SFTV Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, you must permit a location before your shoot, even on campus. Unless Production Administration has made a specific exception for your course, SFTV always requires a permit.

See Film Permits

The best way to find crew is to be on your classmate's sets. Help out your fellow filmmakers and they will help you out. SFTV also keeps a directory of student writers and filmmakers so you can list your availability and search for crew.

See SFTV Crew Directory

Each services department has their own reservation forms and guidelines. See their sections in this handbook or stop by in person and someone will be happy to assist you.

See Camera, L&G, RECA, and Production Sound reservations

Refer to the Post Production Handbook for more information.

See Post Production

You must be currently enrolled in an SFTV class to use SFTV resources and facilities. SFTV does not issue equipment for outside of class projects and the film school’s insurance policy cannot cover independent projects.

See Access To Production Support

To reserve your camera and lighting and grip packages you should participate in the lottery on the Thursday two weeks prior to your shoot.

See Camera Lottery and L&G Lottery

No.

Any production activity that takes place in a body of water (pool, river, ocean) must have an appropriately certified lifeguard on duty during the water shot(s) or sequence. If a cast or crew member so much as dips a toe into the water a lifeguard is required on set.

See Lifeguards

During your approval meeting with Production Administration, any script action that reads like a stunt will need to be discussed. If it is determined the action can be achieved safely and without the use of a stunt person, then Head of Production will tell you. However, if the action requires a stunt person or stunt coordinator, then you will be required to you hire them.

See Stunts

Intimacy Coordinators are trained and accredited professionals who protect the safety of actors by ensuring scenes of intimacy are performed to previously consented upon choreography and blocking. Production Administration will review your scenes of intimacy during Project Approval  and inform you if an Intimacy Coordinator is required.

See Intimacy Coordinators

Every approved SFTV project is assigned a unique catalogue number called a Production Number. Production numbers are used to identify a project and are a required part of the file name students use to upload their films for delivery. You can find your production number after submitting your project for approval on the On Tap Dashboard. Numbers are formatted as SFTV####. 

RECA is short for Recording Arts, the recording and audio engineering major at SFTV. The RECA desk services students who book recording studio time and issues equipment for editing in Pro Tools.

See Recording Arts Office

In SFTV's continuing effort to mirror industry practices and to emphasize safety on set, we have created a Production Safety Training Program. Students are both required and expected to embrace “safety first” as the on-set mantra. The program consists of four training sessions that address key safety issues. One of these is mandatory for all SFTV students working on sets, two are strongly recommended for all SFTV students working on sets and mandatory for all students working in Camera, Grip and Electric, and Sound on set, and one is optional. Please refer to the table on the Safety Badges page to learn which sessions you’re required to complete.

For each session, you’ll either attend a live presentation or watch online via Brightspace. Each session is followed by a quiz. Once you pass the quiz, you’ll earn a badge for that session. You must receive 100% on the quiz in order to pass. If you do not pass after three attempts, please contact SFTV Production Administration to reset your account so you may take the quiz again. Your earned badges are visible in your Brightspace account. 

You only need to take each mandatory quiz and receive each mandatory badge once during your time at SFTV unless otherwise noted. Most trainings can be taken over the summer unless you are a first year and just beginning at Loyola Marymount University, in which case trainings will be available starting at the time of your orientation. We encourage everyone interested in being on set to take the quizzes and trainings as soon as possible so that they may be on set immediately. 

See Safety Badges

Delivery is the final export and upload of your project. Once your project is uploaded to the designated location on the server it is considered Delivered and final.  Your instructor will inform you of when and where you will deliver your film.

See Post Production

The SFTV Student Production Handbook lists staff contact information in each Services Department section. If you have a general question about SFTV, contact SFTV Production Administration and their office will direct you to the appropriate resource.