Production Operations and Industry Practices

This unit advances students from basic filmmaking concepts into the practical operations of production, emphasizing on-set technical execution, crew and cast management, legal/business protocols, and preparation for distribution. Students will gain hands-on experience with lighting, sound, stabilization, in-camera effects, safety procedures, contracts, and delivery formats to ready projects for festivals, labs, and marketplaces.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze a script and production brief to produce a comprehensive shooting schedule, budget outline, crew/actor contracts, and contingency backup plans for locations and performers
• Apply technical production techniques by setting up and operating lighting, camera exposure/resolution, filters, microphones/headphone monitoring, and stabilization equipment to achieve consistent, professional image and sound capture
• Demonstrate competency in industry practices by negotiating and executing actors’ agreements, investor contracts, rights clearances for stock footage, and preparing festival/distribution submission materials and promotional assets
• Evaluate post-production delivery and safety workflows by producing a final delivery package (final mix, titles/credits, textless masters/formats) and documenting safety/risk mitigation plans for stunts, pyrotechnics, and electrical setups