august 2025

PAINT THE REEL (FREE) with Austin School of Film & Chinwe Okorie
August 2, 2025 (Sunday) | 1:00am - 4:00pm
Join award-winning filmmaker Chinwe Okorie—twice nominated for Best Austin Filmmaker by the Austin Chronicle—for Paint the Reel, a free, drop-in analog film workshop celebrating family, joy, and creative play. Inspired by Chinwe’s new short film Cycles—which explores grief and the bond between father and daughter—this unique event invites participants of all ages to paint directly onto 16mm film strips, transforming personal stories into a collective, experimental film. Each guest will receive a digitized version of the collaborative reel, capturing a moving portrait of community connection, frame by frame.

Intro to Lighting for Film & Video (Beginner Friendly)
August 9 & 10 , 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am–4:00pm
New to lighting for film or video? This beginner-friendly course breaks down the fundamentals of cinematic lighting through hands-on exercises, practical demos, and all-budget techniques. Learn how to control, shape, and work with light—whether natural or artificial—to bring your visuals to life. From 3-point lighting to working with small setups, you'll gain the tools to shoot smarter and create more professional-looking content without breaking the bank.

Intro to Adobe Premiere Pro (Beginner Friendly)
August 16 & 17 , 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am–4:00pm
Ready to dive into video editing? This weekend intro course is designed for beginners and self-taught creators looking to sharpen their skills. You'll learn the essentials of editing, from cutting clips to color correction—using the industry-standard software trusted by filmmakers worldwide. With hands-on instruction, preloaded assets, and pro feedback, this course will help you build a strong foundation in Premiere Pro and streamline your editing workflow.

Intro to DaVinci Resolve (Certified & Beginner Friendly)
August 22 & 23 , 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am–4:00pm
Whether you’re new to editing or looking to take your editing skills to the next level - our Certified DaVinci Resolve course is a hands-on class is perfect for those looking to learn about this revolutionary editing software and covers everything from timeline building and audio integration to multicam editing and green screen effects. Taught by certified Resolve educators, the course includes access to pro tools, project files, and real-time feedback. Plus, you’ll have the optional opportunity to take the official end-user exam and earn your DaVinci Resolve certification.

SEPTEMBER 2025

Intro to Screenwriting (Beginner Friendly) 
September 2 - October 21, 2025 (Tuesdays) | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Perfect for beginners and emerging writers alike, this course blends creative exploration with technical know-how, covering everything from formatting and character development to plot structure and pacing. By the end, you’ll walk away with a finished screenplay and the chance to submit it for a live table read with local actors.

Intro to Rotoscope Animation (Beginner Friendly) 
September 4 - October 9, 2025 (Thursdays) | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Bring your video to life with animation through the art of rotoscoping. In this hands-on course, you’ll learn how to transform live-action footage into a 2-minute animated short—guided by a professional animator/filmmaker with credits on Amazon Studios’ Undone and Apollo 10 ½. From concept development to final output, you’ll gain both creative and technical skills in frame-by-frame animation, editing, and visual storytelling. Perfect for animators, filmmakers, or anyone ready to explore this dynamic technique.

Digital Filmmaking: Script to Screen (Beginner Friendly) 
September 8 - October 27, 2025 (Mondays) | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Take your first step into filmmaking with this immersive, beginner-friendly course. Over 8 weeks, you’ll learn every stage of the process—from concept and scriptwriting to shooting, editing, and screening your finished work at our public Film & Friends Showcase. Working in a crew-style format, you’ll create 2–3 short films using professional gear while gaining practical skills in storytelling, production, and collaboration. Perfect for beginners or self-taught creators ready to level up.

Avant Garde & Experimental Filmmaking (Beginner Friendly) 
September 9 - October 28, 2025 (Tuesdays) | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Step outside the bounds of traditional storytelling with our 8-week exploration into cinema as art. Through screenings, lectures, and hands-on projects, you’ll discover the history, influence, and techniques of experimental film, from Maya Deren to David Lynch. Students will create their own short experimental films on Super 8 and explore 16mm direct animation, gaining access to cameras, film stock, and darkroom resources. Whether you're a filmmaker, artist, or curious creative, this course is your entry point into cinematic experimentation and poetic visual language.

Digital Filmmaking: Script to Screen (Beginner Friendly) 
September 10 - October 29, 2025 (Wednesdays) | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Take your first step into filmmaking with this immersive, beginner-friendly course. Over 8 weeks, you’ll learn every stage of the process—from concept and scriptwriting to shooting, editing, and screening your finished work at our public Film & Friends Showcase. Working in a crew-style format, you’ll create 2–3 short films using professional gear while gaining practical skills in storytelling, production, and collaboration. Perfect for beginners or self-taught creators ready to level up.

Intro to Super 8 Filmmaking (Beginner Friendly)
September 13 & 14, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
There’s a reason we get people who come from all over the country (and even internationally) to take this course! A purely analog filmmaking class for beginners.

Intro to Camera Basics
September 20 & 21, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
An ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of camera operation, composition, and cinematography using film and video cameras—all in an accessible weekend workshop. No prior experience required; perfect for beginners and self-taught learners.

Intro to Production Management (Beginner Friendly)
September 26 & 27, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
This beginner-friendly workshop covers the essentials of pre-production planning, crew roles, scheduling, budgeting, and permits. Led by a local Producer/Educator, you’ll gain practical tools, industry insights, and hands-on experience to confidently manage production logistics for any project size.

OCTOBER 2025

Intro to Screenwriting (Beginner Friendly - VIRTUAL EDITION) 
October 1 - November 19, 2025 (Wednesdays) | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
By popular demand, we now offer (again) the Intro to Screening 8-week course into crafting your very own short film script for virtual participation! Perfect for beginners and emerging writers alike, this course blends creative exploration with technical know-how, covering everything from formatting and character development to plot structure and pacing. By the end, you’ll walk away with a finished screenplay and the chance to submit it for a live table read with local actors.

Intro to Podcasting & Audio Storytelling
October 4 & 5 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Led by producer Myrriah Gossett, this class covers everything from interview techniques and gear essentials to editing, mastering, and distribution. You’ll gain practical experience working with industry-standard tools and walk away with the skills to produce high-quality audio content that connects. All software, equipment, and resources provided—just bring your voice.

Editing Theory & Aesthetics
October 9 - 30, 2025 (Thursdays) | 6:30pm - 9:30pm
This 4-week course explores editing as a creative craft, helping you apply your technical skills to shape story, emotion, and meaning with purpose by analyzing the art of the “cut.” Learning the technical aspects of editing software is one thing—using those tools creatively is another.

Intro to Production Management (Beginner Friendly, Virtual Edition)
October 15 - November, 2025 (Wednesdays) | 6:00pm - 8:00pm CT
This beginner-friendly workshop in a popular virtual learning edition covers the essentials of pre-production planning, crew roles, scheduling, budgeting, and permits. Led by a local Producer/Educator, you’ll gain practical tools, industry insights, and hands-on experience to confidently manage production logistics for any project size.

Intro to Cinema Cameras
October 11 & 12, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
This hands-on workshop is built for filmmakers who know their way around a DSLR but want to break into the world of professional cinema cameras like Blackmagic, Sony, and RED. You’ll learn what sets them apart, how to operate them with confidence, and how to use their capabilities to capture truly cinematic visuals—through guided exercises, lighting setups, and real-world shooting scenarios.

Intro to Adobe Premiere Pro (Beginner Friendly)
October 18 & 19 , 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am–4:00pm
Ready to dive into video editing? This weekend intro course is designed for beginners and self-taught creators looking to sharpen their skills. You'll learn the essentials of editing, from cutting clips to color correction—using the industry-standard software trusted by filmmakers worldwide. With hands-on instruction, preloaded assets, and pro feedback, this course will help you build a strong foundation in Premiere Pro and streamline your editing workflow.

16 Tactile Filmmaking (Beginner Friendly)
October 26, 2025 (Saturday) | 10:00am - 2:00pm
Get surreal this Halloween season with our analog experimental tactile filmmaking experience now with on-theme prompts inspired by surrealist cinema. In this hands-on class, you’ll dive into the world of creating one-of-a-kind 16mm films without ever touching a camera. Using vintage footage, clear leader, paint, and scratching tools, you’ll bring your own abstract visual story to life—frame by frame. No experience needed, just a curiosity for texture, rhythm, and motion.

NOVEMBER 2025

Intro to Camera Basics
November 1 & 2, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
An ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of camera operation, composition, and cinematography using film and video cameras—all in an accessible weekend workshop. No prior experience required; perfect for beginners and self-taught learners.

Intro to Super 8 Filmmaking (Beginner Friendly)
November 8 & 9, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
There’s a reason we get people who come from all over the country (and even internationally) to take this course! A purely analog filmmaking class for beginners.

Intro to 2D Animation (Beginner Friendly)
November 8 & 9, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Bring your ideas to life in our beginner-friendly 2D Digital Animation course! Explore and learn the 12 Principles of Animation and techniques like squash & stretch, walk cycles, and character movement—all while working hands-on with an animation Wacom tablet & Adobe Animate. Through guided projects and professional feedback, you’ll create your own short animations learning-while-doing + gaining skills you can apply to illustration, storytelling, and beyond.

Intro to Lighting for Film & Video (Beginner Friendly)
November 22 & 23, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | 10:00am–4:00pm
New to lighting for film or video? This beginner-friendly course breaks down the fundamentals of cinematic lighting through hands-on exercises, practical demos, and all-budget techniques. Learn how to control, shape, and work with light—whether natural or artificial—to bring your visuals to life. From 3-point lighting to working with small setups, you'll gain the tools to shoot smarter and create more professional-looking content without breaking the bank.