Introduction to Production Techniques                      Drama 1320
Fall 2007
9:55-11:10 TR 
  
Tim Francis RTT 226
999-8586 tfrancis@trinity.edu
Web Page: http://www.trinity.edu/tfrancis

Office hours are by appointment.

TEXT:
The Backstage Handbook               by Paul Carter

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:
The purpose of Drama 1320 is to introduce the student to the vast variety of items, skills, and materials that
are employed during the mounting of a theatrical production. Theatre is a collaborative effort. We will
demonstrate how "these back stage skills" fit into the collaboration of artists and crafts people that is
necessary to present a play. This goal will be pursued through readings, lectures, demonstrations, activities
and projects.

This is a very "hands-on" class. The student will have the opportunity to use and experiment with some of the
materials and techniques discussed in the lectures and exhibited in class demonstrations.

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE:
http://www.trinity.edu/departments/academic_affairs/honor_code/
All students are covered by a policy that prohibits dishonesty in academic work.  The Academic Integrity
Policy (AIP) covers all students who entered Trinity before the fall of 2004.   The Academic Honor Code
covers all those who entered the fall of 2004 or later. The Integrity Policy and the Code share many features: 
each asserts that the academic community is based on honesty and trust; each contains the same violations;
each provides for a procedure to determine if a violation has occurred and what the punishment will be;
each provides for an appeal process. The main difference is that the faculty implements the AIP while the
Code is implemented by the Academic Honor Council.   Under the Integrity Policy, the faculty member
determines whether a violation has occurred as well as the punishment for the violation (if any) within certain guidelines. Under the Code, a faculty member will (or a student may) report an alleged violation to the
Academic Honor Council.  It is the task of the Council to investigate, adjudicate, and assign a punishment
within certain guidelines if a violation has been verified. Students who are under the Honor Code are required
to pledge all written work that is submitted for a grade:  “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this work” and their signature.  The pledge may be abbreviated “pledged” with a signature.

ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments are due during class on the date specified. Late projects will not be accepted unless you have
negotiated with me beforehand and, usually, such projects will be penalized 15%. Late projects will never be
accepted as a matter of course. All assignments must be completed in order to satisfy the course requirements.

CONSTRUCTION CREW: I fully believe that one of the best ways to learn about the art and craft of theater
 is to participate in the process of creating theater. Students are required to work a minimum of 15 hours in the Scenic Studio on Department of Speech and Drama Productions.   This hands-on experience will provide the student with valuable insight into the complex process involved in mount a production.
The Scenic Studio is open from 2:30-5:30 M-F. A sign up sheet is posted on the Scenic Studio door (RTT 126).   Students must have completed a minimum of 10 studio hours by November 9th or they will receive a 20-point reduction in their grade even if they complete 15 hours by the end of the semester. Students completing all 15 hours by November 9th will receive a 20-point bonus.   The reason for this is to encourage participation in the production process before both shows have opened.

GRADING:
The students' grade will be based on the number of points received out of a possible 1000 points. 
The points possible are as follows:

SCALE of GRADES:

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Successful theatrical productions require that many people need to show up on time and do their job.  
I hold this commitment in the highest regard.  If you show up to this class on time and do your job, you should
do well in the course. 
If you choose to miss class: An excess of 2 absences will result in the reduction of your final point
total by 25 points per absence.