The group functions through the residential college program and is responsible to them, but all decisions effecting the club are to be voted upon by the group before being put into action. All suggestions are to be heard in due process and all students are to be able to participate regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. There is to be a free public screening of each film at the end of each semester, and distribution afterwards will be up to the production committee and the club as a whole. The Filmmakers’ Club should be dedicated to these things, and all members should do all they personally can do to make each film the absolute best it can be.
Below is our Constitution...please feel free to look it over.
Truman State University
The Truman State University Filmmakers’ Club Constitution
Article I
Use of the Name
Section 1.1
The full name of this organization, The Truman State University Filmmakers’ Club, is to be used on all official documents used by the club or the University in reference to the club.
Section 1.2
A shorter substitute, the Filmmakers’ Club, may be used only when it is not necessary to distinguish the club as being based in Truman State University.
Article II
Purpose of the Organization
Section 1.1 Primary Goals
Section 1.1A
The primary goals shall be considered goals that define the level of success for each semester.
Section 1.1B
The first primary goal of this organization is to produce one collaborative cinematic work every semester. A cinematic work can defined as any work the club decides is at least loosely representative of a motion picture.
Section 1.1C
The second primary goal is to educate interested students in their area of interest in respect to filmmaking.
Section 1.1D
The third primary goal is to screen the cinematic work.
Section 1.1E
The fourth primary goal is to enable all club members to participate actively in the production of each film.
Section 1.2 Secondary Goals
Section 1.2A
Secondary goals shall be considered important to the prosperity of the club, but not a measure of each semester’s success.
Section 1.2B
The first primary goal is to hold weekly meetings to organize efforts on each semester’s project, discuss possibilities for the club in general, elect positions, and amend the constitution.
Section 1.2C
The second secondary goal is to amass a collection of useful filmmaking resources.
Section 1.2D
The third secondary goal is to properly archive current and past semester’s work on a digital format. The proper digital format is to be decided based upon the leading format for picture and sound quality, length of life, and ability to copy from.
Section 1.2E
The fourth secondary goal is to hold one educational session at the beginning of the following phases of production: Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, and Distribution.
Section 1.2F
The fifth secondary goal is to plan a program, featuring a professional or experienced filmmaker, to teach the club and other interested students in a particular area of filmmaking every year.
Article III
Membership
Section 1
Those eligible to participate in this organization include members of the Truman State University student body, faculty and staff; members of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic medicine student body, faculty and staff; and members of the Kirksville community.
Section 2 Categories of Membership
Section 2.1 Active Members
Section 2.1A
Only students of Truman State University may be considered for active membership.
Section 2.1B
A member shall be considered active if they attend 90% of the scheduled production meetings and adhere to the production schedule.
Section 2.2 Associate Members
Section 2.2A
Any member who is not a student at Truman State University shall be considered an associate member.
Section 2.2B
Associate members shall not hold the right to vote or run for positions in the Production Committee.
Section 2.3
A member shall be considered an advisory member if they attend at least two production meetings each semester, or meet at least twice with a member of the production committee, director, production manager, sound engineer or director of photography for the purpose of evaluating the club’s progress or the progress of the individual they meet with.
Section 2.4 Inactive Members
Section 2.4A
A member shall be considered inactive if they attend less than 90% of the production meetings without prior notification, miss any of the required dates on the production schedule without proper notification, or are excessively absent from production meetings, regardless of notification. The President shall define excessive absences on a case-by-case basis.
Section 2.4B
If a member holds a position or acting role in the club when declared inactive, their position or role will be reassigned for that semester to the discretion of the director and president.
Section 3 Absences
Section 3.1
If an active member must miss a production meeting, they must notify the president by any means one day before the meeting begins.
Section 3.2
If an active member must miss a specific date on the production schedule, they must notify the president, director, and the head of their department in writing one week before the scheduled date.
Section 3.3
If an absence has been preceded by the proper notification, it will not be counted against their membership.
Section 3.4
If any member is excessively absent from production meetings or required dates on the production schedule, they will be considered inactive for the rest of that semester. Excessive absence will be defined on a case-by-case basis by the president.
Section 3.5
If any member disagrees with the president’s decision, they may appeal it.
Section 4 Appeals
Section 4.1
Appeals will be presented to the club in person at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 4.2
If any member wants to appeal a decision made by the president affecting their membership, they must first inform the club one week in advance that they will be making an appeal, the decision they are appealing, reason for appeal and the date they will present their appeal.
Section 4.3
The club will vote on each appeal before the close of the meeting at which the appeal was presented.
Section 4.4
There must exist a majority partiality to decide the vote.
Article IV
Elections
Section 1
Only active members and new members shall be eligible to run for positions in the Filmmakers’ Club.
Section 2 The Production Committee
Section 2.1 Eligibility
Section 2.1A
Only persons having been active members of the Filmmakers’ Club the previous semester may run for positions in the Production Committee for the current semester.
Section 2.1B
Members who previously held a position in the Production Committee may not run for the same position the following year.
Section 2.2
Members of the Production Committee shall be elected once every year.
Section 2.3
Members of the Production Committee shall be elected by active members of the Filmmakers’ Club.
Section 3 The Production Team Leaders
Section 3.1 Eligibility
Section 3.1A
Only active members and new members may run for a position as a Production Team Leader.
Section 3.1B
Members who previously held a position as a Production Team Leader may not run for the same position the following semester.
Section 3.2
Production Team Leaders shall be elected every semester.
Section 3.3 Process of Determining Positions
Section 3.3A
The director is the only Production Team Leader to be elected by the Filmmakers’ Club.
Section 3.3B
All other Production Team Leaders are to be appointed by the director within one week of the date the director was elected.
Section 4 The Script
Section 4.1
Anyone may submit a script to be considered for production.
Section 4.2
The script or scripts for each semester shall be selected at the beginning of each semester.
Section 5 Holding Elections
Section 5.1 When to Hold Them
Section 5.1A
Members of the Production Committee shall be elected at the end of each school year.
Section 5.1B
The director shall be elected at the beginnings of each semester, within one week of the script having been chosen.
Section 5.1C
The director shall appoint all other Production Team Leaders within one week of being elected.
Section 5.2 Voting for the Production Committee
Section 5.2A
To hold an election, ¾ of the active members must be present at the voting.
Section 5.2B
The election must be announced to all members of the club two weeks before the proposed date of the election.
Section 5.2C
Those running for a position on the Production Committee may not be present during the actual voting.
Section 5.2D
The members of the Production Committee shall be elected by means of a secret ballot.
Section 5.2E
There must exist a majority of those present to decide a vote.
Section 5.2F
The newly elected members of the Production Committee shall be notified of their position at the voting meeting.
Section 5.3 Voting for the Director
Section 5.3A
The director shall be picked based on their artistic, logistical and technical analysis of the script chosen for that semester.
Section 5.3B
The director shall be supplied with the winning script at least four days in advance of the election.
Section 5.3C
The members of the Production Committee are the only members required to be present at the election of the director.
Section 5.3D
At the voting meeting, each member running for the position of director is to individually present their analysis of the script and answer any questions from those present.
Section 5.3E
After discussion, the members present at the voting meeting must arrive at a unanimous decision to elect the director.
Section 5.3F
The President shall notify all those running for the position of the turnout in person.
Section 5.4 Electing the Script
Section 5.4A
The possible scripts shall be sent to the President via email or other electronic means at least three days in advance of the election meeting.
Section 5.4B
The President shall strip each script of any indication of the author, and send the script to the club members at least three days in advance of the election meeting.
Section 5.4C
All authors are to remain anonymous, except to the present, until after the election.
Section 5.4D
The members of the Production Committee are the only members required to be present in order to elect a script.
Section 5.4E
The election meeting is to consist of an open discussion of all the scripts’ artistic, logistic, and technical aspects.
Section 5.4F
Only active members who have read all scripts may vote.
Section 5.4G
After the discussion, a unanimous vote must be reached to select a script.
Section 5.4H
The vote may be taken either at the election meeting, or by noon of the following day.
Article V
Positions
Section 1 The Production Committee
Section 1.1
The Production Committee shall consist of the President, Secretary, Publicity Chair, Historian, and Web-Master.
Section 1.2
The President is in charge of the Production Committee. He shall also be known as the Producer, as is ultimately in charge of the Production Team, being over the Director.
Section 2 The Production Team Leaders
Section 2.1
The Production Team Leaders shall consist of the Director, Unit Production Manager, Director of Photography, Sound Engineer, Set, Props and Costume Manager, Music Supervisor, Music Composer, Equipment Supervisor, and Editor.
Section 2.2
If there are not enough people to fill these positions, they may be combined as so:
Director, Unit Production Manager, Director of Photography, Sound Engineer, Set/Props/Equipment Manager, Music Supervisor/Composer, and Editor.
Section 2.3
There are a number of possible assisting positions under these Production Team Leaders. Assistant Director, Production Assistant, Camera Operator, Gaffer and their Best Boy, Key Grip and their Grip, Boom Operator, Set Construction Crew, Musicians, Assistant Editor, and any other positions deemed necessary by the Production Team Leaders.
Article VI
Duties
Section 1 The Production Committee
Section 1.1 The President
Section 1.1A
Organize production meetings and work with the Director and the Unit Production Manager to write a production schedule. The President is ultimately responsible for keeping things on schedule.
Section 1.1B
Evaluate the process and structure of the club for improvement and expansion.
Section 1.1C
Be present at all meetings, shoots and other Filmmakers’ Club related events.
Section 1.1D
Know every club member by name, position, and experience.
Section 1.1E
Organize one educational session before each stage of production, starting with Pre-Production, to prepare club members.
Section 1.1F
Organize one campus-wide event each year involving a guest filmmaker.
Section 1.1G
Work with the Residential College Program and meet with the club’s advisor at least once every stage of production.
Section 1.1H
Working with the other members of the club, specifically the Director, to form a budget for each production.
Section 1.1I
Work with the Residential College Program, FAC, and the club to supply the money needed to go on with production.
Section 1.1J
Oversee each stage of production, making sure everything runs on schedule, Cast and Crew needs are addressed, and the budget is tightly controlled.
Section 1.2 Secretary
Section 1.2A
Take thorough, concise notes at every production meeting on things discussed, decisions made, and other important information.
Section 1.2B
Take notes at shoots of things discussed, details of which shots are good or bad and how many takes of each, changes made to set, script, or schedule, any other important information exchanged on the set.
Section 1.2C
Work with the Unit Production Manager to keep track of continuity on the set and keep the notes taken on continuity.
Section 1.2D
Write one weekly email after each meeting to remind members of the decisions made, events coming up, schedules and changes made.
Section 1.2E
Work with the Web-Master to keep the website accurate and up-to-date.
Section 1.2F
Work as a resource to the Historian to accurately document each semester’s project.
Section 1.2G
Work with the President to evaluate and reform the club’s structure, process, and constitution.
Section 1.2 H
Keep all notes in a book for easy reference during meetings and shoots.
Section 1.3 Publicity Chair
Section 1.3A
Advertise the first meetings for membership, actor auditions, public shoots, and the final screening of each semester’s project.
Section 1.3B
Work with President to organize the screening each semester and the distribution process.
Section 1.3C
Head any other advertising campaigns authorized by the President.
Section 1.3D
Work with the web-master to keep the website interesting and well publicized.
Section 1.3E
Actively maintain a positive image of the Filmmakers’ Club to the student body, faculty, staff, and administration.
Section 1.4 Historian
Section 1.4A
Accurately document all stages of production.
Section 1.4B
Archive artifacts, documents, and copies of each semester’s project and keep up the quality and life of the past years’ archives.
Section 1.4C
Work with President to come up with different projects such as a ‘making of’ video, glass case display or scrapbook.
Section 1.4D
Keep a catalogue of all sets, props, costumes, make-up schemes and other visual information from each production.
Section 1.5 Web-Master
Section 1.5A
Keep the Filmmakers’ Club website running correctly.
Section 1.5B
Keep the website interesting, accurate, appealing and informative for both members and non-members.
Section 1.5C
Work with the President to keep up educational links and features.
Section 1.5D
Keep the contact info updated.
Section 1.5E
Work with the Secretary to keep updates and progress information accurate.
Section 1.5F
Work with the Historian to accurately archive any media on the website.
Section 1.5G
Keep the introductory promotional video new and working correctly.
Section 1.5H
Organize efforts to promote each semester’s project on the Internet and put each project on an Internet independent productions website such as iFilm or AtomFilms.
Section 2 Production Team Leaders
Section 2.1 Director
Section 2.1A
Select members to fill each position as a Production Team Leader.
Section 2.1B
Work with the Production Committee and Unit Production Manager to break down the script.
Section 2.1C
Work with the President, Unit Production Manager, and Production Committee to produce a production schedule including every date, time and location needed from pre-production to the end of the semester.
Section 2.1D
Work with club members and the President to audition and select actors for the cast.
Section 2.1E
Organize and attend a read-through and rehearsals for the actors and crewmembers.
Section 2.1F
Analyze the script and decide on a vision for the overall look, feel, and tempo of the film. Stick to this vision.
Section 2.1G
Be an artistically unifying force.
Section 2.1H
Organize a time to scout and select locations, and then scout and select locations.
Section 2.1I
Work with the writer to make the script work artistically with your vision, logistically with the schedule you create, and technically with the Equipment Manager.
Section 2.1J
Oversee the designing and construction of the sets.
Section 2.1K
Oversee the selection of props, costumes and make-up schemes for each scene.
Section 2.1L
Organize a time to storyboard the entire script and gather members to help.
Section 2.1M
Follow the schedule as closely as possible during Production.
Section 2.1N
Direct all action on the set during Production unifying the vision.
Section 2.1O
Make sure everything is accomplished completely, thoroughly, artistically according to your vision and on time.
Section 2.1P
Oversee the editing process, work with the editor to keep you vision.
Section 2.1Q
Oversee all music selection and composition and unify it to your vision.
Section 2.1R
Select members to assist you in achieving these goals as needed.
Section 2.2 Directory of Photography or Cinematographer
Section 2.2A
Select members to assist you as needed. Recommended positions are camera operators, lighting technicians, a gaffer, grips and storyboard artists.
Section 2.2B
Rehearse possible shots for each scene and decided on as many of them as possible before Production. Document your decisions and keep them with you during shooting.
Section 2.2C
Analyze the script for cinematographic elements, possibilities, and possible problems.
Section 2.2D
Go on all location scouts and actively determine the pros and cons of each location. Document these and discuss them with the Director and Producer to decide.
Section 2.2E
Work with writer and Director to understand the vision and accurately portray it through the camera.
Section 2.2F
Attend the storyboarding meeting and help direct artistic efforts. Be sure all storyboards are completed by the deadline in the production schedule.
Section 2.2G
Be at all shoots.
Section 2.2H
Direct all cinematographic elements on the set, including light quality and placement, camera placement and settings and composition of shots.
Section 2.2I
Work with the Director, Unit Production Manager, Writer and Equipment Manager to accomplish tasks artistically, efficiently, within the budget and on time.
Section 2.3 Unit Production Manager
Section 2.3A
Select members to assist you as needed.
Section 2.3B
Work with the Production Committee and Director to produce a production schedule that covers every date, time and location from Pre-Production to the end of the semester.
Section 2.3C
Work with the Production Committee and Director to produce a reasonable budget for the production.
Section 2.3D
Make certain the budget is not exceeded and that the money gets where it needs to be on time.
Section 2.3E
Analyze script and production schedule for possible logistical or budget related problems. Bring any problems to the attention of the Director or President and see that they are solved.
Section 2.3F
During Production, work with the Secretary to maintain continuity from shot to shot, take detailed notes or pictures of each set, costume and make-up scheme.
Section 2.3G
Work as a bridge between the Production Team and the Production Committee to make sure the artistic work is accomplished accurately, within the allotted budget and within on schedule.
Section 2.4 Editor
Section 2.4A
Select members to assist you when needed.
Section 2.4B
Attend the storyboarding meeting and understand the director’s vision and how the movie should look in the end.
Section 2.4C
Analyze the script for editing problems and possibilities.
Section 2.4D
Work with the Production Committee, Unit Production Manager, and Director to make the production schedule for post-production.
Section 2.4E
If possible, pre-edit each week’s shots to go as the script dictates and edit out the bad shots.
Section 2.4F
Direct all efforts in the way of editing the project. Work with the Director, Music Supervisor, Composer, Lab Technicians and any assistants you choose to help you.
Section 2.4G
Output the final cut onto the desired screening format, DVD for archiving, S-VHS for copying and encode for streaming over the Internet.
Section 2.4H
Unify your vision for the final edit with that of the Director.
Section 2.5 Sound Technician
Section 2.5A
Select members to assist you when needed. The suggest position is a boom operator.
Section 2.5B
Go on location scouts and listen for any problems with the sound. Such problems would be a busy street, noisy neighbors or just bad acoustics.
Section 2.5C
Take some practice sounds before the camera rolls to make sure all sound is being captured properly.
Section 2.5D
Analyze the script for sound possibilities and difficulties.
Section 2.5E
Direct all efforts to produce good sound on the set.
Section 2.5F
Record any dialogue looping, foley or ambience as needed.
Section 2.5G
Work with Historian to catalogue any sound effects used or created, foley and ambiences.
Section 2.5H
Take notes on all sound set-ups and keep it with you on the set.
Section 2.5I
Work with the Director to unify your vision for the sound of the project.
Section 2.6 Set, Props and Costume Manager
Section 2.6A
Select people any needed members to assist you in designing, creating and obtaining the needed sets, props and costumes for the project.
Section 2.6B
Organize any needed set building or arranging as well as tear down.
Section 2.6C
Organize any needed costume and make-up designs and return all borrowed material.
Section 2.6D
Obtain, maintain, catalogue and return all needed props.
Section 2.6E
Analyze the script for possibilities in each scene’s required sets, prop lists and costumes.
Section 2.6F
Ensure that all props, costumes, set materials and set repair materials required for each day’s shooting are present on the day required.
Section 2.6G
Direct all costume, prop and set concerns while on the set.
Section 2.6H
Work with the Director, Unit Production Manager, Writer and any assistants to unify the vision for the prop, set and costume schemes of each project.
Section 2.7 Music Supervisor
Section 2.7A
Select any needed members to assist you.
Section 2.7B
Organize efforts to obtain any needed performers, composers, or studio time.
Section 2.7C
Analyze the script for musical possibilities.
Section 2.7D
Attend the storyboarding session to understand the intended flow of the movie.
Section 2.7E
With the Director’s approval, select a large number of possible songs for the production and play them during appropriate times on the set.
Section 2.7F
Obtain any needed copyrights within the allotted budget.
Section 2.7G
Attend all showings of the footage to better understand the mood of the production.
Section 2.7H
Keep up with the composer and copyright processes and organize all efforts to make sure a sufficient amount of legal music is available to the Director and Editor during post-production.
Section 2.7I
Work with the Editor and Director to input the music during post-production.
Section 2.7J
Make a collection CD of all music used during the stages of production to give to the members of the club and to catalogue.
Section 2.7K
Work with the Publicity chair to organize any soundtracks or other musical merchandise related to the production.
Section 2.7L
Work with the director, writer, composer and editor to unify the musical vision of each production.
Section 2.8 Music Composer
Section 2.8A
Attend at least the second and last screenings of the footage to better understand the mood of each project.
Section 2.8B
Using loops provided during post-production, compose music to the film that is consistent with the Director’s vision for the project.
Section 2.8C
Work with the Music Supervisor to produce a rights-free, digital copy of a recording of the score within the time allotted by the Director and Editor.
Section 2.8D
Work with the Director to unify the vision for original score on the production.
Section 2.9 Equipment Supervisor
Section 2.9A
Select any needed members to assist you.
Section 2.9B
Analyze the script to form a list of all possible and necessary equipment for each production.
Section 2.9C
Obtain, maintain and return all technical equipment used for each production.
Section 2.9D
Keep a catalogue of all equipment being used on the set.
Section 2.9E
Have a vehicle near that you can use to obtain any last minute equipment.
Committees
Section 1 Standing Committees
Section 1.1 The Production Committee
Section 1.1A
This committee holds the opening meetings of each semester to decide on the dates for script deadlines, script selection deadlines, Director interviews and selection, start of production, end of production, start of post-production, end of post-production, screening date, and the deadline for completing outputs for copying, archiving and web streaming.
Section 1.1B
This committee is to conduct script selection and director selection meetings.
Section 1.1C
This committee is to organize and carry out the education meetings for each phase of production and the guest filmmaker meeting each year.
Section1.1D
Members also follow their specific duties as outlined in Article VI.
Section 2 Special Committees
Section 2.1 Script Selection Committee
Section 2.1A
Any member of the Filmmakers’ Club can be a part of this committee.
Section 2.1B
This committee forms at the beginning of each semester to select the script for that semester.
Section 2.1C
This committee is to last as long as the meeting for selecting the script and then dissolve.
Section 2.2 Director Selection Committee
Section 2.2A
Any member of the Filmmakers’ Club can be a part of this committee.
Section 2.2B
This committee forms at the beginning of each semester to select the director for that semester.
Section 2.2C
This committee is to last as long as the meeting for selecting the script and then dissolve.
Section 2.3 Production Committee Election Committee
Section 2.3A
Any member of the Filmmakers’ Club can join this committee.
Section 2.3B
This committee shall form at the end of the spring semester to interview and elect new positions for the Production Committee.
Section 2.3C
This committee is to last as long as it takes to interview and elect each position in the Production Committee.
Article VIII
Meetings
Section 1 Production Meetings
Section 1.1
Productions meetings are to be held weekly. Attendance is required as stated in Article III, Section 3.
Section 1.2
Before a Director is selected, the President is to lead all meetings.
Section 1.3
During Production, the Director is to lead all meetings.
Section 1.4
After Production, the President is to lead the meetings.
Section 1.5
The purpose of this weekly meeting is to coordinate all efforts of the production, keep members informed of up-coming events, and view weekly shots taken during production.
Section 2 Shoots, Editing, and other Dates on the Production Schedule
Section 2.1
All dates other than the weekly meeting should take place on weekends unless it is unavoidable.
Section 2.2
The Production Schedule is to state which members are required to attend each date.
Section 2.3
All Production dates, or shoots, are lead by the Director. All Post-Production shoots are lead by the Editor and Director. Other dates are decided upon on a case-by-case basis.
Section 2.4
Attendance is required as stated in Article III, Section 3.
Section 3 Educational and Preparatory Meetings
Section 3.1
Dates for these meetings are to be decided upon by the Production Committee in its first meeting of each semester.
Section 3.2
Any member of the Truman State University student body, faculty, administration or staff may attend these meetings without being considered a member.
Section 3.3
Each meeting will be led by a different instructor, as decided upon by the Production Committee in its first meeting.
Article IX
Finances
Section 1
There will be no dues for members of the Filmmakers’ Club.
Section 2 The Budget
Section 2.1
The Production Committee, Director, and Unit Production Manager will form a budget before Production begins.
Section 2.2
The President is to present the budget to the club’s advisor for review and approval.
Section 2.3
The Secretary is to draft a copy to all the members for their review and approval.
Section 2.4
The final budget will be enforced by the Unit Production Manager and the President.
Section 3
Funds will come from the Residential College Program, The Funds Allotment Council, and club fund raising efforts.
Article X
Advisor
Section 1
The club’s advisor must be part of the Residential College Program.
Section 2
The election committee will select the Advisor on a date specified by the Production Committee through an interviewing process.
Section 3 Duties
Section 3.1
The Advisor is to meet with the President at least once every phase of production.
Section 3.2
During meetings, the advisor is to assist the club with advice and services dealing with money, budgeting, publicity needs, constitutional help, and other matters dealing with the University or Residential College Program.
Section 3.3
The advisor may stay with the Filmmakers’ Club until either the advisor decides to leave or the club votes to change advisors.
Section 4 Voting
Section 4.1
When deciding to change advisors a vote must be held and a majority reached.
Section 4.2
When deciding on a new advisor, the election committee will form to interview all candidates and select a new advisor by the deadline specified by the Production Committee.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1
In order to propose an amendment, a member must go through the same process as appeals, outlined in Article III, Section 4.
Section 2
If at the end of the voting meeting the club decides it needs more time to decide, it may take up to one semester to do so.
Section 3
Once an Amendment has been voted upon and a majority reached, the Amendment will go into effect at the beginning of the following semester, unless otherwise stated by the Amendment itself.
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