CLASS COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS FOR 581:

Completion is defined as

1. The handing over of an acceptable Production Documentation Book to the Mentor, containing
the final script, budget, actor, location, music releases, etc. (See 5811587 Handbook for
more details). 

2. Any fees, damages or charges not paid from the budget are paid and/or cleared.

3. The project has been mixed. 

4. The Final Answer Print is screened for the Mentor 

GRADING POLICY:

581 is graded progressively. This means that at the end of any given semester, if the project
is not complete, the student will receive a grade of In Progress (IP). At the end of the
semester when the project is complete the student should be given a letter grade which will
be retroactively applied to the previous semesters. 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING:

Grades will be based on the following:

Ability to meet deadlines: 20% of grade

Performance in the designated role (e.g. director, cinematographer, editor),
includes the ability to collaborate and ability to solve creative problems: 40% of grade
Quality of the final work: 40% of grade 

Letter grades relate to following achievement levels:

A = outstanding
B = adequate
C = below average 

If during the editing the 581 filmmaker discovers his/her 581 project's ideal length
(including titles and credits) is longer than 12:00 minutes, the 581 Mentor may appeal
to the 581/587 Committee for approval for going over length. Such appeals may be initiated
by the Mentor only, not the 581 student. In such cases a sub-committee of three 581/587
Mentors will view the 581, give feedback to the student and decide whether the additional
running time will be allowed. 

Unless the 581 project has gone through the above appeals process and received explicit
approval from the 581/587 Faculty Committee, any 581 project exceeding twelve minutes
(12:00) in length will not be eligible to be shown at any First Look screenings. The only
exception is 581 video documentary projects, which have a maximum running time of twenty-five
minutes (25:00).

**531 Documentary may substitute for 551 as a prerequisite for 581 Documentary projects
only. Students preparing 581 Documentaries who substitute 531 Documentary for 551 are
also required to attend the 551 classes devoted to budgeting and scheduling, or attend
tutorial sessions given by the Director of Production. 


***Any 581 project that is canceled will not be eligible for First Look Screening.
Exceptions will be granted on a case by case basis, depending on the length of time
which has passed and the reason for cancellation. A student who finishes a film after
cancellation may petition the 581/587 Committee to have the film reinstated.

The finished film along with the completed Production Book and a Petition For
Reinstatement must be submitted to the Committee Coordinator who will present it to
the full Committee for consideration. The Committee win determine whether the film
will be eligible for distribution, including the First Look Festival.