Instructors
Each instructor at our Hollywood film school brings exceptional individual
experiences and values to our students at Cinema Arts Tech based on lifetime
careers as professional filmmakers. Scheduled Instructors for Hollywood film
training:
experiences and values to our students at Cinema Arts Tech based on lifetime
careers as professional filmmakers. Scheduled Instructors for Hollywood film
training:
JAMES KELLY DURGIN is the school Director for Cinema Arts Tech
and an Instructor for both the Script Supervisor Course and the Line
Producer/Production Manager/Production Accountant Course. He has
worked on over two hundred films in his long lasting and still current
career. Mr. Durgin is an active working Script Supervisor, working on
projects every year, including 2008. He insists that, "Part of keeping
modern and not becoming old fashioned is to keep working with, and
gaining experience with, all of the latest technologies!". He has
worked as Script Supervisor on shows employing HD and Digital
formats and one of his recent credits was working as a Script
Supervisor on a Red Camera show in May of 2008, his second Red
Camera shoot this year!.
and an Instructor for both the Script Supervisor Course and the Line
Producer/Production Manager/Production Accountant Course. He has
worked on over two hundred films in his long lasting and still current
career. Mr. Durgin is an active working Script Supervisor, working on
projects every year, including 2008. He insists that, "Part of keeping
modern and not becoming old fashioned is to keep working with, and
gaining experience with, all of the latest technologies!". He has
worked as Script Supervisor on shows employing HD and Digital
formats and one of his recent credits was working as a Script
Supervisor on a Red Camera show in May of 2008, his second Red
Camera shoot this year!.
With his years of production management experience, he is also scheduled to produce a
theatrical feature film later this year with a budget of well over twenty million dollars! And
he still constructs film budgets and shooting schedules for producers every year as he has
been doing since starting in the business a long time ago.
"Durgin's Double-Check Script Supervising Record Keeping System is so advanced that
even his own grads of a long time ago are not up to date, including some trying to train
others today," says Kevin Franzen, a recent grad from his program.
"Most Script Supervising instructors attempt to train people to work in a key job in films in
just a comparatively few hours," continues Franzen. "One instructor trains dozens of Script
Supervisors with only one day of training, if you can believe that!"
Durgin's hundred hour plus training program, including computer operation of script
supervising, is necessary to adequately prepare his grads for top of the line professional
Script Supervising. It is a key production job, not entry-level!" Franzen adds that, "His On-
The-Job individual tutoring for each student after the classroom training is what elevates
his students to such a high plain of ability and makes them the best Script Supervisors in
the country. He continues training each one until becoming professional!"
It is not just a coincidence that so many of Hollywood's biggest pictures, top episodic TV
shows and commercials are staffed by Durgin's grads. SPIDERMAN I, II, and III, PIRATES
OF THE CARIBBEAN I, II, and III, TERMINATOR 4 (in production), THE REEF now in
production in Hawaii, WITHOUT A TRACE, and ER to name a few are all staffed by Script
Supervisors trained by Durgin in his Double-Check Script Supervisor System.
Several authors have acknowledged his contributions to their published books, including
John Cones’ “FILM FINANCE AND DISTRIBUTION,” Cullen Chambers’ “THE MOVIE
EXTRAS GUIDEBOOK”, Skip Press’ Film Writers Encyclopedia, “An Encyclopedia of
Film and Television” and many others.
Dozens of Script Supervisors taught by Mr. Durgin are currently working on Feature Films,
Tele-features, Movies Of the Week, Mini-Series, Episodic Series, and Sitcoms (both film
and tape) at the major studios and also in the independent field. A large percentage of
Commercials made in Hollywood and, also, many made in New York, are staffed by Script
Supervisors trained by him. Likewise are many hundreds of Music Videos, Interactive
Videos, Educational, Industrial, Religious, Military, and Documentary Films. Some are
Producing, some are Directing, even Editing.
"It is far superior for an aspiring Producer, Director, Writer, Actor to be paid for learning
how to pursue career objectives by working on productions inside the industry," states Mr.
Durgin, " than working outside the industry by waiting on tables, parking cars or working
temp office jobs." "Inside people," claims Durgin, "have a much better chance of film
success than they do by struggling as outside people trying to get in!"
Script Supervising is the stepping-stone to Directing. Many prominent Directors, including
some recently trained by Durgin, started by working as Script Supervisors. "John
Scjlessinger, an Academy Award Director told me that he started as a Script Supervisor,"
says Durgin. "Also, Walter Mirisch told me last month that Sam Peckingpah started in that
job." It's been said that even John Ford and Alfred HItchcock started films in that position.
Communicate by e-mail to: jimkellydurgin@yahoo.com. Or telephone 818-787-8886 and
talk directly to him. He is reachable and can provide much more information, especially for
your film career.
theatrical feature film later this year with a budget of well over twenty million dollars! And
he still constructs film budgets and shooting schedules for producers every year as he has
been doing since starting in the business a long time ago.
"Durgin's Double-Check Script Supervising Record Keeping System is so advanced that
even his own grads of a long time ago are not up to date, including some trying to train
others today," says Kevin Franzen, a recent grad from his program.
"Most Script Supervising instructors attempt to train people to work in a key job in films in
just a comparatively few hours," continues Franzen. "One instructor trains dozens of Script
Supervisors with only one day of training, if you can believe that!"
Durgin's hundred hour plus training program, including computer operation of script
supervising, is necessary to adequately prepare his grads for top of the line professional
Script Supervising. It is a key production job, not entry-level!" Franzen adds that, "His On-
The-Job individual tutoring for each student after the classroom training is what elevates
his students to such a high plain of ability and makes them the best Script Supervisors in
the country. He continues training each one until becoming professional!"
It is not just a coincidence that so many of Hollywood's biggest pictures, top episodic TV
shows and commercials are staffed by Durgin's grads. SPIDERMAN I, II, and III, PIRATES
OF THE CARIBBEAN I, II, and III, TERMINATOR 4 (in production), THE REEF now in
production in Hawaii, WITHOUT A TRACE, and ER to name a few are all staffed by Script
Supervisors trained by Durgin in his Double-Check Script Supervisor System.
Several authors have acknowledged his contributions to their published books, including
John Cones’ “FILM FINANCE AND DISTRIBUTION,” Cullen Chambers’ “THE MOVIE
EXTRAS GUIDEBOOK”, Skip Press’ Film Writers Encyclopedia, “An Encyclopedia of
Film and Television” and many others.
Dozens of Script Supervisors taught by Mr. Durgin are currently working on Feature Films,
Tele-features, Movies Of the Week, Mini-Series, Episodic Series, and Sitcoms (both film
and tape) at the major studios and also in the independent field. A large percentage of
Commercials made in Hollywood and, also, many made in New York, are staffed by Script
Supervisors trained by him. Likewise are many hundreds of Music Videos, Interactive
Videos, Educational, Industrial, Religious, Military, and Documentary Films. Some are
Producing, some are Directing, even Editing.
"It is far superior for an aspiring Producer, Director, Writer, Actor to be paid for learning
how to pursue career objectives by working on productions inside the industry," states Mr.
Durgin, " than working outside the industry by waiting on tables, parking cars or working
temp office jobs." "Inside people," claims Durgin, "have a much better chance of film
success than they do by struggling as outside people trying to get in!"
Script Supervising is the stepping-stone to Directing. Many prominent Directors, including
some recently trained by Durgin, started by working as Script Supervisors. "John
Scjlessinger, an Academy Award Director told me that he started as a Script Supervisor,"
says Durgin. "Also, Walter Mirisch told me last month that Sam Peckingpah started in that
job." It's been said that even John Ford and Alfred HItchcock started films in that position.
Communicate by e-mail to: jimkellydurgin@yahoo.com. Or telephone 818-787-8886 and
talk directly to him. He is reachable and can provide much more information, especially for
your film career.
Tom Joyner is an instructor at Cinema Arts Tech film school and brings his depth and
breath of experience as a Directors Guild of America Council member and former Vice
President of Production for Worldwide Picture Completion bond company. He also served
as Vice President of Feature Productions for Warner Bros, Inc., as well as Executive
Production Manager for Walt Disney Pictures. Mr. Joyner’s Production Management credits
include box office sensations: PREDATOR 2, POLTERGEIST II, THE OTHER SIDE, THE
BLUES BROTHERS, STARMAN, AGAINST ALL ODDS, TENDER MERCIES, MORE
AMERICAN GRAFFITI, and JAWS 2. Mr. Joyner’s Assistant Director credits include
popular hits: ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN with Clint Eastwood, JAWS, and the
SUGARLAND EXPRESS both with Steven Spielberg. He also co-produced PREDATOR 2.
Cleve Landsberg was production manager on BRUCE ALMIGHTY, produced DENNIS
THE MENACE, THE DISTRICT, WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S and has produced many feature
films. He is currently chairman of the Directors Guild of America Council of Production
Managers and Assistant Directors and was on the DGA negotiating committee which in one
week successful signed the current agreement with the motion picture producers.
D. Scott Easton's credits include associate producer/ UPM on GODS AND GENERALS,
THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE, and Steven Spielberg's “DEEP
IMPACT. His Unit Production Manager credits include: STUART LITTLE, LOST WORLD -
JURASSIC PARK, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, and ADAMS FAMILY VALUES.
Randy Turrow holds his tenure as President of the mentorship program for the Directors
Guild of America and is a member of the Special Effects Committee.. He is a Producer of
many films, a Production Manager and Assistant Director. His most recent film as
Producer is MAN IN THE CHAIR, starring Christopher Plummer.
Kim Kurumada is recent past Chairman of the DGA UPM/AD Councei. His credits include:
1. John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001) (unit production manager)2. 15 Minutes
(2001) (unit production manager)3. Swing Vote (1999) (TV) (unit production manager)4.
Vampires (1998) (unit production manager)5. Switchback (1997) (unit production
manager: second unit)6. Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997) (TV) (unit production
manager)7. House Arrest (1996/I) (production manager)8. Undercover Blues (1993)
(unit production manager)9. Life Stinks (1991) (production manager)10.Problem Child 2
(1991) (production manager)11.Class Action (1991) (unit production manager)12.Solar
Crisis (1990) (production manager)13. Perfect (1985) (executive producer /unit
production manager) and many other productions.
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