Act One wants to support emerging filmmakers all over the world. So we are making it possible to experience our famed program from the comfort of your home – online.

 

 

Our program is designed for working professionals with busy schedules. Experience weekly online lessons taught by industry professionals as well as weekly video chats with your classmates. Gain valuable insight and build personal relationships with accomplished filmmakers.

You won’t find anything like the Act One Producing & Entertainment Executive Program anywhere else in the world. Our unique program is more affordable than other programs and completed in significantly less time. Our program is a career and life-changer!

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. To be a producer or creative executive, you must learn how to identify a great story and then how to make that story into a great film or television show.

 

You will only find that here. During the 16-week course, we offer:

1

Intensive lectures, taught by industry pros
2

Intimate discussions and Q&A’s with writers, directors, producers, agents and more—and they are available only to you
3

A comprehensive overview of everything you will need to know day one on the job
4

A curriculum that includes creative development, financing, pre-production, production, marketing, distribution, and exhibition

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 our program is the foundation for launching your career.

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Over the 16 weeks, producing basics (budgets, script coverage, development, finance, and more)  will be taught online. The 16 weeks include:

  • 70+ hours of online instruction
  • Industry internship (when available)
  • Week-long trip to the Sundance Film Festival
  • Video chats with classmates & faculty
  • Screening films & shows
  • Reading assignments

DATES

    • September 7th, 2024-January 25th, 2025 (16 weeks)

APPLICATION DEADLINES

  • Early Bird Deadline: June 1st, 2024 ($100 off tuition)
  • Regular Deadline:  August 15th, 2024
  • Late Deadline: September 1st, 2024
  • Class begins: Saturday, September 7th, 2024

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: $4,499.00*

*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 by October 1st, 2024.
APPLY FOR PRODUCING PROGRAM.

SAMPLE COURSE SCHEDULE

Week One

Lesson 1: Servant Leadership
Lesson 2: Demystifying the Production Process from IP to Distribution

Week Two

Lesson 3: Optioning Material
Lesson 4: The Spiritual History of Hollywood

Week Three

Lesson 5: Giving Notes to Writers
Lesson 6: Script Coverage

Week Four

Lesson 7: Negotiating Entertainment Contracts
Lesson 8: Loglines & Pitching

Week Five

Lesson 9: Seven Major Principles & Practices of the Most Successful Producers
Lesson 10: Finding and Developing Material

Week Six

Lesson 11: Production Workflow
Lesson 12: Line Producing

Week Seven

Lesson 13: Creating a Production Schedule
Lesson 14: Creating a Production Budget

Week Eight

Lesson 15: Production Coordinating
Lesson 16: Agents & Managers

Week Nine

Lesson 17: Development Heaven or Hell?
Lesson 18: Producing for Television

Week Ten

Lesson 19: Funding your Projects
Lesson 20: Producing for Commercials, Music Videos and Short Films

Week Eleven

Lesson 21: Leading & Navigating the Chaos of TV
Lesson 22: VFX Workflow

Week Twelve

Lesson 23: Post-Production Workflow
Lesson 24: Producing Reality/Non-Scripted TV

Week Thirteen

Lesson 25: Business Ethics
Lesson 26: Domestic Distribution and Foreign Sales

Week Fourteen

Lesson 27: Transmedia
Lesson 28: Faith, Media & Culture

Week Fifteen

Lesson 29: Sprucing Up Your Industry Resume & LinkedIn Profile
Lesson 30: Hollywood as a Mission Field

Week Sixteen

*Sundance Film Festival

Producing & Entertainment Executive Faculty

[Subject To Availability]

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...

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...

Honnie Korngold

Producer

Honnie Korngold is a film and television producer.

She is also the founder of CineVantage Productions, a film and televisi...

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...

Jonathan Graham

VP, Mastermedia

Jonathan Graham is Vice President, East Coast of Mastermedia overseeing different areas of ministry in the New York City area...

Karen Covell

Producer

Founding Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) and Co-Founder and Producer for JC Productions, an independent film a...

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).

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 ...

Darren Moorman

Producer

Darren Moorman is a seasoned producer and the head of Reserve Entertainment. He has worked with studios that include MGM, Lio...

Houston Howard

Producer

Houston is an entrepreneur, creator, producer, professor, author, speaker and thought-leader in the space of multiplatform, t...

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...

Brian Ivie

Filmmaker/Producer

Brian Tetsuro Ivie is an American filmmaker, documentarian, and film producer.

He is most well known for his documentary f...

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...

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...

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...

Ann Marie Gillen

Producer/Consultant

Anne Marie Gillen is an independent producer, consultant, lecturer, and corporate/executive coach who is extensively experien...

Brian Bird

Producer

Brian Bird is co-creator and executive producer of the top-rated Hallmark Channel series WHEN CALLS THE HEART, in partnership...

Marco Shepherd

SVP, Centropolis Entertainment

Marco Shepherd is the SVP of Production and Development at Centropolis Entertainment, overseeing all aspects of development, ...

Spencer Folmar

Director/Producer

Director & Producer Spencer T. Folmar's theatrical debut, "Generational Sins," has spurred a national debate surrounding ...

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 ...

Dallas Jenkins

Writer/Producer

Dallas Jenkins is an American film and television director, writer and film producer.

He made his directing debut with the...

Sam Curphey

Entertainment Attorney

Sam Curphey is a Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney.

He represents producers, writers, directors, actors, rights hol...

Stacey Carr

Independent Consultant

Stacey Carr is currently an independent consultant coaching producers, production companies and talent through the creative p...

Terry Botwick

Entertainment Executive

He served as President of Vanguard Films & Animation, which produced animated films distributed by Fox and later as Presi...

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...

Quinton Peeples

Producer

Quinton Peeples is an Executive producer/TV writer; WGA member who most recently served as a co-executive producer for Marvel...

John Shepherd

Producer

John Shepherd is a 25-year veteran of indie & studio film. He consults for several film funds including Starlings Capital...

Ann Blanchard

Agent

Ann Develin Blanchard is an Agent in the TV Literary and Packaging department at leading entertainment and sports agency Crea...

Raymond Tambe

Attorney

Raymond Tambe is an attorney in Ziffren Brittenham LLP’s film and television group.

Raymond represents actors, writers, di...

Act One is a positive answer for the development of filmmakers who will impact the spiritual, moral, and patriotic values of America.

Lloyd J. Ogilvie

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