Search
FellowsStaff

News Clippings

Curriculum Planning and Review Committee Meeting: 4/25/2007

04/25/07

Curriculum Planning and Review Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Ahmanson, Mayer Library

MINUTES

Attending: Neil Canton, Gill Dennis, Joe Garrity, Scott Hardman, Phil Linson, Robert Mandel, Lynn Mazzuchi, Joe Petricca, Betsy Pollock, Barry Sabath, Caroline Sisneros, Sheila Sullivan

Absent: Daniel Casey, Daniel Harrich, Stephen Lighthill, Jim McBride


I. Announcements and Calendar

• Schedule end of term:
Executive Vice Dean Joe Petricca announced that regularly scheduled classes would end May 11 with Commencement to take place on Wednesday June 6th. He said that meetings on Continuation, Thesis Presentations and a number of other issues would take place between those two dates.

Master-Filmmaker-in-Residence Gill Dennis asked that all new mentors attend the Thesis Presentations and Dean Robert Mandel added that Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence Donn Cambern had requested an orientation meeting for all mentors prior to the Presentations. Mandel said that two of the new mentors would only be faculty for the next two semesters and should consequently receive only the most prepared thesis projects scheduled to finish first.

Petricca noted that Faculty Evaluations had begun the week prior and would continue through the last week of term.

• Admissions
Admissions Manager Scott Hardman announced that the incoming class and alternate list for 2007 had been selected. He said that he was in the process of confirming their enrollment with a $1000 deposit due by May 9 and that welcome packets were being prepared.

Hardman said that he was working on a press release with Communications Director Alison Deknatel for the Production Design Showcase slated for exhibition on the Sound Stage May 30th through June 7th/8th.

Petricca said that registration would take place on August 23rd.

Associate Dean and Director of Production Services Betsy Pollock and discipline head (PRO) Neil Canton said that the Producing program had not closed admissions adding that the “11th hour” often yielded strong applicants.

• Handbook changes/policies
Petricca reminded the discipline heads to email or forward any suggestions or revisions for the Handbooks. He said that an email would be sent to all faculty members doing the same.

II. Dean’s Office

• Reception for incoming Fellows
Mandel announced that a reception for incoming Fellows would be held in late summer and that Opening Day would be moved closer to registration, with firm dates TBD.

• Marketing campaign for thesis films
Mandel said that the Production Handbook should be updated to reflect the policy that Producers have the deciding vote with regard to thesis marketing campaigns, press kits etc.

• Fall classes & changes to electives
Mandel said that he was currently in talks with Canton about the Producing Program. He said that there should be stricter consequences for absences and missed work and asked that the faculty assess the demands of curriculum, scheduling and physical production to ensure that Fellows are afforded the time to attend class. He said that this is particularly pertinent for Screenwriting and Producing given their heavy workloads.

III. Fellow Matters – D. Harrich, D. Casey

No Fellow reps were present.

IV. Administrative and Discipline Updates – Department Heads

(Mandel proposed an open forum.)

Discipline head (PRO DES) Joseph Garrity requested an increase in the number of computers and drafting tables for Production Design Fellows, citing the swell in number posed by the incoming class. Mandel suggested that real demand be assessed in the Fall given what he perceives to be poor attendance at present and cited faculty member Sandi Berg’s class as an example.

Vice Dean of Fellow Affairs Sheila Sullivan said that Berg had in fact split her class into three groups that met tri-weekly in an effort to encourage better attendance and smaller class size.

Registrar Lynn Mazzuchi said that at the recent WASC conference she had attended a seminar focused on providing a rubric from the onset so that there is no ambiguity as to what is expected of them.

Mandel agreed but added that the Conservatory’s attrition rate is such that it cannot afford to be too strict.

Dennis said that grades and graduation are not Fellows’ main concerns because they are first and foremost artists. He said that long hours of production cause poor class attendance.

Mazzuchi called AFI a “24/7 education” and stated that according to her research, AFI demands more contact hours than any other institution.

Canton agreed and said that many Second Year Producers work on two thesis films and are consequently excused from class.

Sullivan suggested that credit be given to Fellows for physical production hours to avoid the fatigue and disgruntlement associated with First Year Fellows, particularly Producers.

Canton added that the recent increase in Producing classes was intended to act as an incentive for Producers to return in the Second Year, rather than accept an internship or job after the First Year, but that perhaps too much is expected of them.

Mazzuchi said that disciplines should meet separately to discuss and fine-tune their curriculum.

Vice Dean of Production & Post-Production and discipline head (EDT) Phil Linson suggested that First Term thesis projects also use the summer term to ensure that the teams are prepared to go out, citing the extremely busy period that the Sony Center experiences this time each year. He added that concurrent classes and physical production makes for problems. He said that mentor meetings and team meetings compound the already large demand on Fellows.

Mazzuchi said making HLMS bi-weekly as opposed to weekly would be helpful.

In discussing Fellows Affairs, Sullivan said that Fellows had taken to the practice of “ratting each other out” of late and cited the example of an Editing Fellow that felt another Editor should be reprimanded for failing to “pull their weight.” She said that this reinforced the notion that Fellows themselves want AFI to establish clear standards and adopt a parental regard.

Linson said that Fellows should direct their energy and anger elsewhere - not concern themselves with the business of others.

Mandel said that the Fellows had suggested adding a TV drama summer class but he was hesitant to oblige given the poor attendance in existing classes. Mandel said that a sense of entitlement is pervasive among all disciplines and that Fellows should come to terms with the fact that there is competition both inside and outside of school. He added that AFI should take pride in its accomplishments and be less defensive.

Linson suggested that the Conservatory offer a comprehensive orientation for incoming students and for Second Years in the hopes of staving off future confusion surrounding curriculum demands and obligations.

Petricca thanked the committee for attending and adjourned the meeting.




Email to a Friend


Site Map

Copyright 2010 American Film Institute. All Rights Reserved.