Produce or Perish! | USC School of Cinema & Television CNTV589

UPDATE: Since this post went up, the class has come and gone. But we did build a pretty snazzy website about film and TV producing. If you want to vist, please CLICK HERE.

Exactly one month from now, on August 21, I may hear two words that will strike fear into my heart in a way that few words really can. Do you want to know what they are? Lean closer, I don't want to say them too loudly.

Professor Zabel?

Damn, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to hear that without totally and completely freaking out. It bothers me when people call me Mr. Zabel even.

Here's the deal. I'm actually going to be teaching a class at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema & Television. It's called "Produce or Perish!" and it's graduate level, known in the student catalogue as CNTV 589. We start August 21st and go every Monday night from 7:00p-10:00p through November 27.

Like everybody who's actually making a living at screenwriting in this town, my first response when asked was to be very leery about teaching a class because we all know that phrase: "Those that can't do, teach." On the other hand, I come from a family of teachers and it's in my blood. Besides, I'm secure about my credits, and if people with credits don't give back, that's a shame. Also, if you're going to teach anywhere, doing it at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema and Television is the place to do it. So, those are my rationalizations, and I'm sticking with them.

A producer is the driving force behind most media product being created today, including both studio and independent films, TV series, reality shows, videogames, cell-phone downloads and other emerging technologies.  The class will discuss what a producer does that is common in all formats, and define unique responsibilities in specific new forms of entertainment production.

Producing is about showing up and being involved and so, in this class, both attendance and participation will be weighted more heavily than in other classes.  Participation requires attendance, active listening and contributions to discussions. Students are expected, for examples, to have questions for guest speakers and to get engaged in discussion.

I pulled out my rolodex (okay, it's not a rolodex but my iMac "address book") and started calling and have lined up some great guests so far. They include:

• Marshall Herskovitz, President, Producers Guild of America
• Patric Verrone, President, Writers Guild of America
• John Landgraf, President, F/X Network
• David Gerber, Producer, "Flight 93"
• Jim Parriott, Executive Producer, "Grey's Anatomy"
• Steven Friedlander, Executive VP Distribution, Warner Independent Films
• Don Most, Producer/Actor, "Happy Days" now directing Indie Films
• David Hendler, CFO Sony Pictures & Television
• Gregg Fienberg, Executive Producer, "Deadwood"
• Eric Schotz, President, LMNO Productions
• Daniel Tibbets, Executive VP, Go-TV
• Rob Silverstein, Executive Producer, "Access Hollywood"
• Dave LaFountaine, Senior VP Advertising & Promotion, Paramount Pictures
• Peter Benedek, Partner, United Talent Agency
• Leigh Brecheen, Entertainment Attorney, Bloom Hergott Diemer & Cook

Truth is, with guests like these, I'm probably apt to learn as much as I teach. I'm taking the class over from Gary Randall who's off shooting a movie. We had lunch together recently and he told me how rewarding he thought it was. He also told me that he had his wife, who's a sixth grade teacher, grade some of the papers for grammar and she flunked everybody.

One thing I'll be doing for the students is using this blog as a place where they can get class information, starting with this post. Also, after each Monday's class, I'll write a short blurb explaining what the guest had to say. Or, maybe, I'll have one of the students do it... yeah... that's the ticket... because, after all, that's why I called the class...

Produce or Perish!

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