Experience weekly video lessons taught by industry professionals as well as weekly video chats with your classmates. Gain valuable insight and build personal relationships with other working professionals.
You won’t find anything like the Act One Producing & Entertainment Executive Program anywhere else in the world. Our program is unique. Our program is deep. Our program is career and life-changing.
You can go to film school. You can learn how to shoot, edit and cast a film. You can spend four years learning all that the books have to offer you regarding film. That doesn’t guarantee a career. You still need the nuts and bolts, the business and the ethics, the creative developments and the insights into how to make things happen in the industry.
You will only find that here. During the 10-month course, we offer:
These practical offerings will help you get ahead in your career. But the cherry on top, the crem-de-la-creme is the community you will join. As an Act One alum, you become a part of a vibrant, supportive, family of artists in Hollywood and the world. This tribe you will join is filled with Christ-loving, Bible-believing people, bent on making a difference in secular entertainment (and Christian entertainment too).
So, to give you a synopsis of everything we just said, we offer a comprehensive overview of the industry, access to established Hollywood professionals and a working knowledge of practical industry skills.
Come and learn how to excel at your craft, deepen your faith and connect to an authentic community of Christians pursuing careers in the mainstream entertainment industry
Dive right in, as this summer program is the foundation for launching your career.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Over the 10 months, producing basics (budgets, script coverage, development, finance, and more) will be taught online. The 10 months include:
- 60+ Hours of Video-based Instruction
- Bi-Weekly video chats with classmates
- Monthly touchpoint with a production mentor
- Bi-monthly meetups and Q&A’s with filmmakers
- Reading assignments
DATES
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- The new program begins in January 2023
APPLICATION DEADLINES
- Early Bird Deadline: September 1st, 2022 ($100 off tuition)
- Regular Deadline: November 1st, 2022
- Class begins: January 2023
REQUIREMENTS
1. RESUME: A current professional resume.
2. PERSONAL STATEMENT: No more than 3 pages detailing the following:
Briefly describe your spiritual journey and your belief in Jesus Christ.
Why do you, as a Christian, want to work in the entertainment business? In what capacity do you see yourself most effective and passionate, and why?
Cite examples of movies or TV shows that are most like what you aspire to help create, and tell us why.
What do you hope to learn from the Producing Program and what are your plans upon completion of the Producing Program?
3. REFERENCE LETTERS: please upload two professional reference letters. Any questions about your application can be directed to information@actoneprogram.com.
4. INTERVIEW: Once you have submitted your online application, we will contact you to set up a time for an interview (via Zoom) with an Act One staff member. The interview will be casual in nature and will take less than 30 minutes. The goal of the interview is to get to know you as a potential student.
COST
APPLICATION FEE: $50.00
COURSE FEE: $3,500.00*
*Deposit of 50% of the tuition cost is required upon acceptance into the program to hold your spot. The remainder of the tuition balance MUST be paid before the first day of classes.
APPLY FOR PRODUCING PROGRAM.
SAMPLE COURSE SCHEDULE
Week One
Lesson 1: Servant Leadership
Lesson 2: Demystifying the Production Process from IP to Distribution
Lesson 3: Optioning Material
Week Two
Lesson 4: The Spiritual History of Hollywood
Lesson 5: Giving Notes to Writers
Lesson 6: Script Coverage
Week Three
Lesson 7: Negotiating Entertainment Contracts
Lesson 8: Loglines & Pitching
Lesson 9: Seven Major Principles & Practices of the Most Successful Producers
Week Four
Lesson 10: Production Workflow Overview
Lesson 11: Agents & Managers
Lesson 12: Line Producing
Week Five
Lesson 13: Production Coordinating
Lesson 14: Finding and Developing Material
Lesson 15: Development: Heaven or Hell?
Week Six
Lesson 16: Producing for Television
Lesson 17: Funding your Projects
Lesson 18: Producing for Commercials, Music Videos and Short Films
Week Seven
Lesson 19: Leading & Navigating the Chaos of TV
Lesson 20: VFX Workflow
Lesson 21: Post-Production Workflow
Week Eight
Lesson 22: Producing Reality/Non-Scripted TV
Lesson 23: Business Ethics
Lesson 24: Domestic Distribution and Foreign Sales
Week Nine
Lesson 25: Transmedia
Lesson 26: Faith, Media & Culture
Lesson 27: Sprucing Up Your Industry Resume & LinkedIn Profile
Week Ten
Lesson 28: Hollywood as a Mission Field
Lesson 29: Industry Trends
Lesson 30: The Next Steps
Producing & Entertainment Executive Faculty
[Subject To Availability]
Quinton Peeples
Producer
Quinton Peeples is an Executive producer/TV writer; WGA member who most recently served as a co-executive producer for Marvel
Dallas Jenkins
Writer/Producer
Dallas Jenkins is an American film and television director, writer and film producer.
He made his directing debut with the
Beverly Holloway
Casting Director
Beverly Holloway has been an independent Casting Director for TV and feature film for over 25 years and is proud to be a memb
Gabe Vasquez
Writer/Producer
Gabe Vasquez is a writer and producer as well as the Founder and President of Vasquez Entertainment. Vasquez has spent the la
Honnie Korngold
Producer
Honnie Korngold is a film and television producer.
She is also the founder of CineVantage Productions, a film and televisi
Stacey Carr
Independent Consultant
Stacey Carr is currently an independent consultant coaching producers, production companies and talent through the creative p
Raymond Tambe
Attorney
Raymond Tambe is an attorney in Ziffren Brittenham LLP’s film and television group.
Raymond represents actors, writers,
Sam Curphey
Entertainment Attorney
Sam Curphey is a Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney.
He represents producers, writers, directors, actors, rights hol
Jennifer Irons
Writer/Agent
Jennifer Irons is a writer turned talent agent who studied at Act One in Los Angeles, California.
Jennifer was named one o
Brian Ivie
Filmmaker/Producer
Brian Tetsuro Ivie is an American filmmaker, documentarian, and film producer.
He is most well known for his documentary f
Houston Howard
Producer
Houston is an entrepreneur, creator, producer, professor, author, speaker and thought-leader in the space of multiplatform, t
Brian Bird
Producer
Brian Bird is co-creator and executive producer of the top-rated Hallmark Channel series WHEN CALLS THE HEART, in partnership
Ann Blanchard
Agent
Ann Develin Blanchard is an Agent in the TV Literary and Packaging department at leading entertainment and sports agency Crea
Ann Marie Gillen
Producer/Consultant
Anne Marie Gillen is an independent producer, consultant, lecturer, and corporate/executive coach who is extensively experien
Terry Botwick
Entertainment Executive
He served as President of Vanguard Films & Animation, which produced animated films distributed by Fox and later as Presi
Nick Moceri
Producer
Nick Moceri is the founder of All Night Diner and co-founder of Donut Media.
He teaches digital producing at UCLA, in the
Megan Mascena
Producer
Finding her niche in Post Production, she was recently the Post Producer on the Disney+ reboot Doogie Kamealoha,M.D.
In Ne
Darren Moorman
Producer
Darren Moorman is a seasoned producer and the head of Reserve Entertainment. He has worked with studios that include MGM, Lio
John Shepherd
Producer
John Shepherd is a 25-year veteran of indie & studio film. He consults for several film funds including Starlings Capital
Dean Batali
Writer/Producer
Dean Batali is a producer and writer, known for That '70s Show (1998), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) and Good Witch (2015).
Justin Bell
Producer
Justin Bell is a film, television, and commercial producer based in L.A., and a graduate of the Peter Stark Producing Program
Ralph Winter
Producer
Ralph Winter is an American film producer who has helped to produce blockbuster movies such as the X-Men, Fantastic Four and
Karen Covell
Producer
Founding Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) and Co-Founder and Producer for JC Productions, an independent film a
Marco Shepherd
SVP, Centropolis Entertainment
Marco Shepherd is the SVP of Production and Development at Centropolis Entertainment, overseeing all aspects of development,
Dan Lin
CEO/Producer
Dan is the CEO and Head Wrangler of Rideback, the film and television company known for producing tentpole live-action and an
Christian Lee Storm
Producer
Christina Lee Storm is the Manager of Virtual Production at Netflix.
Prior to her role at Netflix, she served as Vice Pres
Spencer Folmar
Director/Producer
Director & Producer Spencer T. Folmar's theatrical debut, "Generational Sins," has spurred a national debate surrounding
Johnathan Graham
VP, Mastermedia
Jonathan Graham is Vice President, East Coast of Mastermedia overseeing different areas of ministry in the New York City area
Charles (Chuck) Slocum
Writer's Guild of America - West
Charles Slocum is an assistant executive director of the Writers Guild of America West.
He has worked previously at Paramo
Act One is a positive answer for the development of filmmakers who will impact the spiritual, moral, and patriotic values of America.
Lloyd J. Olgivie
Chaplain Emeritus, United States Senate
The Producing & Entertainment Executive Program was the ideal next step in advancing my career. It perfectly mixed the practical and theoretical – with great lectures and seminars complementing and augmenting real-world, industry internships. It challenged me creatively and intellectually, all while fostering amazing fellowship to the larger Act One community.
Terence Berry
Act One graduate, Producer, That Evening Sun
The increasing quality of the entertainment professionals Act One recruits as faculty and the rising preparedness of their students each year testifies to the quality and wisdom of the program’s design
Charles B. Slocum
Asst. Executive Director, WGA West
The Act One Producing Program offers its students a unique and one-of-a-kind learning experience that prepares them for the business of show business in order for them to be successful in manifesting their spirituality within media.
Anne Marie Gillen
Producer, Fried Green Tomatoes, Under Suspicion, Into Temptation
It has changed my spiritual and technical vision. It has shown me how to improve my skills as a storyteller. Christian writers must enroll in Act One if they are looking for direction and structure.
Poliana A.
Alumna
A wonderful concoction of knowledgeable speakers, prayerful team leaders, and dedicated participants. A top-notch group of kind-hearted and world-successful individuals who welcomed us and truly want us to thrive.
Erika T.
Alumna
Act One has made a difference. I have tools to improve my writing, friends that love Jesus in the industry, and a far better understanding of the climate I am attempting to be a part of. Act One is packed with professionals that take their craft seriously and clearly hope to inspire other Christians to do the same.
Dave B.
Alumnus
Act One is a huge blessing, both professionally and spiritually. The mentors and speakers are filled not only with wisdom about their craft and the industry but also with compassion for their students. This program really is the perfect place to hone your writing and producing skills for the glory of God and to build a life-long community of believers and fellow writers.
Zach V.
Alumnus
Act One is developing a generation of screenwriters who are going to greatly impact our society, by demanding that writers be as concerned about the artistic and moral quality of their scripts as they are about ratings and box office.
Dean Batali
Writer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Executive Producer, That ‘70s Show
Act One provides not only a serious investigation into the art and craft of screenwriting, but also a challenge to think deeply about the content.
Scott Derrickson
Director, Doctor Strange
The Act One Writing Program did more for me in 10 weeks than four years of college was ever able to get me.
Nicholas C.
Alumnus
Every good production starts with the writer. Writers who are interested in the craft of writing start with Act One.
Ralph Winter
Producer, The Promise, X-Men 2, The Giver
Act One is affirmative action for Christian writers…
L.A. Times
More than anything, the community of Act One has encouraged me to keep going in this city. The stories they share have been invaluable. I’m really thankful to have found a group of like-minded people who are also excellent at what they do.
Hannah C.
Alumna