Become a BAVC Media Member

Becoming a Member is the easiest way to join BAVC Media’s vibrant and diverse community of artists, media makers, activists and freelancers. Members enjoy year-round benefits, including discounts on BAVC Media classes, invitations to special events and networking opportunities, facilities access, and more.

Whether you’re looking for yourself or your organization, there’s a Membership level that’s right for you. Join today!

Membership Benefits

  • Discounts on all BAVC Media classes
  • Flexible access to BAVC Media spaces (work on your project at BAVC Media! See FAQ for details)
  • SF Commons public access services (for San Francisco Residents only), including content submission for broadcast and free training on field equipment, edit suites, Flash studio use, and audio recording suite use
  • Eligibility to apply to BAVC Media’s MediaMaker Fellowship and the MediaMaker Connect mentorship program
  • Eligibility to apply for Fiscal Sponsorship
  • Exclusive member events, panels, workshops, screenings, mixers, feedback sessions, working groups and more
  • Discounts with local and national film production retailers (see FAQ below for details)
  • Exclusive discounts from BAVC Media community partners (e.g. discounted submission to the Drunken Film Fest Oakland and regular discounts events at the Roxie Theater)
  • Extra rewards when you donate – BAVC Media members can get pins, tote bags, and more for a smaller donation

MediaMaker Community Membership

3 Ways To Pay

Low Income

$10/year

For those who want to join the BAVC Media community of media makers and allow the support of our community to subsidize the cost.

Base

$40/year

For those who want to join and help sustain the BAVC Media community of media makers.

Supporter

$120/year

For those who want to give back to the BAVC Media community and help others afford our programs and services.

MediaMaker PLUS Membership

PLUS

$240/year

Upgrade your membership to get even more!

Perfect for partner companies, organizations, and individuals and those who want to invest in BAVC Media and enjoy additional member benefits.

  • All benefits above (for one individual) PLUS:
    • The ability to host one party or event per quarter at BAVC Media headquarters in San Francisco (subject to approval). Possible examples include kickoff parties, fundraisers, board meetings, and workshops. [additional staffing fees may apply]
    • Eligibility to submit a guest blog post to BAVC Media’s blog (publication at BAVC Media’s discretion)
    • Annual half-hour legal consultation with attorney and film producer George M. Rush
    • Early invitation to BAVC Media events

Questions?

We’ve got answers.

Check out the FAQ section below or feel free to call (415) 558-2116 or email us.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a few ways you can renew your membership:

  • Through our website by adding a new membership to your cart, just like you’re signing up for the first time.
  • In person at our office located at 145 9th St., Suite 101, San Francisco
  • By mailing a check along with your up-to-date contact information
  • By calling the Accounting team at 415-558-2112 and paying with a credit card over the phone.
  • Emailing our Office Manager to request an email invoice payable online through Paypal

If you are renewing online, choose the level you’d like to renew at and go through the registration process normally – it’s exactly the same whether you are a new or renewing member. If you are a renewing member who has already created a BAVC Media online account, log in to your account first (by clicking “Log In” at the top of the page) and you’ll be redirected straight to the payment screen. If you’ve forgotten your username or password, we can retrieve them for you, just email membership@bavc.org.

We know that financial insecurity can look different for different people and we encourage you to pay at whatever level you are comfortable affording. We trust that, if your situation changes in the future, you will choose to renew at a higher level, to help support others who might struggle to pay membership fees.

That said, the City and County of San Francisco consider the following documents as Proof of Low Income status for their purposes:

  • Your last available tax return (showing that you earn less than $23,750/year)

or proof of enrollment in one of the following:

  • Food stamps
  • Healthy San Francisco
  • Medi-Cal
  • CalWORKS
  • Section 8 housing
  • a free and reduced school lunch program
  • the MUNI Lifeline program
  • Social Security

Additionally, we found the resources and metrics in this blog to be helpful for making sense of sliding scales.

All members receive discounts on classes. For example:

  • On a one-day class members save $50 – membership can pay for itself right off the bat!
  • On a two-day class a members save $80-$90 on each and every class.
  • On our Portfolio Development class a member saves $140 bucks! Holy cow!
  • And on our DSLR Bootcamp a member saves $220. That’s like a slush fund for your next gear purchase.

As a BAVC Media member, you have access to computers with video editing software in the Access Lab for up to 8 hours a month (unless you are working on content for SF Commons). To make a reservation, contact membership@bavc.org.

You may also occasionally access other free computer labs when available for open lab time. Our Operations Manager, Sara, can tell you up to two weeks in advance whether there will be additional lab space open for members – just email membership@bavc.org to ensure your spot.

Please note open access to the facility is on hold. We hope to provide flexible workspace for our members again once we rebuild our capacity. Please contact membership@bavc.org if you would like to organize a tour of our space at Ninth Street Independent Film Center.

As a BAVC Media member, you can have flexible access to our space. This includes the ability to reserve time (as available) for meetings or gatherings related to a media project you are working on. To make a reservation, please contact membership@bavc.org. Additionally, you may drop by to work in our lounge or other open spaces on occasion so long as you sign in with our building manager, follow our community guidelines, and are courteous with your use of the facilities.

Rental equipment is only available to SF Commons Producers for check out. If you are both a BAVC Media member and a resident of the City of San Francisco, you are eligible to use this equipment to produce a show for the SF Commons Public Access channel. Additional services available to SF Commons Producers include: production & post-production training, drop-in editing stations in the Access Lab, Live Studio trainings and reservations, and ongoing workshop and group production opportunities. For more information, visit SF Commons.

For information about SF Commons and to submit your show, contact Javan Jiles, SF Commons Equipment Coordinator, at javan[at]BAVC Media[dot]org or call 415.558.2125.

To find out about the classes we offer and to sign up, visit learn.bavc.org

Not sure if you should be in intro or intermediate? Or just have questions about classes? Please contact our Advanced Training and Workforce Development Team at edu@bavc.org.

BAVC Media is pleased to partner with the following companies to offer discounts to our members. Visit any of these locations and receive a discount on services rendered on products and/or services purchase. Be sure to mention your BAVC Media membership prior to purchase (you will be required to show proof of membership).

AUDIO SERVICES

  • Polarity Post Production offers 10% off all professional audio services. Audio post-production, recording studios, digital audio production, mastering and replication. Please note that this discount does not apply to localization projects.
    • 69 Green St. San Francisco, CA 94114. Phone: 415.421.6622

TAPE TRANSFERS AND DUPLICATION

EQUIPMENT SALES AND RENTAL

  • 10% off in-house rentals at Express Media. (See above for contact information).
  • 10% off at Borrow Lenses, the largest video and photography equipment rental company in the US. Discount available to use for one purchase only. All products are individually cleaned and specifications checked and recalibrated by expert photographer aficionados. All rentals are sent with Fed Ex ensuring your rentals arrive on time. Order online here.

LIGHTING RENTAL

  • 20% off all lighting rentals and purchases at Little Giant Lighting & Grip Co.
    • 3050 23rd St. [Entrance is on Treat St.] San Francisco, CA 94110
    • Phone: 451.626.3555

EXPENDABLES

  • 10% off at JCX Expendables. Their motto: “Use ‘Em, Abuse ‘Em…they’re not flesh and blood.”
    • 2413 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA 94110
    • Phone: 415.824.1371

COSTUMES

STOCK FOOTAGE

  • Oddball Film and Video has amazing collection of eclectic and rare footage to add depth to your project. Discounts on selected services and footage to be determined on a per-project basis.

AMENITIES

  • 5% off rentals at City-Rent-A-Car. If you are coming to the Bay Area and need a car.
    • 1433 Bush St. San Francisco, CA 94109. Phone: 415.359.1331

Still have more questions about Member discounts? Contact membership@bavc.org.

Please note that only members who are also currently BAVC Media students are eligible for a discount on Adobe products. Please contact membership at membership@bavc.org for a letter certifying that you are a student at BAVC Media. You can then contact Adobe directly requesting a discount. For more information, please read Adobe’s student software discount page.

As a BAVC Media member, you are eligible for the standard educational discount on Apple products purchased through BAVC Media’s online Apple store.

For a new temporary password or to change your username, please call or email the Webmaster.

We are not currently providing membership cards to new or current members. If you need evidence of a BAVC Media Membership, please email membership@bavc.org.

BAVC Media is located on the first floor of the Ninth Street Independent Film Center, at 145 9th St #101, San Francisco, CA 94103.