Booking Policy 2021/22
Student Asset Access Privileges 2
Music Production Weekly Room and Equipment 3
Film Production Equipment Booking 3
Film Production Weekly Room Booking 4
All booking times and limits are visible in SISO. 4
First Year FP and VFX Responsibilities 6
Absence or Delay on Check-Out 7
All students at Catalyst have access to the assets (equipment and rooms) which are designated for their programmes. Classrooms, as well as common areas may also be used by students. In order to ensure that the equipment and rooms which are shared by all will be used fairly, while also remaining in good condition, the following policies apply.
We trust you to take care, be personally responsible, and to let us know when you see problems so that we can fix, or find solutions to them as quickly as possible.
The privilege of booking equipment is entirely dependent on each student's adherence to not only the policies outlined within this document, but also the educational policies and the agreements that students make with tutors, programme leads, and the administrative team at Catalyst. In the event that a student breaks any agreement made with Catalyst, or there is disagreement between parties, or in the case of misconduct all booking privileges may be suspended up until the point that the issue has been resolved.
All bookings take place place through the booking system https://catalyst-berlin.siso.co/ this can also be found under https://moodle.catalyst-berlin.com/- BOOKINGS
Each course and course year has access to shared as well as different course specific equipment and rooms. You may not book equipment which your course does not have access to. Asset Access may change throughout the year.
Some equipment and rooms require training in order to be booked. This training will be communicated and generally integrated into the course structure. Some equipment or room training modules will become available throughout the year. If you are unable to book an asset and have already completed the training, please see a technician.
All booking times and limits are visible in SISO.
Ad-Hoc - If studios are free within 5 minutes of the hours you may book them for 2 hours with a technician without using your bookable time, renewals of such bookings may be made at the end of the booking period if no further bookings have been made by others.
Classrooms - Fabrik 1-3, EMP Lab, and Co-Lab classrooms may be used as long as there are no classes taking place. *Fabrik 3 has film production software ** Fabrik 1, 3, and EMP Lab have music production software.
All booking times and limits are visible in SISO and are subject to change depending on the semester and class structures.
All booking times and limits are visible in SISO.
Ad-Hoc - If studios are free within 5 minutes of the hours you may book them for 2 hours with a technician without using your bookable time, renewals of such bookings may be made at the end of the booking period if no further bookings have been made by others.
Classrooms - Fabrik 1-3, EMP Lab, and Co-Lab classrooms may be used as long as there are no classes taking place. *Fabrik 3 has film production software ** Fabrik 1, 3, and EMP Lab have music production software.
All booking times and limits are visible in SISO and are subject to change depending on the semester and class structures.
Ad-Hoc - If studios are free within 5 minutes of the hours you may book them for 2 hours with a technician without using your bookable time, renewals of such bookings may be made at the end of the booking period if no further bookings have been made by others.
Classrooms - Fabrik 1-3, EMP Lab, and Co-Lab classrooms may be used as long as there are no classes taking place. *Fabrik 3 has film production software ** Fabrik 1, 3, and EMP Lab have music production software.
Books and DVDs can be borrowed from the library in the Tech Shop.
A maximum of 3 books can be taken out for 1 week at a time and can be extended up to 2 weeks, which must be requested before the first week is up. This doesn’t include books in high demand.
DVDs can be borrowed until 10:00 the following day or Monday at 10:00 after weekends.
In case you return a book/DVD late a fine of €0.50 per book/DVD per day will be applied.
In case of loss or damage, books/DVDs must be replaced by the student at cost. If fines reach €20.00 any booking of books/DVDs will be suspended until the fines have been paid.
Regularly scheduled classes have 1st priority to check out equipment and rooms. The on-site tech will make sure to have enough equipment on hand to check out to tutors and students in regular classes. In case of class rescheduling, a cancellation of a booking may occur in order to fulfill the equipment or room requirements for that class.
Curricular projects have 2nd priority, based on availability of equipment and the booking priority on equipment allocated to each class group and programme.
All advance bookings must be made through https://catalyst-berlin.siso.co/. Ad-Hoc bookings are also possible for studio spaces and music equipment that will not use your weekly bookable time. Ad-Hoc bookings can be made only 5 minutes in advance with a technician.
Booked items will only be booked out to the student that has booked the asset on https://catalyst-berlin.siso.co/. The booker must be present before any equipment is released. A student who checks out an asset is solely liable for any loss and/or damage to that asset.
When you request equipment or studios, please request only what is absolutely necessary. If you have questions or need instruction in the use of a particular piece of equipment, please ask the on-site tech.
It is your responsibility to test the equipment to ensure that:
Every item checked out is actually included in the equipment package you are checking out.
The equipment is in its working order and nothing is damaged.
You have everything that you will need.
When you pick up the key for a studio booking you must ensure that:
The room is in proper condition and has been reset by the previous user so that technicians do not hold you accountable for the state of the room at the end of your booking.
You have everything that you will need.
If you require any other Catalyst space not included in the booking system for a film shoot, please forward an email with production details to nathaniel@catalyst-berlin.com. Treat this as if you were inquiring about shooting at any other private location.
All first year film production or VFX students who currently have a kit booked under their name must bring this kit to practical classes with them.
Students who wish to leave their kits at Catalyst may leave them in the film tech shop.
In the case of illness or inability to attend a class, the student must inform the film technicians at techs@dbsfilm.net. A technician will then check the kit and allow it to be used for class. The bookee will not be held liable for damage caused during class.
If a student who currently holds a kit fails to report to a tech their absence in a practical class, their booking will be cancelled and loss of booking privileges for 1 week may follow.
A student who checks out a room or equipment is solely liable for any loss and/or damage.
Terms and conditions as well as the student code of conduct and this document must be agreed to each time a booking is made, this is included in the booking process.
We recommend that all students have third party liability insurance.
Please ensure you are punctual for your scheduled check out time. Latecomers will have to wait while equipment is checked out to those who were on time.
If booked equipment will not be picked up or the pick up will be delayed due to a change, this must be communicated with the on-site tech as soon as possible.
Failure to communicate this change will be registered and can result in loss of booking privileges for one week.
Assets must be returned in person to a tech by the same student whose name is on the booking.
Equipment must be returned in satisfactory fashion, meaning in the same physical and working conditions as received at check-out. Tutorial videos on the packing procedure of Guerrilla Kits are provided on Moodle and Google Drive for student consultation.
Missing equipment and/or items will be charged within two weeks of the return. An invoice will be delivered to the student, tech & facility lead, and the business office for the amount charged for missing equipment.
Missing Keys will also be charged to the student at the cost of replacement. This may be more than €150.00.
Keys should be returned within 5 minutes prior to the end of your booking, leaving the studio or room in its zero state.
Students who check out equipment may transfer liability to fellow students by using the Student Lending Form. If no damage is reported the new bookee assumes total liability for the equipment / room. This document must be entirely filled out and sent to techs@dbsfilm.net
Any damage or operational problems with equipment must be reported immediately to the on-site tech. The student that made the booking must fill out an Equipment Damage Report which can be found here: Equipment Damage Report
The student responsible for the damage may have their booking privileges suspended in the case of negligence until a decision regarding the damage is made as per the Student Misconduct Procedure Stage 1, and the student has made payment for the damage or agreed to a payment schedule and made the first payment.
Students may be notified of repair costs by the facility and technical lead and will receive an invoice for these costs. Payment for damage to equipment must be made within 30 days once the student is notified of the repair cost, or a payment schedule may be arranged with the facility and technical lead. Failure to adhere to any arranged payment schedule will result in loss of booking privileges.
Any loss of assets must be immediately reported to the on-site Tech. The student responsible for the asset may have their booking privileges suspended in the case of misconduct until a decision regarding the loss is made according to the Misconduct Procedure. If the misconduct procedure determination is that payment must be made booking privileges will be restored when the student has made payment for the loss or agreed to a payment schedule and made the first payment of the payment schedule.
Students must file a police report with the appropriate city police if the loss occurred as a result of theft. A copy of the police report must be immediately provided to the tech & facility lead.
Students may be notified of replacement costs by the tech or facility lead and may receive an invoice for payment of costs. Payment for loss of equipment must be made within 30 days once the student is notified of the replacement cost, or a payment rate plan may be arranged with the Catalyst office. Failure to adhere to any arranged payment schedule will result in loss of booking privileges.
In cases of repeat negligent behaviour the Misconduct Procedure may be launched which will look to determine if a pattern of behaviour exists. This pattern behaviour may warrant misconduct proceedings as outlined in the Student Misconduct Procedure, and may in extreme cases ultimately end with expulsion.
All decisions regarding loss of equipment, damage to equipment, suspension of equipment privileges, or revocation of equipment privileges can be made by a Catalyst technician and/or the facility lead.
Any student who loses equipment privileges, or is penalized for loss of equipment, or damage to equipment by a technician may appeal the decision according to the process outlined in the Misconduct Procedure by launching stage one of the Misconduct Procedure with the facility lead.
Requests for an appeal hearing MUST be made by writing to the facility lead no more than 14 calendar days after the student is notified of their loss of booking privileges. If a request for an appeal hearing is not made within 14 calendar days, the student will forfeit their opportunity for an appeal hearing.
In a learning environment it is normal for mistakes and accidents to happen and all incidents are approached from this perspective. In the case of pattern behaviour or negligent and obvious mistreatment of equipment or spaces Catalyst technicians may ban students from equipment and facility access. The following are the baseline automatic bans which may be implemented.
Pattern behaviour may lead to further penalties.
Operating Hours & Booking
The Film Studio & Green Screen can be booked through the Siso booking system. Always refer to the booking system to determine the available time slots.
Access
The student booking the Film Studio is responsible for communicating the terms of this policy to the rest of the crew at the start of the booking, including to 1st Year FP students who do not have booking privileges granted for this room.
Film Studio Training
Students must attend a single training with a tech before being able to book the studio.
You must pick up the key for the Film Studio from a film technician at the time of booking; you may return the key to a music technician in the case of evening bookings.
Access Priority
Curricular workshops
VFX, FP 2nd & 3rd year academic projects
VFX, FP 2nd & 3rd year test shoots
Personal Projects (booking request must be made via email to filmtechs@catalyst-berlin.com, and can be confirmed up to 24 hours in advance)
FP 1st year students may book the Film Studio, though use of the green screen is not permitted.
All access is granted as per bookable time allowances (see Section I of Equipment and Studio Booking Policy)
Usage
You can roll out classroom desks and chairs to the designated storage area outside of the studio. The classroom media cart and LCD panel rack must remain in the studio.
Students booking the Film Studio or Green Screen are responsible for communicating the terms in this policy with the rest of the crew at the start of the booking, including 1st Year FP students who do not have booking privileges granted for this room.
Prohibited
Food and drink (unless they are film props). Catering must be placed outside of the Film Studio area
Paint-like substances (spray paint, color powder, etc.)
Fire or smoking
Taping or nailing anything on the wall
Zeroing
Leave the studio tidy as originally found
Remove any gaffer or tape marked on the floor during shooting
Store back classroom desks and chairs inside the studio at the left
Ensure all lights are turned off
Green Screen Surface
Under no circumstances may you walk on, stand on, or place anything on the curve of the green screen. Always use the pads, mats, and slippers provided.
Ensure that anything placed on the green screen area is free of dust or dirt, and follows the procedure given below.
Sweep the green screen floor area with the designated broom
Use the provided disposable shoe covers or remove your shoes and use socks
Acting shoes must be clean and must not have touched any surface other than the green screen
Trackers:
Use exclusively the designated gum (Bostik)* to glue trackers on the wall
Markers:
Use the film sand markers provided to mark actors positions
Light stands:
Ensure each leg as a tennis ball* on it to prevent scratching
Tripods: ensure every camera tripod is placed on top of the designated tripod pad*
Props:
Ensure that all props will not damage the green screen and have carpet pads*, mats, or soft feet, preventing damage; or, in the case of food and drink, that proper care is taken to ensure spills will not damage the floor
Zeroing:
Remove any Bostik gum left over from the walls
Dust off, clean and store all used mats in the green screen storage with the provided cleaning supplies
Safety
The installed rigging above the green screen is for lighting the green screen only. They are NOT to be used with any other lights or equipment.
Under no circumstances shall the position of the lights on the rigging be changed. This has been fixed for proper green screen lighting of the wall
Hanging anything on the system rail on the ceiling is prohibited.
Electrical: there is a high voltage 3 phase power terminal in the Film Studio. Please speak to a technician before use.
Always ensure you have the correct fire extinguishers present in the Film Studio.
Technical Assistance: there is no guarantee that a film technician will be available in the Film Tech Shop, therefore you must ensure that you have all required equipment when collecting your key.
Booking
The Ensemble may be booked on the booking system for any time after classes have finished.
Use
It is important to note that the flooring in the Ensemble is very sensitive and must be treated with care. As such no food or drink other than bottled water is allowed inside the room.
Absolutely no unprotected furniture on floor matts. Any furniture may damage the flooring. Classroom furniture must remain on the wooden floor.
Props may be placed on the flooring with the use of the black matting that is in the room rolled up for this purpose. First lay out the matting and then carefully move any furniture into place.
No shoes are to be worn inside the Ensemble
Sweep the floor with the broom provided before use to ensure that any unseen dirt does not interfere with your session.
Storage
Storage lockers are available outside the Ensemble room for your belongings. The Screen Acting Programme Lead has the keys and will distribute them at the beginning of term.
Catalyst takes no responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Safety
Once you have booked the room and picked up the key all items within the room are your responsibility, please ensure you lock this space when not in use.
Close all windows when you are done with your booking.