Universal Studios Hollywood - Lesson Plans - Careers in

PG 1 of 1

CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDSCALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS

DURATIONDURATION

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

PROPS NEEDEDPROPS NEEDED

PREPRODUCTIONPREPRODUCTION

English-Language Arts Content Standards Grades 8-12; Writing: Focus Standard – 1.0Writing Strategies 8 – 1.4, 1.6; 9-10 – 1.5, 1.9; 11-12 – 1.1, 1.9 Focus Standard – 2.0Writing Applications 8–12 - 2.5

Student research and prepare a mock resume for a career in the entertainment industry.

Materials: Career Profile Activity Sheet – page 3Career Profiles – Universal Studios Hollywood Activity Sheet – page 4Studio Departments Activity Sheet – page 5

Building A ResumeINTO ACTIVITYStudents view a sample resume. Discuss each section of the resume, and the necessity for a brief,precise presentation of employment information. A suggested resume format is shown on the CareerProfile Activity page 3.

Students review the Universal Studios Hollywood Career Profiles Information Sheet page 4, relatingto careers in the entertainment industry. Note the training required, previous job experience, relatedpositions held and studies needed to develop skills for these careers. Students select an interestingcareer to research and construct their own mock resume.

INTO SEGMENT:Teacher’s Discretion (1-2 Days)

THROUGH SEGMENT:Universal Studios Hollywood visit (1 Day)

BEYOND SEGMENT:Teacher’s Discretion (1-2 Days)

CAREERS IN THEENTERTAINMENTINDUSTRY Grades 8 to 12

Lesson Plan

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOODSM

CAREERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENTINDUSTRY

Lesson Plan

PG 1 of 5

AND ACTIONAND ACTIONTHROUGH ACTIVITYAt Universal Studios HollywoodSM

Students visit attractions and performances illustrating the career chosen for research. Studentsnote examples of the performances, special effects, sound effects and related aspects to the careerselected.

Classroom AssignmentStudents reread the Career Profiles at Universal Studios Hollywood page 4 and review the sampleresume. Using the research collected on the field trip to Universal Studios, students construct a mockresume for their selected career. Each resume is submitted for approval by the employer (teacher).

BEYOND ACTIVITYStudents research other careers in the entertainment industry. In addition, students research schoolsand universities with curriculum directed toward this industry. Collect brochures on college requirementinformation courses of study and majors relating to the entertainment field. Students organize aneducational and work experience plan to prepare for a career in the entertainment industry.

Students create a photographic portfolio of examples of their entertainment career selected usingphotos taken at Universal Studios Hollywood. Students submit this portfolio to the teacher along withtheir mock resume.

ASSESS STUDENTSMeasure your students understanding of the subject. Suggested Methods: Questions & Answers among the students. Students write a paragraph describing theirtrip, written test, verbal report, team assessment report.

IT’S A WRAPIT’S A WRAP

EVALUATIONReview and evaluate your students success in meeting the objectives for this lesson.

CRITIC’S TABLECRITIC’S TABLE

Select different industries and have students outline the various careers available within each one.

BONUS MATERIALSBONUS MATERIALS

CAREERS IN THEENTERTAINMENTINDUSTRY Continued... Grades 8 to 12

Lesson Plan



Lesson Plan

PG 2 of 5


Lesson Plan

PG 2 of 5


Lesson Plan

PG 2 of 5


Lesson Plan

PG 2 of 5

Sample Mock Resume

Name

Address

City, State Zip Code

Area Code and Phone Number

Career Objective:

State your overall career goal(s). One sentence or two only.

Job Experience:

Work related to career goals.

Job experience is presented with the most current work first; example:

2004 Stunt person, Universal Studios Hollywood

Waterworld Stunt Show

Universal City, CA

2003 Horseback riding instructor, Local Stables

Chatsworth, CA

List work related to the job for which you are applying. Also include positions you have

held that reinforce your reliability, experience and responsibility. Include unpaid jobs or

apprentice positions you have completed that relate to your career goals. This section should

contain an extensive, quick reading overall description of your job experience to date.

Education and Training:

List universities you have attended, as well as academies, schools, workshops and any

private tutoring.

CAREER PROFILE ACTIVITY



Lesson Plan

PG 3 of 5


Lesson Plan

PG 4 of 5

Stunt PersonContrary to popular beliefs, stunt people are not dare-devils orthrill-seekers. Stunt people are highly organized, capable,safety-conscious people. They have good overall athletic ability,dramatic skills, and demanding stage presence. Stunt peopleexcel in sports such as gymnastics, wrestling, diving and watersports, karate, kendo, horseback riding, and sword play. Asemester of training in stage fighting is also required. Alongwith all the physical skills, a good stunt person should have asolid education. Listening and discipline are two essential skillsneeded to become a stunt person whose life and those ofothers on the set rely on these skills. Theater arts experience ishelpful for dramatic readings. A stunt person calculates riskswith a knowledge of safety measures and mimics movesneeded for a particular effect. Stunt work requires a self-imposed training program involving body-building and a studyof physiology. Finally, stunt work is not for show-offs!

Performing ArtistA working performing artist must have self-confidence and ahigh level of self-esteem. High school and college productionsare good practice grounds for the performing artist. Training atuniversities, dance studios, drama classes, and with vocalcoaches are important means to becoming a talentedperforming artist. Experience needed to advance this careerincludes working in reviews, commercials, videos, live shows,crew work, bands, student films and musical theater.Performing artists should be able to sight read music, researchcharacters for parts, perform creative cold readings, andmemorize lyrics, scripts, and dance steps. In addition,performing artists must have good reading and listening skills.Making audio and video tapes of your own performances is anexcellent type of resume for this career. Most importantly, learnto accept criticism.

Special Effects CoordinatorThe special effects coordinator uses realism to create anillusion. Special effects personnel work with explosives, models,pyrotechnics, lighting, and computer-enhanced imagery. Specialeffects coordinators should have a technological backgroundwith computer knowledge and programming. In addition,coordinators need an education in theater arts and a two yeartraining course conducted by the State of California concerningthe use of pyrotechnics.

Sound Stage ManagerThe sound stage manager is responsible for the sound effectspresented during live performances. The sound stage managerproduces sound effects that enhance existing sounds orcreates new ones for a scene. During live performances, thestage manager mics actors, plays recorded sound effects, anduses a keyboard to establish a clear sound level. The keyboardalso produces other sounds such as drums, chimes, blasts,horns, etc. Sound stage managers require at least three yearsexperience working at recording studios, sound companies, orapprentice positions with other sound stage managers.Working with sound equipment used by a band or recordingstudio is excellent reparation for a sound stage manager.

Make-up and Hair Styling ArtistMake-up and hair styling artists need to take courses atspecific technical colleges. Schools such as the West ValleyOccupational College have courses, apprentice programs, andplacement departments for this career objective. This careeralso requires an interest in theater arts and drama. Working inhigh school and local college productions allows for experiencein these areas of interest. Schools of cosmetology offercourses in make-up and hair styling. Future artists workwithout pay on university films in order to gain experienceapplying make-up for different mediums including film,television, stage and photography. Artists should studycharacters and learn how to apply make-up using the correctapplication for each medium. Furthermore, make-up and hairstyling artists must read and evaluate scripts to develop aunique look for each character.

CAREER PROFILES UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD




Lesson Plan

PG 5 of 5

GripThe Grip Department relies on skilled workers to erect sets,lights, and backings used on a stage. In addition, grips movecameras, shade lights with large screens called gobos, handlereflector boards and move stage walls.

CameraThe Camera Department is responsible for supplying andpreparing all film, and special photographic equipment andmaterials.

Special EffectsThe Special Effects Department is responsible for creatingexplosions, fires and mechanical effects.

WardrobeThe Wardrobe Department is responsible for designing andbuilding costumes. A costume designer reads a script anddetermines the different costumes that will be needed foreach character. The costume designer then develops sketchesof costumes, designates material to be used, and supervisesthe fitting and assembly of the costumes.

Make-UpThe Make-Up Department is responsible for the creation ofspecial make-up effects and for the application of make-up.

SoundThe Sound Department is responsible for supplying recordingequipment to the various productions. This department alsosupervises the editing of dialogue, sound effects and music.

MarketingThe Marketing Department is responsible for all aspects of“selling” a motion picture or television product includingadvertising, promotions and publicity.

EditorialThe major function of the Editorial Department is to combineall of the essentials necessary for the completion of a motionpicture or television show which includes editing film or videotape, matching dialogue and adding music and sound effects.

StoryResponsible for locating and buying written materialincluding scripts and story ideas. Materials are usuallysubmitted through authorized literary agents for legalreasons.

Research This department catalogs and files research materialobtained from various sources. When working on a showset in another era or country, the Research Departmentprovides material to the production to ensure accuracy ofinformation (historical and otherwise).

CastingA casting director analyzes a script for casting purposeswhile keeping in mind the allotted budget for talent.The casting director must be aware of the size of aparticular role in proportion to the amount of moneyto be spent for a performer then make suggestions tothe producer accordingly. Universal Casting is dividedinto Features and Television with one casting directorassigned to a specific show.

ProductionThe Production Department is responsible for breakingdown a script in terms of location, cost, time, and cast.From this breakdown, work orders issued to otherdepartments and a shooting schedule is developed.

ArtThe Art Department is responsible for all sets includingthe design, development, and dressing.

PropertyThe Property Department is responsible for interior andexterior set decorations and props.

Greens DepartmentThe Greens Department is responsible for supplying andmaintaining foliage such as trees, vines, plants and grassfor soundstage, backlot, and locations sets.

ElectricalFurnishes all power to the studio and is responsible forpreparing all electrical and lighting equipment on sets.

STUDIO DEPARTMENTSThe following departments are actively involved

in the making of a motion picture or television show through pre-production, production, and post-production phases.

Documents

Universal Studios Hollywood - Lesson Plans - Careers in