TWN 2020 Production Workshop

The TWN (Third World Newsreel) Production Workshop is a unique “hands-on” media production training program providing practical skills and resources for emerging filmmakers. This intensive 6 month program, now in its 43rd year, is aimed primarily at members of historically marginalized communities, with limited economic resources and access to mainstream educational institutions or traditional training programs.

Offering tools to create fiction or documentary projects, the Production Workshop carries on TWN’s mission of promoting independent cinema by and about communities of color and other underserved groups and their progressive allies.

The Production Workshop curriculum integrates elements of new digital technologies and transmedia in its training, but its focus is the development of the pre-production, production and post-production skills necessary to take a short 5 minute video project from conception to completion. Working in small groups, workshop members conceive and produce their films with the help of instructors and guest lecturers, professionals working in the field of film/video and transmedia. Students are expected to complete one individual short video project during the program.

The Production Workshop meets one evening a week at 6:30 PM in the offices of TWN, and an additional 6-8 Saturdays for labs. The time commitment needed to participate in the program is high and selected fellows must be able to attend regular class meetings as well as meet the out-of-class demands of preproduction, production and post-production. Prior film, video or related experience is helpful but not required; self-initiative, openness to feedback, a progressive and collaborative spirit are, along with a commitment to meeting class production deadlines and completing one’s film project.

The TWN Production Workshop is led by Chrystian Rodriguez and Daniel Kim and is dedicated to the memory of Herman Lew, longtime Workshop Director/filmmaker/cinematographer. Past Workshop grads include award winning filmmakers Daresha Kyi, Yance Ford, Byron Hurt, Renee Tajima-Peña, Jamal Joseph, and Randy Redroad.

Requirements

The Production Workshop meets one evening a week at 6:30 PM in the offices of TWN, and an additional 6-8 Saturdays for labs. The time commitment needed to participate in the program is high and selected fellows must be able to attend regular class meetings as well as meet the out-of-class demands of preproduction, production and post-production. Prior film, video or related experience is helpful but not required; self-initiative, openness to feedback, a progressive and collaborative spirit are, along with a commitment to meeting class production deadlines and completing one’s film project.

The Production Workshop is limited to 9 participants. A written application is required and selected applicants are chosen for interviews. The cost of the workshop is $750.