Learning the Show Biz: My Favourite Entertainment Industry Classes

• School: Stern School of Business
• 2 credits

This essentially is a marketing class where your case studies are films! You are also taught about specific aspects on marketing and distributing of films. These include: box office grosses, the multiple, how ratings work, release windows, ancilleries, etc. The assignments are actually SO interesting, and my favourite exam I have ever done at NYU was the 2nd individual assessment, wierd concept I know but I genuinly enjoyed doing it. Professor Gary Faber makes classes so clear, dynamic, and relevant, where everything you learn you can really apply it professionally.  

• School: Gallatin School of Individualized Study
• 4 credits

This class is an arts workshop where you discuss Broadway shows! Each week you will focus the discussion on a specific show! These may include: Rent, Hamilton, Hedwig, Spiderman, Come From Away, Lion King, Hells Kitchen, Maybe Happy Endings. Its important to note hows are subject to change depending on what is on Broadway at the time. A great perk of the class is that it included fieldtrips to see actual Broadway shows (for free)! Professor Kristoffer Díaz is a theatre kid himself, so he creates such a wonderful environment for expression and discussion. Also, by him being a part of the industry, you really learn some insight on how Broadway works, which is extremely valuable if this is a field you are interested in.

• School: Stern School of Business
• 2 credits

This is a class about the Entertainment Industry as a whole, and the main BEMT minor requirement. You will cover all sectors of the Entertainment Industry (Film, TV, Theatre, Print, Videogames), changing the focus every two weeks. To actually hear what it is like to work in each sector of this industry, amazing guests come to the class! This has included TV show runners, Tony-winning producers, Editor-in-chief of magazines, to name a few. Professor Robert Tuschman is so kind and knowledgeable on the industry, which really transalte to his classes. He is incredibly generous about his experience and is able to really give you insight on various areas of the industry.

• School: Gallatin School of Individualized Study
• 4 credits

This is an arts workshop about theatre directing today. The course covers topics ranging from directing excercises, communicate properly with your collaborators, utilizing the space, creating a safe environment, to name a few. This is a practical course, therefore you will be in a studio, moving all around the space and collaborating with everyone! Professor Kristin Horton is incredible! She creates such a safe and collaborative environment in class, making you constantly reflect and apply that to your work, which is essential for the functioning of the course.

• School: Tisch School of the Arts
• 3 credits

This course will teach you the generalities of what it takes to be a producer of independent films. Each week you will cover different areas that relate to the role of the producer including finding material, budgeting, financing, legal aspects, film festivals, etc. Some classes will also have guest producers of current independent films, that will  discuss their experiences as well as give insight on whatever the specific topic of that class is. Professor Joe Pichirallo is really knowledgeable and has a lot of experience by being an independent producer himself, so everything he teaches is based on things that are relevant to the film industry.

• School: Stern School of Business
• 2 credits

This course teaches you how to market in the art related businesses (theater, museums, operas, ballet, etc). Topics including marketing strategy, understanding the business, and analysis of the competitive landscape, will be covered throughout the semester. Professor Jed Berstein is a Tony-winning producer, who has immense experience in the field and that shows. We are taught how to really think outside the box and appeal to audiences today, which makes everything that we learn be very relevant and easily applicable professionally. And his classes are very discussion based making them very dynamic!