful long after this class has ended.
The Faculty
Eric Mofford is a writer, director and producer who has been involved in more than 50 film, television and on-line productions as well as numerous music videos, including Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, and Alan Jackson. He has worked as an Assistant Director, Production Manager, Location Scout and Location Manager, even a PA on over 30 feature films and television programs including the Emmy Award winning 24, CLOCKWATCHERS, KALIFORNIA and DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST. He has just completed producing HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM, a feature length Documentary on energy alternatives and the new wildcatters from the Oilman's perspective. Other recent producing credits include the live action movie portions for the EA video game release, NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER, THE SACRIFICE directed by Diane Namm and starring Chris Mulkey, TALES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ELVIS, written, co-directed and starring Mercy Malick and the soon to be released feature, THE MERCY MAN, starring JC Hernandez and Andre Royo. Previous producing credits include BLACK. WHITE. for FX television, EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME EDITION for ABC and the IFC critically acclaimed comedy series, MINOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JACKIE WOODMAN. In 2001, he co-produced the 13-part documentary series, SENIOR YEAR, for PBS. Eric has taught Production Management workshops for many years at The Workshops in Maine as well as at various schools in the LA area. Eric has a production blog for Unconventional Media, his production company, at UnconventionMedia.Wordpress.com
Registration: The CIFC is handling registration. Call or email Angela Mowbray - 945-0943 or angela.mowbray@gov.ky. to reserve a seat in each workshop. Payment is due upon registration.
Minimum Enrollment: each of these workshops require a minimum of 8 paying participants in order to be held. Maximum enrollment is 15 in each.
Discounts: a 10% discount is available for employees from thew same company or family attending. The combined price of $795 already includes a 10% discount over the individual course tuitions. Take the first two workshops and get the third workshop for just $95, save $100.
Financial Aid: Tuition discounts are available after the minimum enrollment has been met.
Questions?: If you have questions about any of these workshops, please email David H Lyman, at DHLyman@mac.com. He will answer your questions, or put you in touch with Eric.
