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The Big Picture: Production Planning for Features & Television

March 24, 2018

A Western AD/UPM Council Education Committee Workshop

For two weekends in March, DGA AD/UPM members received valuable information during the training workshop, The Big Picture: Production Planning for Features and Television. Held in the atrium of the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters, the immersive course that began on March 10 and ended on March 25, was designed to enhance and develop film production knowledge and management skills of working Assistant Directors and Production Managers.

This was the third annual workshop hosted by the Western AD/UPM Council Education Committee and taught by UPMs Marie Cantin (Dante’s Peak, Collateral) and Brian Frankish (King Kong, Field of Dreams), with 2nd AD Redelia Shaw (Scandal, House of Lies) joining as co-instructor. This year the sessions also offered the knowledge of UPM Susan Zwerman (Vamps, The Guardian) and 1st AD Bob Lewis (The '70s, Sabrina The Teenage Witch) as well as input from guest speakers who specialize in various aspects of film production.

The attendees were selected by lottery as the class size was limited. They were required to already possess some working experience with scheduling and/or budgeting and to have read the instructor-provided script prior to the session. The instructors then led them through the ins and outs of the process via demonstrations, hands-on computer work and group exercises. Utilizing the sample script, the participants worked in teams to create a production plan that included critical assumptions, a shooting schedule and a budget that considered related topics such as: tax incentives, union agreements and risk management. The goal of the course was to help the participants acquire a strong foundation in the production planning skills they need to further advance their professional careers.

About the Instructors:

UPM Marie Cantin
As a UPM, Producer and Educator, Cantin is experienced in both independent and studio film and television. Some of her feature film credits include Roger Donaldson’s Dante’s Peak, Michael Mann’s Collateral, Shawn Levy’s Big Fat Liar, John Fortenberry's A Night at the Roxbury, Thomas Carter’s Save the Last Dance, Michael Miner’s The Book of Stars and Neal Jimenez & Michael Steinberg’s The Waterdance. A DGA member since 1988, Cantin is the former Chair of the Western AD/UPM Council, and was the recipient of the 2017 Frank Capra Achievement Award.

 

UPM Brian Frankish
Frankish is a Producer/UPM with over 30-years of experience in film and television. Some of his credits include features such as Phil Alden Robinson’s Field of Dreams, Irwin Winkler’s The Net, John Guillermin’s King Kong, Rob Minkoff’s Stuart Little, Jon Avnet’s Righteous Kill, and the television series Max Headroom. A DGA member since 1975, Frankish serves as an alternate on the Western AD/UPM Council, and is the Co-Chair of the Council’s VFX/Digital Technology Committee.
 

2nd AD Redelia Shaw
Shaw heads the Digital Media Production program at Santa Monica College. Some of her credits include producing short films such as Anya Adams’ Lemonade Mafia and Monique Carmona's Forgive Me, and co-producing Violeta Ayala’s documentary Cocaine Prison. Her 2nd AD credits include series such as Scandal, Body of Proof and House of Lies. A DGA member since 2012, Shaw serves as a member of the Western AD/UPM Council Education Committee and the DGA African American Steering Committee.
About the Committee:

The Western AD/UPM Council’s Education Committee works to assist and inspire DGA members in achieving their professional goals through continuing education in a dynamic industry. The Committee is co-chaired by: Phillip Goldfarb, Cleve Landsberg and Jennie O’Keefe. The members are: David Bernstein, Michael Beugg, Lee Blaine, Marie Cantin, Kevin Collins, Clark Credle, Alan Curtiss, Peter Dress, Elaine Dysinger, Grant Engle, Buddy Enright, Brian Frankish, Mark Hansson, Victor Hsu, Mark Indig, Janet Knutsen, Bob Lewis, Rusty Mahmood, David McWhirter, Linda Montanti, Marc Newland, Lucille OuYang, Jaysene Overton, Michele Panelli-Venetis, Shawn Pipkin-West, Richard Prince, Liz Ryan, Traceigh Scottel, Redelia Shaw, Dwight Williams and Sally Young.

Pictures

photos by Elisa Haber

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