Grades 8 to 12 CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS English-Language Arts Content Standards Grades 8-12; Writing: Focus Standard 1.0 Writing Strategies 8 1.4, 1.6; 9-10 1.5, 1.9; 11-12 1.1, 1.9 Focus Standard 2.0 Writing Applications 8 12-2.5 DURATION INTO SEGMENT: Teacher s Discretion (1-2 Days) THROUGH SEGMENT: Universal Studios Hollywood visit (1 Day) BEYOND SEGMENT: Teacher s Discretion (1-2 Days) OBJECTIVE Student research and prepare a mock resume for a career in the entertainment industry. PROPS NEEDED Materials: Career Profile Activity Sheet page 3 Career Profiles Universal Studios Hollywood Activity Sheet page 4 Studio Departments Activity Sheet page 5 PREPRODUCTION Building A Resume INTO ACTIVITY Students view a sample resume. Discuss each section of the resume, and the necessity for a brief, precise presentation of employment information. A suggested resume format is shown on the Career Profile Activity page 3. Students review the Universal Studios Hollywood Career Profiles Information Sheet page 4, relating to careers in the entertainment industry. Note the training required, previous job experience, related positions held and studies needed to develop skills for these careers. Students select an interesting career to research and construct their own mock resume. PG PG 1 1of of 5 1
Continued... Grades 8 to 12 AND ACTION THROUGH ACTIVITY At Universal Studios Hollywood SM Students visit attractions and performances illustrating the career chosen for research. Students note examples of the performances, special effects, sound effects and related aspects to the career selected. Classroom Assignment Students reread the Career Profiles at Universal Studios Hollywood page 4 and review the sample resume. Using the research collected on the field trip to Universal Studios, students construct a mock resume for their selected career. Each resume is submitted for approval by the employer (teacher). IT S A WRAP BEYOND ACTIVITY Students research other careers in the entertainment industry. In addition, students research schools and universities with curriculum directed toward this industry. Collect brochures on college requirement information courses of study and majors relating to the entertainment field. Students organize an educational and work experience plan to prepare for a career in the entertainment industry. Students create a photographic portfolio of examples of their entertainment career selected using photos taken at Universal Studios Hollywood. Students submit this portfolio to the teacher along with their mock resume. ASSESS STUDENTS Measure your students understanding of the subject. Suggested Methods: Questions & Answers among the students. Students write a paragraph describing their trip, written test, verbal report, team assessment report. CRITIC S TABLE EVALUATION Review and evaluate your students success in meeting the objectives for this lesson. BONUS MATERIALS Select different industries and have students outline the various careers available within each one. PG PG 2 2 of of 5 5
CAREER PROFILE ACTIVITY Name Address City, State Zip Code Area Code and Phone Number Career Objective: Sample Mock Resume State your overall career goal(s). One sentence or two only. Job Experience: Work related to career goals. Job experience is presented with the most current work first; example: 2004 Stunt person, Universal Studios Hollywood Waterworld Stunt Show Universal City, CA 2003 Horseback riding instructor, Local Stables Chatsworth, CA List work related to the job for which you are applying. Also include positions you have held that reinforce your reliability, experience and responsibility. Include unpaid jobs or apprentice positions you have completed that relate to your career goals. This section should contain an extensive, quick reading overall description of your job experience to date. Education and Training: List universities you have attended, as well as academies, schools, workshops and any private tutoring. PG 3 of 5
CAREER PROFILES UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Special Effects Coordinator The special effects coordinator uses realism to create an illusion. Special effects personnel work with explosives, models, pyrotechnics, lighting, and computer-enhanced imagery. Special effects coordinators should have a technological background with computer knowledge and programming. In addition, coordinators need an education in theater arts and a two year training course conducted by the State of California concerning the use of pyrotechnics. Sound Stage Manager The sound stage manager is responsible for the sound effects presented during live performances. The sound stage manager produces sound effects that enhance existing sounds or creates new ones for a scene. During live performances, the stage manager mics actors, plays recorded sound effects, and uses a keyboard to establish a clear sound level. The keyboard also produces other sounds such as drums, chimes, blasts, horns, etc. Sound stage managers require at least three years experience working at recording studios, sound companies, or apprentice positions with other sound stage managers. Working with sound equipment used by a band or recording studio is excellent reparation for a sound stage manager. Make-up and Hair Styling Artist Make-up and hair styling artists need to take courses at specific technical colleges. Schools such as the West Valley Occupational College have courses, apprentice programs, and placement departments for this career objective. This career also requires an interest in theater arts and drama. Working in high school and local college productions allows for experience in these areas of interest. Schools of cosmetology offer courses in make-up and hair styling. Future artists work without pay on university films in order to gain experience applying make-up for different mediums including film, television, stage and photography. Artists should study characters and learn how to apply make-up using the correct application for each medium. Furthermore, make-up and hair styling artists must read and evaluate scripts to develop a unique look for each character. Stunt Person Contrary to popular beliefs, stunt people are not dare-devils or thrill-seekers. Stunt people are highly organized, capable, safety-conscious people. They have good overall athletic ability, dramatic skills, and demanding stage presence. Stunt people excel in sports such as gymnastics, wrestling, diving and water sports, karate, kendo, horseback riding, and sword play. A semester of training in stage fighting is also required. Along with all the physical skills, a good stunt person should have a solid education. Listening and discipline are two essential skills needed to become a stunt person whose life and those of others on the set rely on these skills. Theater arts experience is helpful for dramatic readings. A stunt person calculates risks with a knowledge of safety measures and mimics moves needed for a particular effect. Stunt work requires a selfimposed training program involving body-building and a study of physiology. Finally, stunt work is not for show-offs! Performing Artist A working performing artist must have self-confidence and a high level of self-esteem. High school and college productions are good practice grounds for the performing artist. Training at universities, dance studios, drama classes, and with vocal coaches are important means to becoming a talented performing artist. Experience needed to advance this career includes working in reviews, commercials, videos, live shows, crew work, bands, student films and musical theater. Performing artists should be able to sight read music, research characters for parts, perform creative cold readings, and memorize lyrics, scripts, and dance steps. In addition, performing artists must have good reading and listening skills. Making audio and video tapes of your own performances is an excellent type of resume for this career. Most importantly, learn to accept criticism. PG 4 of 5
STUDIO DEPARTMENTS The following departments are actively involved in the making of a motion picture or television show through pre-production, production, and post-production phases. Story Responsible for locating and buying written material including scripts and story ideas. Materials are usually submitted through authorized literary agents for legal reasons. Research This department catalogs and files research material obtained from various sources. When working on a show set in another era or country, the Research Department provides material to the production to ensure accuracy of information (historical and otherwise). Casting A casting director analyzes a script for casting purposes while keeping in mind the allotted budget for talent. The casting director must be aware of the size of a particular role in proportion to the amount of money to be spent for a performer then make suggestions to the producer accordingly. Universal Casting is divided into Features and Television with one casting director assigned to a specific show. Production Art The Production Department is responsible for breaking down a script in terms of location, cost, time, and cast. From this breakdown, work orders issued to other departments and a shooting schedule is developed. The Art Department is responsible for all sets including the design, development, and dressing. Property The Property Department is responsible for interior and exterior set decorations and props. Greens Department The Greens Department is responsible for supplying and maintaining foliage such as trees, vines, plants and grass for soundstage, backlot, and locations sets. Electrical Furnishes all power to the studio and is responsible for preparing all electrical and lighting equipment on sets. Grip The Grip Department relies on skilled workers to erect sets, lights, and backings used on a stage. In addition, grips move cameras, shade lights with large screens called gobos, handle reflector boards and move stage walls. Camera The Camera Department is responsible for supplying and preparing all film, and special photographic equipment and materials. Special Effects The Special Effects Department is responsible for creating explosions, fires and mechanical effects. Wardrobe The Wardrobe Department is responsible for designing and building costumes. A costume designer reads a script and determines the different costumes that will be needed for each character. The costume designer then develops sketches of costumes, designates material to be used, and supervises the fitting and assembly of the costumes. Make-Up The Make-Up Department is responsible for the creation of special make-up effects and for the application of make-up. Sound The Sound Department is responsible for supplying recording equipment to the various productions. This department also supervises the editing of dialogue, sound effects and music. Marketing The Marketing Department is responsible for all aspects of selling a motion picture or television product including advertising, promotions and publicity. Editorial The major function of the Editorial Department is to combine all of the essentials necessary for the completion of a motion picture or television show which includes editing film or video tape, matching dialogue and adding music and sound effects. PG 5 of 5