The Austin Film Society is hosting a two-part virtual masterclass on film and video production taught by National Emmy-nominated director Chelsea Hernandez. The course runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, November 16, and is held virtually via Zoom, with a link sent out 24 hours before class.
Priced at $35 for the general public and $30 for AFS members, the foundational course is designed to offer an overview of what it means to be a producer in the world of film and video production. Students who register for the Intro To Producing session will explore different types of projects and producing roles while gaining insight into the creative, logistical, and emotional aspects of the job.
Course Structure and Curriculum Topics
Through real-world examples and practical tools, the course aims to equip emerging producers with the language, instincts, and structure needed to take their first steps into the field with clarity and confidence. The two-part series covers several core areas, including:
- Understanding different types of film projects and their unique producing needs
- Learning the distinctions between types of producers and their responsibilities
- Building foundational knowledge about the producer’s role
- Exploring best practices in choosing collaborators, setting expectations, and creating healthy team dynamics
- Developing leadership, communication, and emotional management skills
- Deepening the understanding of the director-producer relationship
- Mapping out the stages of a production and understanding key deliverables in each phase
About Instructor Chelsea Hernandez
The class instructor, Chelsea Hernandez, is a National Emmy-nominated director whose work centers community, representation, and social justice. Her debut feature, Building the American Dream, which was featured at SXSW and PBS, and her second feature, Breaking the News, featured at Tribeca and PBS, have earned national acclaim including the 2023 David Carr Award for Truth in Nonfiction Filmmaking.
Named one of Texas Monthly’s “filmmakers ushering in a new Golden Age,” Hernandez is also a Warner Media 150 Artist, a Firelight Media Doc Lab fellow, and the co-founder of Tejanas in Film, a collective that uplifts Latine filmmakers in Texas.
Worth a look