Contents
ENT 3320 Technical Production Syllabus
2020, Fall Semester
Professors: Entertainment Technology
Leah Montesinos Management
Ellie Mallardi Lighting
Steve Olswang Video Production and Post-Production
Saad Farooqi Video Production and Post-Production
Mike Rinaldi Scenery
Samantha Shoffner Graphics
Class Meets: Online
Course Description: Research and assignments in the technical areas of entertainment production. Coursework includes multiple projects in different department areas such as management, sound/lighting, video production, special projects, graphics and scenery.
Blackboard: Students will be responsible for completing and turning in their own and their group project assignments on Blackboard (or Dropbox/Google Drive for larger files).
You will get a passing grade or higher if you:
- Complete projects with thoroughness
- Meet project deadlines
- Communicate effectively
You will fail or get a poor grade if you:
- Do only the minimum required
- Miss important project deadlines
Grades Breakdown:
| Behind the scenes submission | 10% |
| Crew-Specific Assignments | 30% |
| Mid-term assessment (use crew rubric) | 30% |
| Final Assessment (use crew rubric) | 30% |
Online Course Technology Prerequisites
- You will need an email account and should be comfortable using it and checking it frequently. The college provides an email account to all students.
- You should have access to and be able to use a web browser with Blackboard.
- You must be able to log in and/or call in to Zoom for meetings. Please let your professor know of any limitations or questions about Zoom.
- All of the course work will be assigned and completed through Blackboard. If you are not familiar with Blackboard, you should sign up for online instructional sessions at http://websupport1.citytech.cuny.edu/workshops.html#student .
You can also email them at itec@citytech.cuny.edu .
- You will need to be able to log on with a functioning computer and internet connection. If you do not have access to either of these, please email the department at EntertainmentTechnology@citytech.cuny.edu., and also let one of the faculty know, for a possible loaner computer and/or help in providing you with an account for online access. If you need general computer help, you can email StudentHelpDesk@citytech.cuny.edu .
- Other apps besides Blackboard that you will need to be familiar with or learn about during the semester to do the course work include Dropbox, Microsoft Word, Google Drive, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, Streamyard, and Airtable.
Blackboard Menu
- ANNOUNCEMENT is the entry point. Announcements tell you everything you might expect to hear at the beginning of a class if we were in a classroom. In our virtual classroom, you have to read the announcements each time you enter the course by logging on. Check these announcements three times a week.
- INFORMATION is where you will find information about the class.
- CONTACT is where you will find about how to communicate with a specific professor
- ASSIGNMENTS is where all assignments (with due dates) will be turned in.
- DISCUSSIONS- Post any questions or requests you have about your projects.
- TOOLS is where you’ll find tools for updating your personal information, creating your own Home Page (on this site), checking your grades, and exchanging word processing files with classmates and with me via the Digital Drop Box. Also the tools for sending email to me other members of the class.
Class Meetings and Review
We will have larger group biweekly meetings conducted online on Zoom This is where we all talk together online about some specific aspects of the work involved for each project, and answer any questions about the class.
You will find the zoom links in Blackboard Announcements for the course.
These meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
- First class meeting: Wednesday August 26th for M/W sections
- First Class Meeting: Thursday August 27th for T/Th sections
ALL STUDENTS (you must attend at least 4 total during the semester, but you are encouraged to attend all that you are available for!
- 2:30-3pm Wednesday September 3
- 2:30-3pm Thursday September 9
- 2:30-3pm Thursday September 24
- 2:30-3pm Wednesday October 7
- 2:30-3pm Thursday October 22
- 2:30-3pm Wednesday November 4
- 2:30-3pm Thursday November 19
- 2:30-3pm Wednesday December 2
- 2:30-3:30pm Wednesday December 16 (Post mortem/wrap up meeting)
Your team may have more frequent or other smaller meetings based on projects that you will be expected to attend. If you are unable to attend a zoom meeting or will be late, you should let your professor know in advance.
Class Projects
Behind the Scenes Project- ALL STUDENTS
Each student will submit at least one minute of video footage of themselves working on of the other projects they are working on for the semester.
- Assigned Week of Sept 7
- Due Dates- These are randomly scattered based on the first letter of your last name so that we get a look into a variety of projects, teams and parts of the processes!
- Last names A-F Due September 25
- Last names G-L Due October 9
- Last names M-R Due October 30
- Last names S-Z Due November 13
- Submit your video on Dropbox
- Edited versions will be completed by a small team from the class and due on Dec 7
Virtual Escape Room Project
Several teams will work on various aspects of the escape room, loosely based on the rooms in CityTech’s Haunted House, and set to release around Thanksgiving. Students will see a variety of tasks start to finish; from video editing and production, to puzzle and riddle creation, story/script writing, page layout, graphics and Zoom background design, ticketing, marketing, and working as a host or technical crew on a live version! There will be two versions that audiences can buy tickets to; one they will be able to experience on their own online, and the other will be a few select days as a live virtual production! Creativity is highly encouraged!
- Requests Due to Graphics/Video/Sound: September 16
- Ideas Due: September 21
- First Draft Deadline: October 22
- All Revisions Due: November 5
- Soft Opening Due: November 9-12
- Live Show dates: November 20, 21, and 24
ENT News Weekly Streaming Show
ENT News is going virtual! This semester students will be split into 2 virtual production teams. Each team will produce 5 episodes throughout the semester. Team A & Team B will be continuing ENT News with 10 new live episodes about different projects being produced within the department. The production teams will consist of roles such as Director, Technical Director, Production Manager, Host, Script Writer, and more. As class has moved online, a new workflow will be developed to continue production while working from remote locations. Students from both teams will be required to comment and interact with each team’s live stream.
Team A: Episode List
- 09/22 – The Switch to Virtual
- 10/08 – Graphics Department Project
- 10/20 – Scenery Department Project
- 11/03 – Todd’s Halloween Video
- 11/17 – Virtual Haunted Hotel
Team B: Episode List
- 10/01 – TBD
- 10/13 – TBD
- 10/27 – TBD
- 11/10 – TBD
- 12/01 – TBD
Haunted Hotel Video
This will be a video produced by a small group of students working closely with Todd Robbins, the Director of the Gravesend Inn attraction, to promote the return of the Gravesend Inn for 2021. It will be released on Halloween.
- Pre-Production starts-Sept 8
- Concept/Script-Sept 22
- Shooting September 29
- Editing Starts-October October 6
- Graphics due-October 13
- Final Version due-Oct 26
Graphics Projects
(Please note that unless otherwise noted as ALL, some projects may not apply to all team members, work will be assigned as needed accordingly)
- Graphics Software learning projects due August 31, September 2, September 9, September 14 (ALL)
- Weekly Broadcast Streaming Graphics- due weekly on Mondays or Wednesdays starting Sept. 16 as needed, through December 2
- Graphics needed for Haunted Hotel Video due September 30 (if needed)
- Virtual Escape Room ideas due September 21
- Escape Room graphics revision due dates TBD
- Virtual Escape Promo graphics due October 19
- Final Escape Room Graphics due November 9
- Behind the Scenes video- see above project deadlines based on first letter of last name (ALL)
- Social Media graphics due dates as needed per project, TBD
- All Graphics Projects finished by December 2
Scenery Shop Projects
A small team will work with Mike in the shop on projects for the Haunted Hotel such as a new floor for Tipsy’s Parlor, Dining Chamber TV frame, and New Lobby/Box office scenery. You will work on carpentry and do some simple finishings such as base coat painting. Students in this group must follow all COVID protocols and shop safety procedures to be in this section.
Course Objectives
| Learning Objectives/Outcomes | Assessment |
| Knowledge: Students will learn and manage a project by researching the content and including the information in the presentation | The inclusion of the research in the project presentation. |
| Systems: Students will learn how to put t0gether a video system for recording and collection content for their project | This will be measured in content collected and shared with the team |
| Inquiry/Analysis: Students will participate in a live production and participate in the real time experience. They will problem solve issues as they present in a professional manner. | This will be measured through evaluation of observation during team participation, class discussion and event outcomes. |
| Integration: Students will experience live events and compose a paper about the professional relationships they develop as being part of a production team and working in a live entertainment environment. | This will be measured through the students personnel observations by writing a paper presenting the project from the planning phase to the end and evaluation of the outcomes. |
General Education Outcomes
| After this class the student will be able to | This will be demonstrated by |
| Define time management articulate the importance of being punctual. | Students will use technology to create schedules, calculate and summarize participation hours |
| Analyze an issue. Work collaboratively across disciplines and solve a problem during a live production. | Students will learn and apply problem solving skills with their assigned crew and other crews to complete projects in a timely manner. They will articulate analytical skills and interdisciplinary communication through in class projects and fully realized productions. |
| Communicate across production areas by speaking and listening in a professional manner. | Students will participate in a team environment to interpret instructions and disseminate the outcomes to their team and collaborate to complete their tasks. |
