Deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 22 at 11:59PM PT. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Please note there is a fee to participate. However, accessibility is important to us, and we will be offering the fee on a sliding scale to ensure nobody is turned away due to financial hardship. See more below.
Offerings & Structure
- A cohort of 15 people will be selected to participate in a variety of upskilling training sessions in the area of video production. The program is hybrid in-person/online:
- All weekend trainings are in-person at BAVC Media's facility in San Francisco, CA. Trainings are a mixture of lecture, demonstration, and practice.
- Supplemental 1-2 hr workshops will be virtual and held on weeknight evenings.
- Career counseling and capstone project advising will be offered in-person or virtually.
- The duration of the program is approximately 2-3 months, with an intensive course schedule. Participants will need to commit to attending all weekend classes (listed below) and weeknight/extraneous programming.
- Each participant will emerge from the program with a well-rounded foundation in video production, along with enhanced technical skills, a stronger portfolio via a capstone project, and lasting connections to mentors and peers.
- Working industry professionals will serve as instructors, offering hands-on guidance and expertise across each course, while BAVC Media's Advanced Training staff provide overall program oversight.
- The program is designed to be interactive, with participants working collaboratively alongside instructors to understand how a production comes together, from story structure and directing to lighting, audio, and on-set workflow and organization.
- Each participant should leave the program feeling more confident in entering a junior level job in the video production industry.
Primary Outputs
- Practical, hands-on skills across the core areas of video production, including lighting, audio, interviewing, etc. - plus the foundational knowledge of how a production actually comes together on set
- Professional development and career readiness, built through dedicated career coaching and collaborative coursework designed to enhance your chances of landing a job in the industry
- A strong professional network, including relationships with instructors, working industry professionals, and a cohort of like-minded peers
- A capstone project that demonstrates your ability to weave together everything you've learned–from pre-production planning and budgeting to production workflow, directing, lighting, and audio–into a single, cohesive piece of work
Eligibility & Criteria
- All applicants should be interested in pursuing video production as a career and learning in a cohort-type environment
- This program aims to serve as a "crash course" introduction preparing adult participants to become entry-level crew members on independent productions or commercially as the next step on their path to sustainable video production careers.
- Attention to detail, ability to communicate clearly and proactively, and a highly collaborative approach.
- Availability to commit to 2-3 months of consistent, near-weekly programming, which means multiple, sometimes consecutive, weekends within this time period
- Basic familiarity with camera operation and different roles on set.
- Basic familiarity with video production equipment (e.g. tripods, mics, etc.)
- Basic knowledge of pre-production.
Expected Time Commitments
- Training will occur mostly in October and November, and the program is expected to wrap up by early/mid December 2026
- Trainees will meet for 8 hours for each in-person training session, from 10am to 6pm (includes 1-hr lunch break) at BAVC Media's facility in San Francisco.
- Trainees are expected to be available in-person for the following weekends:
- October 3-4: Video Production: Intro
- October 24: Cinematography: Lighting
- November 7: Audio for Video Production
- November 14: Documentary: Interviewing Techniques
- Other sessions that will be offered virtually on weekday nights (approximately 1-2 hrs each), dates TBD:
- Production Workflow & Organization
- Career Panel Q&A
- Directing & Story Structure
- Budgeting & Legal
- Career counseling is available in a group and 1:1 format. While there is no set amount of time dedicated to this, it is expected that participants will meet with our career couch at least twice.
- Lastly, capstone project advising will also be available in a group and 1:1 format. Participants are expected to meet with their advisor to ensure progress.
- Attendance at all in-person and virtual activities is mandatory, otherwise your place in the cohort may be relinquished to another applicant.
Application Timeline (please save these dates)
- Tuesday, September 22 @ 11:59PM PT: Applications due, application will officially close at midnight
- BAVC Media will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis
- By September 29: Trainees will have been notified of acceptance into the program
- By October 2: Trainees must confirm participation and pay for their participation
- Saturday, October 3: First day of training
Pricing
- BAVC Media is committed to providing high quality training to everyone. Please see our sliding scale pricing structure below. All tiers receive the same training experience.
- Full tuition/Tier 1 = $1500
- Tier 2 = $1000
- Tier 3 = $500
- Tier 4 = <$500 or free
- Proof of income may be requested to determine which tier applicant is eligible for.
We are also offering a post-production program alongside this program. Application here: https://form.jotform.com/262307245457155. You may apply to both programs, but cannot participate in both programs.
Have questions? Please email edu@bavc.org for support.