Business Affairs
101
Registration Fee
*payment plans available*
$2,500.00
Business Affairs is often learned on the job, but we believe success starts with a strong foundation.
BA 101 provides graduates and aspiring pros with the essential practices needed to excel in this critical field.
Important Dates:
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2026/2027 Cohort Registration Opens: June 2026
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Program Duration: September 15, 2026 – February 15, 2027 (5 months, with a break for holidays).
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Time: Weekday, one 2-hr session per week (Date and time TBD)
Interactive Learning, Not Just Lectures
Forget boring lectures and 2 hours of note taking. Our certificate program is designed to be interactive and engaging, featuring:
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Online Classes: Led by experienced Hailstorm professionals.
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Real-World Application: Discussion-based learning centered on actual industry projects.
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Comprehensive Curriculum: From reviewing creative to production to talent and music, we cover the full lifecycle of the making of modern advertising materials.
What You Will Gain
Upon completion , students will be equipped to:
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Navigate the BA Landscape: Fully understand the roles, responsibilities, and how BA interacts with brands and creative teams.
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Learn to Manage Production & Budgets: Gain knowledge in production lifecycles, understanding bids, contracts, and insurance.
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Master Talent & Union Contracts: Gain experience with SAG-AFTRA contracts and learn about talent casting, session and use estimating.
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Grow Your Knowledge in Intellectual Property: Deepen your understanding of music licensing, IP laws, and network clearance.
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Understand Regulation: Learn about the regulatory bodies impacting modern marketing materials.
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Soft Skills: Gain presentation skills, Learn empathic and effective communication.
About Me.
Course Syllabus
Module
Topic
Key Areas of Learning
Module 1:
2 Weeks
(w/o Sept 15th - Sept 22nd)
Introduction to Advertising Business Affairs
- What is Business Affairs and their role
- Roles in agency/production/brand
- General lingo
- Life of a project
- Media types
- Quiz/Kahoots
Module 2:
2 Weeks
(w/o Sept 28th & Oct 5th )
Creative Review
- Reviewing Creative Concepts
- Intro to Production
- Fonts/props/artwork/landmarks
- Intellectual Property/Copyright/PD/AI/Trademark
Module 3:
2 Weeks
(w/o Oct 12th & 19th )
Talent 101
- Talent 101 - Talent types (non-union/union)
- SAG-AFTRA Union overview - the basic foundation
- Union Continued, Quiz.
- Session Estimating (homework - session estimate)​
Module 4:
2 Weeks
(w/o Oct 26th & Nov 2nd)
Pre-Production
- Production 101 (include pre-clearance)
- Production Bids, Contracts, AICP 101
- Production Wrap Insurance
- Misc. (Animals, affidavits, props),
- Finance-Estimates/POs
- Quiz
Module 5:
2 Weeks
(w/o Nov 9th & 16th)
*week of Thanksgiving off
Production
- Review homework (session estimate)
- Talent contract preparation (union & nonunion)
- Extras, real people considerations
- Celebrity & Influencer 101 - high-level (research/strategy/vetting)
Module 6:
2 Weeks
(w/o Nov 30th & Dec 7th)
*three weeks off for holidays
Post Production
- Review and processing of talent session/contracts
- VO Sessions/contract, final cast
- Post production agreements
- Rough cut clearance, Edit review, clearance considerations, landmarks etc.
Module 7:
2 Weeks
(w/o Jan 4th & 11th )
Music
- Music - types/lingo
- Research - rights holders/samples
- Public Domain/stock
- Musicologists, negotiation, MFN, AFM, SAG Singers
- Quiz/Kahoots
Module 8:
2 Weeks
(w/o Jan 18th & 25th)
Rights Management
- Final network clearance, Ad-IDs
- Completion report, residual estimating
- Use payments
- Trackers and right management considerations
Module 9:
1 Week
(w/o Feb 1st )
Course Review & Assignment
- Pair students for final presentations, deliver assignment.
- Overall Kahoots
Module 10:
1 Week
(w/o Feb 8th)
Final
- Student Presentations
- Final Exam