TV & Film Media
Teacher / Instructor: J. Harper
Film and TV Production Sequence: Complete 3-Year Curriculum Syllabus
Course Sequence: Film and TV Production I, II, & III
CIP Code: 50.0602.00 (Arizona CTE Film and TV Production)
Software Ecosystem: Adobe Creative Cloud (Express, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
CTSO Affiliate: SkillsUSA Arizona
Course Sequence: Film and TV Production I, II, & III
CIP Code: 50.0602.00 (Arizona CTE Film and TV Production)
Software Ecosystem: Adobe Creative Cloud (Express, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
CTSO Affiliate: SkillsUSA Arizona
Course Overview
Welcome to the Film & TV Production program at Window Rock High School! This three-year,
hands-on program transforms students from media consumers into powerful visual
storytellers. Whether your dream is to direct cinematic films or anchor a live broadcast, this
program gives you the skills to succeed.
Students learn in a professional environment using industry-standard tools like Adobe
Premiere Pro and Adobe Express. Through project-based learning, you will create original
short films, produce live school news and sports broadcasts, and build a digital portfolio.
By graduation, you can earn official Arizona state industry certification, giving you a
competitive edge for college and media careers.\
Grading Scale
Your final grade is calculated using a standard point system based on the following scale:
• A (90% – 100%): Exceptional mastery of cinematic concepts and flawless project execution.
• B (80% – 89%): Strong understanding of film techniques and high-quality creative work.
• C (70% – 79%): Standard comprehension of material and completion of basic requirements.
• D (60% – 69%): Developing skills with inconsistent engagement or incomplete criteria.
• F (Below 60%): Insufficient evidence of learning or missing coursework.
Industry Credentials & Adobe Certification Path
Students who successfully complete the full 3-year course sequence by their senior year will
be offered the opportunity to take the official Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) exams at
no cost. These are industry-recognized, resume-building certifications that prove technical
proficiency to future employers and colleges.
• A (90% – 100%): Exceptional mastery of cinematic concepts and flawless project execution.
• B (80% – 89%): Strong understanding of film techniques and high-quality creative work.
• C (70% – 79%): Standard comprehension of material and completion of basic requirements.
• D (60% – 69%): Developing skills with inconsistent engagement or incomplete criteria.
• F (Below 60%): Insufficient evidence of learning or missing coursework.
Industry Credentials & Adobe Certification Path
Students who successfully complete the full 3-year course sequence by their senior year will
be offered the opportunity to take the official Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) exams at
no cost. These are industry-recognized, resume-building certifications that prove technical
proficiency to future employers and colleges.
The program includes voucher funding and exam prep for:
• Adobe Certified Professional in Digital Video Using Adobe Premiere Pro (Tested in
Year 2/Year 3)
• Adobe Certified Professional in Creative Cloud Express (Tested in Year 1)
Classroom & Crew Policies (All Years)
Film and television production relies entirely on collaborative teamwork. To foster a
professional studio environment, students are expected to uphold the Arizona CTE
Workplace Employability Standards through the following policies:
Film and television production relies entirely on collaborative teamwork. To foster a
professional studio environment, students are expected to uphold the Arizona CTE
Workplace Employability Standards through the following policies:
1. Respect for Others' Time (Punctuality & Reliability):
o On Time is Late: In the entertainment industry, if you are late, you delay the
entire crew. Be in your seat or at your production station when the bell rings.
o Production Attendance: If you are absent on a filming day, you leave your crew
stranded without an actor, director, or crew member. Advance notice of
absences is required so your team can adjust their production schedule.
2. Respect for Others' Work (Collaboration & Care):
o File and Asset Management: Never delete, modify, or move another student's
footage, project files, or digital assets from the local drives or Adobe Creative
Cloud storage.
o Physical Setup Integrity: Treat your peers' physical project setups, sets, prop
placements, and lighting grids with care. Do not alter a setup without explicit
permission from that project's director.
3. Respect for Others' Ideas (Creative Integrity):
o The Writers' Room Rule: Film sets thrive on diverse perspectives.
Brainstorming sessions, table reads, and pitches must remain constructive,
safe, and collaborative spaces. Insults or mocking of creative pitches will not
be tolerated.
o Constructive Critiques: Film screenings and peer reviews are designed to
elevate everyone's work. Critiques must focus strictly on technical elements
(e.g., framing, audio mix, pacing) rather than personal attacks.
4. Deadlines and Accountability:
o Missing a deadline in broadcast means dead air; missing a narrative deadline
means breaching a client contract. Late projects will face automated real-world
point deductions to simulate industry penalties.
5. Professional Skills Grade:
o Your daily grade includes the Arizona CTE Professional Skills metrics (active
listening, complex communication, personal responsibility, and appropriate
gear maintenance).
Deadlines & Late Work Policy
Maintaining production schedules is a critical real-world skill in the film industry.
• On-Time Submissions: All assignments and projects are due exactly on the specified
deadline date.
• Late Work Penalty: Work turned in after the deadline receives a maximum of half
credit (50%).
• 5-Day Cutoff: No late work will be accepted more than 5 school days past the original
due date.
• Absence Rule: This strict 5-day cutoff applies to all students regardless of whether an
absence is excused or unexcused. A zero will remain in the gradebook after 5 days.
Maintaining production schedules is a critical real-world skill in the film industry.
• On-Time Submissions: All assignments and projects are due exactly on the specified
deadline date.
• Late Work Penalty: Work turned in after the deadline receives a maximum of half
credit (50%).
• 5-Day Cutoff: No late work will be accepted more than 5 school days past the original
due date.
• Absence Rule: This strict 5-day cutoff applies to all students regardless of whether an
absence is excused or unexcused. A zero will remain in the gradebook after 5 days.
Equipment Checkout & Accountability Policy
Production gear represents a major financial investment and must be treated with
professional respect. To use any production equipment on or off campus, students must
strictly adhere to the following protocol:
• Official Approval: All hardware (cameras, audio gear, lights, grip equipment) must be
formally checked out directly with the teacher.
• Required Documentation: Students must file the appropriate Equipment Checkout
Form before any gear leaves the storage room.
• Mandatory Form Details: The submitted form must completely detail the following
items:
o The precise checkout date and time.
o A detailed plan for use (including filming locations, specific project utility, and
scene goals).
o The explicit return date and time.
• Financial Liability: The student signing the form assumes full financial responsibility
for any lost, stolen, or damaged gear during the checkout window. Late returns mimic
missing a commercial client deadline and will result in a loss of future checkout
privileges.
Year 1: Film and TV Production I – Fundamentals & Narrative Production
Focus: Core industry safety, introductory Adobe tools, and the foundations of visual
storytelling.
Unit 1: Media Literacy, Workplace Safety & Ethics (Weeks 1–6)
• Concepts: OSHA standards, studio hazard identification, copyright law, and fair use.
• AZ CTE Standards: 1.0 (Industry History), 2.0 (Safety/OSHA Compliance).
• Software focus: Adobe Express (Infographics & Safety posters).
• Key Benchmark: Pass the Studio Safety Exam with 100% accuracy before handling
equipment.
• Objective: I can explain how camera angles, lighting, and sound choices change the
mood or meaning of a scene.
• Objective: I can identify studio hazards and explain copyright laws to pass my safety
exam and safely create digital posters in Adobe Express.
Unit 2: Intro to the Narrative Arc & Adobe Express (Weeks 7–12)
• Concepts: Basic story structures, character motivation, and visual brainstorming.
• AZ CTE Standards: 4.0 (Story and Script Development).
• Software focus: Adobe Express (Mood boards, web pages for pitches, and graphic
title layouts).
• Key Project: Create a multimedia digital pitch for a 1-minute silent film.
• Objective: I can use the narrative arc to build visual mood boards and pitch a creative
idea for a one-minute silent film.
Unit 3: Production Fundamentals & Camera Ops (Weeks 13–24)
• Concepts: The exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed), 3-point lighting, and
rule of thirds.
• AZ CTE Standards: 5.0 (Camera Operations), 6.0 (Audio & Lighting).
• Key Project: The "Continuity Exercise" – Capture a character walking through a door
using proper match-on-action framing.
• Objective: I can adjust exposure settings and use composition rules to record a
seamless, multi-angle continuity scene.
Unit 4: Narrative Post-Production in Premiere Pro (Weeks 25–36)
• Concepts: Importing assets, timeline management, rough cuts, J/L cuts, and basic
audio normalization.
• AZ CTE Standards: 7.0 (Post-Production), 8.0 (Pre-Production).
• Software focus: Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Key Project: Edit and export a 1-to-2 minute narrative short film with custom titles and
mixed audio.
• Objective: I can navigate Adobe Premiere Pro to arrange clips, blend audio, and export a
polished short film.
• Concepts: Importing assets, timeline management, rough cuts, J/L cuts, and basic
audio normalization.
• AZ CTE Standards: 7.0 (Post-Production), 8.0 (Pre-Production).
• Software focus: Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Key Project: Edit and export a 1-to-2 minute narrative short film with custom titles and
mixed audio.
• Objective: I can navigate Adobe Premiere Pro to arrange clips, blend audio, and export a
polished short film.
Year 2: Film and TV Production II – Advanced Narrative Filmmaking
Focus: Advanced cinematic techniques, deep pre-production, and professional Adobe
Premiere workflows.
Unit 1: Comprehensive Pre-Production & Screenwriting (Weeks 1–9)
• Concepts: Master screenplay format, location scouting permits, casting, and detailed
script breakdowns.
• AZ CTE Standards: 4.0 (Scriptwriting), 8.0 (Pre-Production Logistics).
• Key Project: Complete an industry-standard 5-to-7 page narrative script with a
matching shot-list.
• Objective: I can format an original screenplay and plan all logistics like casting, permits,
and shot lists for production.
Unit 2: Advanced Cinematic Production (Weeks 10–20)
• Concepts: Dramatic lighting setups (high-key vs. low-key), multi-mic audio capture
(booms and lavaliers), and camera movement (gimbals, sliders).
• AZ CTE Standards: 5.0 (Advanced Camera), 6.0 (Audio/Lighting Dynamics).
• Key Project: Principal photography for the Year 2 Capstone narrative film.
• Objective: I can operate specialized camera gear and design complex lighting and audio
setups to film high-quality cinematic scenes.
• Concepts: Dramatic lighting setups (high-key vs. low-key), multi-mic audio capture
(booms and lavaliers), and camera movement (gimbals, sliders).
• AZ CTE Standards: 5.0 (Advanced Camera), 6.0 (Audio/Lighting Dynamics).
• Key Project: Principal photography for the Year 2 Capstone narrative film.
• Objective: I can operate specialized camera gear and design complex lighting and audio
setups to film high-quality cinematic scenes.
Unit 3: Professional Post-Production & Color Correction (Weeks 21–36)
• Concepts: Advanced editing workflows, Lumetri color grading, multi-camera editing,
and sound design.
• AZ CTE Standards: 7.0 (Advanced Post-Production).
• Software focus: Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Key Project: Turn the Unit 2 footage into a polished, graded 5-minute narrative short
film meeting professional broadcast criteria.
• Objective: I can apply advanced editing techniques, color grading, and sound design in
Premiere Pro to deliver a broadcast-ready short film.
Year 3: Film and TV Production III – Broadcast Journalism & Career
Readiness
Focus: Studio/field news production, quick-turnaround editing, and state credential testing.
Unit 1: Broadcast Writing, Formats & Ethics (Weeks 1–6)
• Concepts: Writing for the ear, teleprompter formatting, A-roll vs. B-roll, and journalistic
integrity.
• AZ CTE Standards: 3.0 (Professional Skills), 4.0 (Broadcast Scripting).
• Key Project: Pitch, research, and script a 90-second local news package.
• Objective: I can research, write, and format an ethical news script that matches
engaging voiceovers with relevant background video.
• Concepts: Writing for the ear, teleprompter formatting, A-roll vs. B-roll, and journalistic
integrity.
• AZ CTE Standards: 3.0 (Professional Skills), 4.0 (Broadcast Scripting).
• Key Project: Pitch, research, and script a 90-second local news package.
• Objective: I can research, write, and format an ethical news script that matches
engaging voiceovers with relevant background video.
Unit 2: Studio & Field Production (Weeks 7–18)
• Concepts: Technical director roles, switchers, teleprompter operations, live audio
mixing, and field correspondence.
• AZ CTE Standards: 5.0 (Live Switching/Framing), 6.0 (Field Audio).
• Key Project: Produce a weekly, student-led school news broadcast.
• Objective: I can run control room equipment and field gear to fill different production
roles during a live weekly news broadcast.
Unit 3: Fast-Paced Broadcast Editing (Weeks 19–27)
• Concepts: Rapid-turnaround editing, dynamic lower-thirds creation, and working under
strict broadcast deadlines.
• AZ CTE Standards: 7.0 (Fast-Turn Post-Production).
• Software focus: Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Key Project: Edit a complete news package from raw assets within a strict 60-minute
window.
• Objective: I can edit raw footage and create graphics in Premiere Pro under a tight 60-
minute deadline to meet broadcast schedules.
Unit 4: Program Capstone & Certification Prep (Weeks 28–36)
• Concepts: Career portfolio building, resume development, and comprehensive
technical review.
• AZ CTE Standards: 1.0–8.0 Review.
• Key Project: Build a digital showcase portfolio using Adobe Express to present to
local industry advisory boards.
• Milestone: Complete the official Arizona State Technical Skills Assessment (TSA) to
earn state industry certification.
• Objective: I can build a professional digital portfolio of my best work and pass the state
exam to earn my industry certification.