7 Gift Ideas That Should Be On Your Radar
Whether you are searching for a gift for an emerging filmmaker in your life or looking to expand your own skills in the new year—we have our fav picks to get any creative up and going in 2023.
2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
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2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 🎅
THE GEAR HEAD
Camera Basics gets anyone in the classroom moving with gear used to create meaningful stories. The focus lies on the cameras themselves, but students also work with sound and lighting gear. Going beyond technical skills, students explore exercises with setting up shoot scenarios and well…capturing them. Another great foundational class for an emerging creator with no prior camera knowledge required.
Want more gear courses? Check out all film production courses we offer right here.
A weekend, hands-on workshop designed to teach the fundamentals of camera operation, composition, and visual storytelling.
Through guided exercises, you’ll get hands-on experience with a myriad of camera setup, exposure, and framing while building the confidence to bring your ideas to life.
What You'll Learn:
Camera Operation: resolution, frame rate, exposure, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and more.
Types of Cameras: Explore DSLR and non-DSLR cameras, understanding their unique features.
Types of Lenses: Explore types of lenses, adapters and troubleshooting
Composition & Framing: Learn how to frame and follow action effectively.
Understanding Lighting: Learn how lighting impact camera and image crafting, exploring how light shapes mood, depth, and visual storytelling.
Accessories: Get hands-on with tripods, ND filters, LCD screens, light meters, and more.
Technical Terminology: Gain an understanding of film-specific terms to enhance communication and professionalism.
Hands-On Experience:
Work with at least three different types of cameras and other film/video gear such as lighting, flags, scrims, apple boxes, c-stands and more.
Cameras used may include Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro, 4K DSLR, 6K Cinema Camera
This workshop offers hands-on exercises in film and video production through practical scene recreations across various settings. Participants will tackle indoor and outdoor shoots, from interview setups to location filming, putting their new knowledge of video production and camera basics to the test - this includes camera operation and lighting. Each session includes opportunities for applying techniques, receiving professional feedback, and skill refinement.
Optional: If you own a camera and would like to learn how to work with it, feel free to bring it along!
MORE INFORMATION
Who Should Attend: This course is ideal for individuals interested in learning the fundamentals of video camera operation and filmmaking best practices, including shot types, angles, composition, and essential camera accessories. No prerequisites required — beginners are welcome! Students must be 16 years or older to enroll.
What’s Included: All equipment is provided for the duration of the class. Participants are also welcome to bring their own video camera if they’d like hands-on practice with personal gear.
Certificate: This course is part of Austin School of Film’s Film Forward Certificate Program
Certification: This course, along with all Austin School of Film programs, is approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.
Damage + Responsibility Clause: Students will be working with professional filmmaking equipment. Respect for the tools and studio environment is essential. While Austin School of Film is not responsible for damages to personal property due to misuse, staff will provide proper instruction and supervision to ensure safe operation throughout the workshop.
HOW CAN I START A PAYMENT PLAN?
Anyone is eligible for a payment plan for any class if they need it! Email us to get started on a payment plan at classes@austinfilmschool.org. We require 50% of the tuition cost at registration and can divide the remaining balance in up to 2 additional equal payments.
THE SOFTWARE FIEND
Okay, hear us out. While this isn’t technically a film editing platform, it is an industry standard for ANYONE in creative media, film, digital art, or really any sector to know Photoshop.
Photoshop is a powerhouse platform for creating digital assets for all types of industries. Film posters? Film mattes? Social Media images? Selling products? Our Intro to Photoshop class is a perfect start.
The list goes on…and on. We’re firm believers this program should be in every creatives toolbox. It pairs nicely with it’s sister-program Intro to Adobe Illustrator if you’re looking to double the design impact.
THE DREAMER
For those interested in diving into the world of filmmaking but have no prior skills or don’t know where to begin— our Digital Filmmaking: Script to Screen is the PERFECT stepping stone. Digital Filmmaking: Script to Scree is a two month foundational course for anyone interested in learning the art of narrative storytelling.
Our educators (who are real filmmakers) guide students through all phases of production. Students exit the course with a completed short film!
Got a writer in your life? Our Intro to Screenwriting class is another great recommendation for beginners.
Deadline to register for our special summer session is June 1, 2026.
The upcoming summer session runs for 6 weeks with two built-in lab days, replacing the traditional 8-week format, designed for more flexible schedules, travel, and participants visiting Austin.
Our beginner filmmaking course — a hands-on introduction to the complete process of making a film from concept to screen.
This hands-on beginner course is the perfect starting point for anyone eager to make films but unsure where to begin. Whether you’re completely new to filmmaking or a self-taught creator ready to sharpen your skills, this is our recommended starting place for all aspiring filmmakers.
Over 8 weeks, students will be guided through every stage of the filmmaking process — from developing an idea and writing a script to filming, editing, and screening the finished project at a public showcase. Along the way, you’ll build a strong foundation in storytelling, collaboration, and production — essential skills that will support you throughout your creative journey.
Emphasizing a “learning by doing” approach, students will work in small crews to produce 2–3 short narrative films using professional gear and real-world production techniques. Guest filmmakers and industry professionals will provide insight, feedback, and mentorship throughout the course, helping each student grow as both a storyteller and visual artist.
TOPICS COVERED
Concept & Pitching: Story development and structure
Screenwriting for Film: From concept to screenplay
Working with Actors: Casting, auditions, and collaboration
Crew Roles: Understanding set dynamics
Sound Recording: Capturing high-quality audio
Shooting Labs: Hands-on training with cameras and lighting
Production Management: Scheduling and organizing shoots
Mock Set Practice: Featuring guest actors and crew simulations
Post-Production: Editing essentials and workflow
Marketing Your Film: How to promote and build an audience
Film Festivals: How and where to submit your work
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR TUITION
Access to production studios and equipment at Cinemaker
Student Orientation: Get introduced to our gear, creative ethos, and connect with fellow students at a casual networking mixer with other classes in session
10% discount on rentals at Austin Movie Gear
Bi-Annual Film & Friends Showcase: Celebrate your work with a public screening, complete with food, drinks, and a filmmaker Q&A
Outside of Class Commitment: Students are expected to dedicate time outside of class to work on their projects, with support available through various resources offered as part of your course such as camera rentals and booking studio time in our of our production studios.
Student Experience: Students will work collaboratively in small production teams to write, shoot, and edit multiple short films using professional gear. Throughout the course, participants will receive creative and technical mentorship from instructors, guest filmmakers, and peers — culminating in a public screening of their completed work.
MORE INFORMATION
Location: This course will be held in multiple locations including The Clayton and CINEMAKER @ The Canopy. All cameras, lighting, and equipment are provided for use during the course. To learn more about our locations, visit this link.
Who Should Attend: Perfect for beginners, aspiring filmmakers, and storytellers who want to understand the full filmmaking process. No prior filmmaking experience required. Students must be 16 years or older to enroll.
Supplies & Materials:All cameras, lighting kits, and studio gear are provided for in-class exercises. Participants will also have access to editing bays and the ability to check out select pieces of equipment for off-site shooting.
Prerequisites: None. This course is designed specifically for beginners and serves as the foundation for all other production classes at Austin School of Film.
Certificate:This course is part of Austin School of Film’s Film Forward Certificate Program.
Certification: This course, along with all Austin School of Film programs, is approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.*
THE YOUNG FILMMAKER
There’s a reason our award-winning summer camps sell out months before they begin and the reason is simple: we put real filmmakers, real gear, and industry standard software in the classroom with youth. They create actual films, telling stories that are interesting to them and their peers.
This holiday season, gift the youth in your life an experience they will never forget. Have a young budding animator in your life? We also have animation camps! You can check out all our offerings below.
VIEW ALL CAMPS FOR AGES 8-18 HERE
THE ANALOG ENTHUSIAST
Do you have someone that loves art films and experimental media? Or perhaps someone who is interested in Analog a.k.a. motion picture film? Or maybe they dabble in film photography and have always wanted to learn how to shoot motion picture film?
Our Avant Garde & Experimental Filmmaking course is an eight week analog class dedicated to the preservation and accessibility of both experimental film and analog film making. It’s the absolute perfect gift for anyone interested in analog film or experimental film.
Not ready to take the leap into an 8 week class? Our Intro to Super 8 Filmmaking workshop is a great steppingstone for folks who want to explore motion picture film in a short class format.
Deadline to register for our Fall 2026 course is August 15, 2026.
Our beginner filmmaking course — an 8-week, hands-on introduction to the complete process of making a film from concept to screen.
Experimental film — often described as cinematic poetry, a visual fever dream, or art in motion — exists outside the traditional boundaries of storytelling. It’s the foundation of modern visual language, influencing everything from Hollywood films and music videos to fashion campaigns and commercial art. David Lynch’s Blue Velvet drew inspiration from Kenneth Anger, while Dior’s short film campaign was directly influenced by Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon.
In this award-winning 8-week course, students will explore the history, theory, and practice of avant-garde and experimental filmmaking. Blending creative lecture, film screenings, and hands-on analog production, the course introduces students to the experimental filmmaking process and the tactile craft of working with Super 8 and 16mm film.
Guided by an experienced experimental filmmaker, students will experiment with structure, abstraction, and emotion as storytelling tools — learning to see film not only as a medium of narrative, but as a living, expressive art form. By the end of the course, participants will have created their own experimental Super 8 short film and a 16mm Direct Animation project, bringing analog texture and visual experimentation to life.
Topics covered include:
Understanding the language & methods of experimental cinema
Explore experimental film’s history and connections to the evolution of all forms of motion-picture media.
Analyzing experimental short-form films & filmmakers
Applying experimental techniques to film exercises and projects.
Creating your own original experimental film
Technical Camera Lab: Shooting on Super 8mm Cameras
Technical Processing Lab: Developing Super 8 Film
Technical Editing Lab: Non-traditional editing techniques
What’s include in your tuition:
Super 8 camera rental ($150 value)
2 rolls of Super 8 film ($80 value)
Darkroom Access
Resource Slides (for post-class refreshers such as teching a camera, darkroom instructions)
Access to CINEMAKER & additional equipment access to support your film
Film & Friends showcase of final work (with food & drink plus filmmaker Q&A)
This course is designed to foster an understanding of film as both an art form and a means of creative expression.
Outside of Class Commitment: Students are expected to dedicate time outside of class to work on their projects, with support available through various resources offered as part of your course such as camera rentals and booking studio time in our of our production studios.
Student Experience: Students will work collaboratively in small production teams to write, shoot, and edit multiple short films using professional gear. Throughout the course, participants will receive creative and technical mentorship from instructors, guest filmmakers, and peers — culminating in a public screening of their completed work.
WINTER STUDENT ORIENTATION: Join us for an optional but highly recommended student orientation, just before classes begin where Austin School of Film will invite all project-based students for the quarter. This free bonus event is a great way to get familiar with gear check-out, studio access, and connect with your classmates, educators, as well as students from other project-based “Make Something” courses happening this winter.
MORE INFORMATION
Location: This course will be held in multiple locations including The Clayton and CINEMAKER @ The Canopy. All cameras, lighting, and equipment are provided for use during the course. To learn more about our locations, visit this link.
Who Should Attend: Ideal for those interested in art, experimental media, and alternative approaches to filmmaking. Open to ages 18 and up. No experience necessary — beginners welcome!
Supplies & Materials: All supplies are included: Super 8 camera, two rolls of Kodak film, access to additional gear, and use of our editing lab. Students may purchase up to two additional rolls of film (maximum four total) for $32 each.
Course Structure: This hands-on, 8-week course combines lectures, screenings, and studio-based projects to explore experimental film techniques. Students will complete two final works — one Super 8 short film and one 16mm Direct Animation piece.
Damage Clause: Students will be working with real motion-picture film and analog cameras. Respect for the materials and process is essential. Students are responsible for any costs incurred during their film production. While Austin School of Film is not liable for damages resulting from misuse, instructors are committed to supporting each student in completing a film they’re proud of.
Certificate: This course is part of Austin School of Film’s Film Forward Certificate Program.
Certification: All Austin School of Film courses are certified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.*
HOW CAN I START A PAYMENT PLAN?
Anyone is eligible for a payment plan for any class if they need it! Email us to get started on a payment plan at classes@austinfilmschool.org. We require 50% of the tuition cost at registration and can divide the remaining balance in up to 2 additional equal payments.
THE STYLE ICON
Get a merch bundle at a discounted rate this holiday only. Featuring our bright red glitch logo shirts and Kodak inspired mustard yellow and red tote bags.
A perfect gift for anyone who wants everyone to know they love film and they love supporting local. Limited quantities available, must purchase by 12/16 for guaranteed delivery before the holidays.
THE LAST MINUTE GIFT
This wouldn’t be a holiday list without mentioning the no-fuss option for all last minute buyers (it’s fine, we know you’re busy)! Introducing THE INSTANT DIGITAL GIFT CARD!
Perfect meaningful gift for anyone interested in film education, learning, and classes!
THE PERFECT INSTANT GIFT :)
A straight forward easy peasy gift perfect for anyone interested in cinema, filmmaking, and the arts!
Our digital gift card creates a unique code instantly! More than a digital gift card — you are gifting someone access to grow their potential & projects.
This gift card is valid to use on any classes at Austin School of Film. The sky’s the limit! As the gift giver, you can choose which email you’d like the gift card to go to or send it to yourself and print it out for your loved one!
Our gift card can be used on multiple orders - as frequently as needed until the funds are completely used. Gift cards are nonrefundable and never expire. *They cannot be combined with discount promos.