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Curriculum Planning and Review Committee Meeting: 11/19/2003

01/31/07

Curriculum Planning and Review Committee Meeting        
Wednesday, Nov. 19th, 2003  
9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Ahmanson Room, Mayer Library

MINUTES

Attending: Barbara Bloom, Neil Canton, Tom Curran, Bill Dill, Sam Grogg, , jj Jackman,  Phil Linson, Bob MacDonald, Peter Markham, Lynn Mazzucchi, Larry Paull, Joe Petricca, Betsy Pollock, Leonard Schrader,  Caroline Sisneros, Sheila Sullivan, Brian Udovich

Absent: Gill Dennis, Carl Smith

I.    Announcements and Calendar

Sam Grogg reminded all present that the Thanksgiving break begins at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26th.  The winter break begins at noon on Friday, Dec. 19th.  He asked faculty members to remember to reschedule any classes that might be missed because of the holiday breaks.

Grogg noted that registration for next term will be Monday, Jan. 5th.  He asked the faculty to emphasize the importance of the classes presented during the January Conservatory Weeks.

II.    Administrative Matters and Updates

A. Registrar Report

Lynn Mazzucchi reported that everything is going well.  Carl Smith is currently attending a SEVIS conference.  He will return on Monday, Nov. 24th.

B. Admissions Report

JJ Jackman announced two upcoming recruitment trips, one to San Francisco and one to San Diego.  Past recruitment trips have been extremely successful and he expected these trips to be the same.  He reminded all present that the deadline for applications is Jan. 5th, 2004.  He will be contacting discipline heads in order to start scheduling admissions process orientation meetings.  

C. Library Report

Caroline Sisneros stated that things are going well.  At the faculty meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, Caroline will do a presentation for the faculty regarding online resources.

Sam Grogg mentioned the ongoing problem of the storage and maintenance of video material in the library.  Storage space in the library is extremely limited.  There is presently a search for off-site storage for video material.  

D. Conservatory Programs Report

Sheila Sullivan reported that classes are going well.  Susan Baerwald has just successfully completed her series of classes.  The staged readings for the 2nd Year Screenwriters have begun and are off to a very good start.

Sam Grogg mentioned that we may need a more robust software scheduling program for the online academic schedule.  Both reliability and readability have been a problem with our present software.  Grogg suggested that the CPRC meet with IT in order to discuss software needs.  

E. Faculty Affairs and HLMS Update

Barbara Bloom distributed copies of the “In Kind Donation Acknowledgement Request Form” and a list of current vendors (See attached.)  She asked that all present fill out the request forms with the names of donors so that recognition may be given to those whose generosity helps AFI.

Bloom reported that the seminar series is going well and attendance is high.  In December there will be two special Harold Lloyd Master Seminars held at the ArcLight in Hollywood.  One will be with Anthony Minghella and will include a screening of his film COLD MOUNTAIN.  The other will be Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz and will include a screening of their film THE  LAST SAMURAI.

F. Production and Post Production Matters

Betsy Pollock reported that the SAG contract is being revisited and insurance issues are being studied.  Pollock also stated that Paramount is now reoffering the use of their backlot to Fellows.  Pollock is hoping to renegotiate and lower their rental fee.

Phil Linson stated the need to discuss deadlines for the editing of the cycle projects.  The Editors are under a great deal of pressure to finish the projects within the allotted time.  Sam Grogg responded that the cycle projects should always be looked upon as exercises and that process is more important than product.  Tom Curran noted that a reminder to the Fellows emphasizing that fact would bee helpful.  Curran also stated that the importance of Narrative Workshop needs to be stressed to the Fellows.  Brian Udovich suggested that 2nd Year Fellows come to Narrative Workshop and give feedback in order to energize and model the process.   

G. General Administrative Matters

Joe Petricca stated that, budgetwise, everything was going well.  New chairs had recently been purchased for the Warner Building.  Petricca asked to be notified of any other classroom needs, computer needs and paper needs.

III.    Curriculum Matters – Thesis Screenplay Submission and Review Process

Sam Grogg distributed copies of a memorandum entitled “Thesis Production Approval Process.”  He asked all present to review the contents.  He said that, other than minor changes, the main difference in the current draft is the proposal that cycle projects could not be remade as thesis projects.  A discussion on this topic ensued.  Brian Udovich pointed out that his thesis project is based on a cycle project.  As a cycle project it failed but the basic concept was very good and warranted further development.  Phil Linson stated he did not think the prohibition against cycle projects was a good idea.  He suggested that in the submission process the fact that the script was a cycle project should be made known as well as the differences in the two scripts.  Lynn Mazzucchi stated her belief that Fellows should be able to make their own decision as far as what they want to submit for thesis projects.  Sam Grogg suggested that the submission committee be told if a script was a cycle project.  It will then be up to the committee to decide if they want to see the original script as well.  The consensus was that the submission committee should be told if a script was a cycle project and both drafts of the script should be submitted.

Sheila Sullivan asked, since all Fellows are allowed to submit scripts for thesis projects, if it should be made mandatory for all Fellows to submit.  Also, Sullivan asked, should it only be Screenwriters who may submit more than one screenplay?  Sullivan said that all Fellows should be able to submit more than one script if it is through a Fellow.  A discussion ensued.  It was decided that any Fellow (not just a Screenwriter) may submit a second screenplay if it is through another Fellow, but no one may submit more than one screenplay.

Phil Linson pointed out that on page 6, in step 6 of the Memorandum, that it should be emphasized that Fellows may have to take thesis classes during the summer.

Sam Grogg stated that the submission process will be finalized and distributed next week.  Also, during Conservatory Weeks, there will be discipline meetings to review the submission process as well as degree requirements.

IV.    Conservatory Weeks Programming

Sam Grogg distributed a preliminary schedule for Conservatory Weeks in January.  Grogg mentioned other possible seminars and workshops which may be presented during January.  He asked discipline heads to let him know of any suggestions which they might have for Conservatory Weeks.  Grogg noted that the finalized Conservatory Weeks calendar will be published for the Fellows before they leave for winter break.

V.        Fellows Matters

Brian Udovich expressed the opinion that Fellows would appreciate seminars which were about movies that they can aspire to make in the near future as opposed to big budget films.  Barbara Bloom said that she would keep that in mind.

Udovich also said he wanted to thank AFI for instilling safety consciousness in him.  It was a great help in shooting his thesis project.

Sam Grogg noted that he had recently attended the Brussels Film Festival and that AFI shorts really stood out against the other shorts in the festival.

Grogg thanked everyone for coming.  The meeting was adjourned.

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