Become a Filmbuilder!
Come together → Co-create a short film → Build your community
What is a Filmbuilder?
Filmbuilders are part of the larger Filmbuilding Malden program.
A Filmbuilder is a community member who works in a small group to co-create a short film answering the question: Who is Malden? Groups are made up of people representing different backgrounds, education, ethnicity, gender, age, and interests who are connected to Malden in some way.
Filmbuilders work under the mentorship of professional filmmakers and UMA’s in-house media experts.
What does a Filmbuilder do?
- Explore Malden through your eyes and the eyes of others
- Take pictures and video with a smartphone or camera
- Produce and edit a short film (10 minutes) with a group throughout spring and summer of 2023
- Co-create with a group of community members
- Share and discuss the final film with a live audience
What does a Filmbuilder get?
- $300 stipend
- One year of free membership to Urban Media Arts (includes access to facility, equipment, workshops and support)
- Mentorship and assistance from experienced local filmmakers
- Training in visual storytelling and creative collaboration
- Training in cross-cultural and community-oriented dialogue by Essential Partners
- Opportunities to explore and engage with the community in a fun way
- Invitations to exciting screenings and events with VIP (Very Important People) community members
Who is eligible to be a Filmbuilder?
Individuals who are:
- 14+ years of age
- Comfortable speaking basic English
- Willing to attend an event in either August, September, or October
- Able to attend orientation on May 20, 2023 from 9:00 am to 4:30 PM — (please indicate if you need babysitting, transportation, or other support to attend in the application form below)
If you are concerned about whether or not you can commit to the program, please reach out to our team (in your most comfortable language) and we would be happy to answer any questions.
The selection of 30 Filmbuilders will be made by our Selection Committee made up of various Malden community members. Aside from being a Filmbuilder, there are plenty of ways to plug into the project and support your community that our team would be happy to share with you.
Characteristics of an ideal Filmbuilder
- Interested in meeting new people from various backgrounds
- Curious about Malden and its stories
- Willing to embrace creative challenges in collaboration with others
- Have stories to share
- Open to different points of view and experience
- Able to commit some time to this project over the summer
- Excited about exploring Malden through this unique approach
How to apply?
Complete the form below. The deadline for application was April 27th.
Submitting this form does not guarantee a spot in the program. You will receive an email with a final decision regarding your application on May 6th.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in completing this application, please email Ose Schwab at ose@umaverse.org.
Filmbuilder Application
Application Deadline: April 27th, 2023, 11:59pm ET
Note about the Filmbuilder selection process:
The Filmbuilding Malden team is committed to an equitable process of Filmbuilder selection. Given the importance of incorporating differences in the team makeup, we encourage people from all backgrounds, ethnicity, culture, gender, race, age, and media ability. The more diverse the teams are, the more interesting the outcome. For this reason, we will look not only to individual eligibility but also team variety as a whole. For more information about our selection process, please email ose@umaverse.org.