BUSAN ASIAN FILM SCHOOL

First Semester

No.	Title of Class	Overview
1	Film Law & Policy	This course is primarily devoted to film law, covering issues related to copyright, legal contracts, and other issues that producers need to know when making films or running their own film companies. Since every country's laws are different, we will concentrate on general concepts and then discuss how specific laws may vary in different countries. In addition, we will examine the diverse ways in which governments approach film policy around the world.
2	Film Genres	Film genres provide a framework through which viewers around the world consume and interact with cinema. As producers of films, it is important to understand the nature of this dynamic, and so we will explore the idea of genre from a variety of perspectives, ranging from Aristotle to thinkers of the present day. Through analysis of various genres, we will explore diverse ways of reading films to give fellows a wider perspective on the complexities of meaning that exist within every film.
3	Project Proposals	This course is designed to provide fellows with guidance and practice in preparing the written texts (loglines, synopses, filmmakers' statements, etc.) that make up film proposals and applications for various kinds of support programs.
4	Topics in Film Producing	A step by step analysis of the producing process of feature films from the planning to the distribution centered on the producer’s work. This course explores new potentials for film producing under historical, cultural and industrial environment of each Asian country and its process of globalization. Fellows will explore the role and related issues of producers in all stages from script development, financing, scheduling and budgeting, casting and talent management, location scouting, cinematography, visual effects, sound design, editing, music, digital intermediate and mastering, distribution and marketing.
5	Film Industry Seminar	Advanced entertainment business is based on film and media “industry”. This course is designed to provide fellows to establish a framework for understanding the dynamics of the film, media and technology industries, and their intersecting points in global film market. Beginning with a systematic overview of key players in relevant sectors, and principles that apply to entertainment industry. Based on their own researches, fellows will present the current environment of film and media business of each Asian country. The ultimate goal of this course is to become fully aware of fundamental tools for producers working across and beyond Asia, and to broaden potentials for international coproduction in Asia.
6	Storytelling & Script Development	Whether you are a writer, director, or producer, understanding dramatic principles in a story is essential. This course will explore what a story is in order to facilitate storytelling and script development. Fellows examine films and analyze their scripts, learning how vital information is conveyed, how story elements are communicated visually, how dramatic momentum is built with cause and effect, and what makes a character credible and complex. An in-depth analysis of a screenplay's storyline, characters, dialogue, images, and theme reveals various narrative techniques and storytelling styles, from Hollywood to independent and everything in between. Fellows end the term with the ability to break down the required dramatic principles and story elements for their project/screenplay ideas. Through the vigorous work done every week, fellows will have completed a revised treatment of their screenplay idea.
7	Entertainment Economics	Each year, Americans cumulatively spend at least 175 billion hours and more than $350 billion on entertainment. And globally, total annual spending for entertainment is approaching one trillion dollars.Already one of the most important sectors of the global economy, the entertainment industry continues to grow worldwide. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry has changed dramatically. New technologies like streaming are revolutionizing the entire entertainment industry, from production to distribution, while also bringing new opportunities to the industry.This course focuses on the economics of the entertainment industry, covering business models, value chains, financing, production, and distribution for film, TV, and emerging OTT.
8	Case study	As a required subject for business program fellows, this course aims to share advanced policies and industry trends related to supporting film and video content. The goal is to equip fellows with the knowledge needed to contribute to the growth and development of the industry upon graduation and when they return to their home countries. (1st week) Case studies on the French Film Ecosystem (1) (2nd week) Case studies on the French Film Ecosystem (2) (3rd week) International Distribution & Sales (4th week) International Distribution & Sales - Global OTT (5th week) Korea's Policies for Fostering the Visual Industry: A Focus on Busan Metropolitan City (1) (6th week) Korea's Policies for Fostering the Visual Industry: A Focus on Busan Metropolitan City (2) ※ Note: The course overview may be subject to change after discussions with the professors.
9	Project Development Workshop	This is a mentorship and workshop course in which fellows develop their own projects. Fellows will take the ideas they submitted at the time of admission and develop them into scripts, as well as create investment strategies. Each mentor will guide a group of six fellows, with three guest professors (Jenny KU, Lee Hojae, and Lee Yoonjung) conducting either group or individual mentoring sessions.
10	Screening	This course encourages fellows to watch one film related to the class each week and submit a review, increasing class engagement and broadening their understanding of film genres and storytelling.

Second Semester

No.	Title of Class	Overview
1	Asian Film History	This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of cinema in various Asian countries. It covers key filmmakers, film philosophies, and film movements from major film powerhouses to relatively lesser-known nations. Fellows will share their thoughts and knowledge about their own country's film industry with other fellows. The goal of this course is not to examine famous films, but to gain a deep understanding of the ways in which film forms and styles have evolved in Asia over the last century.
2	Film & Psychology	Basic knowledge of psychology can be a useful tool for producers in the filmmaking process. This course covers various areas of psychology, including human behavior, the unconscious, perception, social interactions, and psychoanalysis. Additionally, it explores how this psychological knowledge can be applied to creation, storytelling, and character development, and how it can be utilized to become a more effective producer.
3	Topics in Specialized Film	This course individually analyzes films from various genres and formats. It focuses on important examples of art films and documentaries that emphasize public value and the cultural enjoyment of the public, rather than primarily aiming for commercial profit. To understand the core concepts of art films, which differentiate them from conventional commercial feature films, it analyzes different narrative strategies and alternative aesthetics. Furthermore, by addressing the specialized forms and industries of documentary films, the course explores the essential elements of nonfiction cinema. The goal of this course is to expand the knowledge of producers in various Asian countries regarding the landscape of art films and their future potential.
4	Media & Technology	This course reviews the latest trends in film production and theater environments, which are evolving alongside advancements in science and technology. It analyzes the impact of the latest technologies in special effects and visual effects on film production, and studies the development of advanced audio technologies and theater projection technologies. The course also examines the application of technologies in digital and online media, as well as the techniques and uses of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in video content. Additionally, it explores the latest technologies used in theaters, such as 3D, 4D, and Screen X, and from a producer’s perspective, evaluates the utilization of film technologies in terms of cost investment and profit generation.
5	International Co-Production	This course explores the essential elements required to realize and develop international co-productions in Asian countries. It examines topics such as pitching at international film festivals and markets, methods of fundraising abroad, location shooting overseas, the role of national film commissions, acquiring business licenses by country, and the necessary elements for hiring, contracting, and managing personnel, as well as issues related to exchange rates and tax incentives. It also addresses issues related to international profit generation through pre-sales and distribution, and reviews case studies of international co-productions between Asian countries and Europe and the Americas.
6	Communication Strategies	This course provides mentoring to help fellows optimize their project proposals and create pitch decks based on strategies for effective written communication at the initial stage of a project, in order to attract successful investments. Throughout the semester, each fellow will refine their project proposal and learn how to write a compelling pitch deck.
7	Entertainment Marketing	This course is designed to teach the practical aspects of film marketing, including market research, creative concepts, advertising, publicity, promotions, and film screenings. Based on Hollywood marketing techniques, the course explores both the theory and real-world examples of marketing practices. Additionally, fellows will learn how to write marketing plans and engage in practical exercises.
8	Project Development Workshop 2	This is an individual mentoring and workshop course where fellows will directly plan and develop their own projects. The course helps with the development of projects that have completed treatment writing through the online semester and provides preparatory training for participating in the AFiS project pitching at the ACFM (Asian Film Market) during the Busan International Film Festival. Each invited professor (scheduled - Jenny KU, LEE Hojae, LEE Yoonjung) will mentor a group of six fellows, either through group mentoring or individual mentoring.
9	Internal Pitching	During the ACFM (Asian Contents & Film Market) of the Busan International Film Festival, a pre-rehearsal for the "AFiS Project Pitching" will be held, where producing course fellows will present their feature projects under development at AFIS. This rehearsal will provide an opportunity for expert advice and pitching mentoring.
10	Pitching Workshop	Before the internal pitching, all the relevant professors in charge of the storytelling and project development workshops will gather to review the projects that the fellows are preparing for pitching.
11	Screening	This course encourages fellows to watch one film related to the class each week and submit a review, enhancing participation in the class and broadening their understanding of film genres and storytelling.