Course 2010-2011 a.y.

Course Objectives

Attending the Laboratorio Cinema allows students to understand the different stages of the entire value-chain from conception to distribution of a motion picture. Students learn the logics governing the actions of main operators in the movie industry both in Italy, the US and Europe. Students understand the organizational logics behind their decisions. Finally students experiment concrete examples of their operations.

Course Content Summary

The course consists of lectures, guest speakers, class discussions, and interctive exercises. Useful handouts and valuable resources are available, students also experience role-playing simulations. The topics discussed are the following:

• economic relations in the value-chain
• the features of independent and major-productions
• marketing strategies in different European Countries
• licensing and merchandising
• the diffusion of multiplex cinemas
• the job market

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• Final written exam on course contents (lessons and  proofs) and about compulsory books
• Students will be examined also on a team-based activity. Students have to split up in small groups (with 4 to 6 people each), and propose the business plan and the promotion strategy of a film project, based on a novel, a remake or an original plot invented by the team members. All the project documents will have to be inspired by the different topics discussed in class during the course with professors and guest speakers. The outcome of the team-based activity is a written paper and a power point presentation.

Non attending students:

• Final written exam on compulsory books
• Non-attending students will be examined also on an individual activity. Students have to chose a preferred issue (among those discussed on the textbooks) to be analyzed, for instance through a case study, an empirical investigation (e.g., through the implementation of a questionnaire), a theoretical review, and so on. The outcome of such activity is an essay which will have to be sent by mail to the Teacher and the class tutor the day before the written exam.

Textbooks

• A set of readings and didactical materials will be uploaded on the course’s
  learning space.
  

For non attending students

• WASKO, How Hollywood Works, SAGE Pubblication;
• H. VOGEL, Entertainment Industry Economics, chapters I, III, IV and V, Cambridge University Press, 2007.