VERSED

Most people think of crowdfunding as ‘friends and family’ fundraising for a project. But we're going to show you how crowdfunding can not only get your project off the ground — it can help you build a sustainable film career through a direct connection with your audience.

Join Filmmaker and Seed&Spark’s Marketing Director Sav Rodgers for this can't-miss Crowdfunding to Build Independence Workshop to learn:

• Why audience building is essential for a film career (and crowdfunding)
• How to define, find, talk to and grow your audience
• How to prepare for a successful crowdfunding campaign (including goal, incentives, and communication plan)
• Why staged financing might be right for you

Seed&Spark is the most successful crowdfunding platform for independent filmmaking in the world. Since its inception in 2012, it has helped filmmakers raise more than $80 million to make thousands of movies and shows. Seed&Spark shifts power to communities, making it possible for creators everywhere to make their work sustainably, while accelerating and amplifying its impact.

Get hands-on practice and in-person support on your project budget. Bring your laptop (we'll have a couple of loaners if you don't own a computer) to work on your budget in small groups with other filmmakers and support from practiced producers!

Location: Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

This workshop is part of our VERSED summer workshop series, presented in partnership with the Berkeley Film Foundation, to support filmmakers working on applications for grants, sponsorship or artist support opportunities.

BAVC Media Members get FREE access to all VERSED workshops – become a member today!

A line-by-line breakdown of a documentary feature budget tailored for grant applications led by Oscar-winning producer Annie Small.

This workshop is part of our VERSED summer workshop series, presented in partnership with the Berkeley Film Foundation, to support filmmakers working on applications for grants, sponsorship or artist support opportunities.

BAVC Media Members get FREE access to all VERSED workshops – become a member today!

Hear from Bay Area funders and filmmaker support organizations about what they have to offer in this FREE virtual panel. Panelists will be answering questions, giving their organizations' perspective, and sharing information about upcoming programs with attendees.

Panelists include:

• BAVC Media
• Berkeley Film Foundation
• Frameline
• SFFILM
• The Redford Center

This workshop is part of our VERSED summer workshop series, presented in partnership with the Berkeley Film Foundation, to support filmmakers working on applications for grants, sponsorship or artist support opportunities.

What's the difference between a topic summary, film summary, and artistic approach? How do I talk about my connection to the story and contextualize my point of view? Bring your questions and learn how to utilize the newly updated Non-Fiction Core Application for grants and filmmaker programs!

This workshop is part of our VERSED summer workshop series, presented in partnership with the Berkeley Film Foundation, to support filmmakers working on applications for grants, sponsorship or artist support opportunities.

Learn practical tips from an experienced panel of editors, filmmakers, and application evaluators on how to make your sample stand out and represent the integrity and heart of your project(s). We'll be delving into the art of selecting a compelling work sample for grants, fellowships, and festivals! We will watch and review real samples together, hear live feedback from our panel, and end with an open dialogue. Bring your questions!

Presented in partnership with the Berkeley Film Foundation, to support filmmakers working on applications for grants, sponsorship, or artist support opportunities.

Peace is Loud and BAVC Media present Collective Lens, Peace is Loud’s learning spaces program meant to equip filmmakers with impact frameworks and practices to help them design and implement their own impact campaigns and integrate impact values into their overall filmmaking process.

Impact Fundamentals will cover the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of film impact work. Drawing from Peace is Loud’s holistic approach to film impact, the session will offer values-forward frameworks and tactical skills-sharing around what impact is, what it isn’t, why we do this work, and how to build a strategy for an impact campaign. This session is geared for filmmakers at any career or production stage.

Join interdisciplinary artist, educator, and researcher, Miguel Novelo on Thursday, May 15 at 6pm at Ninth Street Independent Film Center for a hands-on workshop that dives into how to use Adobe Aero.

In this 2-hour workshop, you will learn the tools and methods for nonlinear immersive storytelling with easy-to-access technology. You’ll get an introductory look at the intersection of space and sound, relevant for a variety of formats.

The third workshop of our Screenwriting series, featuring writer/director Boots Riley (Sorry To Bother You, I'm a Virgo).

The second workshop of our Screenwriting series, featuring writer/director Ryan Fleck (Freaky Tales, Half Nelson).

The first workshop of our Screenwriting series: The Black List 101, a virtual conversation, which will cover the ins and outs of The Black List platform. This session will be a moderated chat with Franklin Leonard (founder and CEO) and screenwriter/actor Rafael Casal (Loki, Blindspotting).

In this workshop, Jennifer Petrucelli & Rachel Antell will discuss what led them and the Archival Producers Alliance (APA) to facilitate the creation of industry-wide guidelines around the use of Generative AI in documentary. Co-presented by Catapult Film Fund & ITVS.

Floral arrangements and a golden hour video/photo walk around downtown San Francisco.

Guided by Oakland-based multidisciplinary visual artist and florist Tosha Stimage, and an independent filmmaker, editor, and experimental music composer Daniel Freeman.

In this workshop StoryScroll (formerly Dragon Delusion)—a custom AI tool that helps you visually tell your story—will guide you step by step to discover your story, add details, and bring it to life through visuals.

Taught by Cheng Xu and Shawn Wang, in partnership with Gray Area.

Turn your home/office-recorded sound into a professional work of art. This unique workshop leads participants through all of the steps needed to create their own audio masterpiece. Learn to record high quality audio and make the most impact with your home recording gear.

Taught by Kelley Coyne held at KQED Headquarters in San Francisco.

This is a great class for people who are creating podcasts/social media/any media content that has multiple sounds (vocal, instrumental, sound effects).

Taught by Josephine Shetty hosted on Zoom

A workshop geared towards artists interested in recording in a studio but feel intimidated/shut out by the intense gear talk and tech.

Taught by Emma Markowitz held at Women's Audio Mission in San Francisco.

In the first workshop, you will learn how to create and edit engaging short form videos from reels to more experimental formats.

Taught by Gretchen Carvajal (BRWNGRLZ).

Throw out the rules and learn how to connect with your creativity to write and produce short form videos that stand out!

Taught by Alex “Frak” Fraknoi.

Practical tips from an experienced panel of editors, producers and filmmakers in the industry on how to make your sample stand out and represent the integrity and heart of your project(s).

Led by Ricardo Acosta (Film Editor),  Blair Barnes (Producer & formerly at Vimeo “Staff Picks” and Jin Yoo-Kim (Filmmaker & Co-Director of BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship)

a salon-style ~virtual~ workshop on the way the film process is organized, how power roles play out, what works, and what must change while generating alternative practices!

Facilitated by Anna Rosa, (filmmaker, media theorist and activist) and Jules Retzlaff, otherwise known as Cereal For The Kids.

This workshop will inspire filmmakers who want to make scrappy personal art films in order to build confidence, community, and momentum towards larger art projects in the future.

Taught by San Francisco based filmmaker and experimental music composer, Daniel Freeman.