Studio Culture

A CREATIVE, INCLUSIVE SPACE

It is really important to me that our classroom is a genuinely inclusive, anti-racist, creative and democratic space. Kindness and trust are two crucial values in this room, and I expect everyone to help create a space where people feel comfortable sharing ideas, trying new things, making mistakes and doing work they are proud of.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

I want students to have a real say in how this class works and in the work they make. Every semester, we will create our classroom agreements together, and throughout the year you will make many of your own creative decisions about what you want to make, how you want to approach a project and who you collaborate with.

You will also have a lot of independence in this class. Many lessons are designed so that you can work at your own pace, go back when you need more practice, and move ahead when you are ready. With that independence comes responsibility: you need to keep track of your progress, use your class time well and ask for help when you need it.

FINDING YOUR PEOPLE

One of the best parts of this class is getting to work with people you might not normally spend time with and making new friends in the process. You will have different ideas, different working styles and different opinions about what a project should become. Learning how to listen, compromise, speak up, work through conflict and still move a project forward is an important part of making films together, and it is a skill that matters well beyond this classroom. 

Media production is inherently collaborative, so being a reliable member of a group really matters in this course. That means showing up to class on time, being prepared, genuinely participating and following through on the work you have agreed to do. Other people will be depending on you in order to get their own work done.

TAKING CREATIVE RISKS

You do not need to already be “good at film” to belong here. I want you to be willing to experiment, try something unfamiliar and make choices that may not work perfectly the first time. Some of the best work comes from figuring things out as you go, learning from what did not work and trying again rather than worrying too much about what you think I want you to make.

SHARING THE STUDIO

We share this classroom, the computers and a very large amount of film equipment. Much of that equipment has been purchased through years of student fundraising and support for the program, so we all have a responsibility to take care of it. Put things back where they belong, leave the studio ready for the next group, and let me know right away if something is damaged, missing or not working properly.

THE GOAL - JOY!!

I want you to find some joy and meaning in the creative process, build relationships with the people around you, become more confident working independently, and leave this class with work you are genuinely proud of.