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Become a Filmbuilder!
Come together -> Co-create a short film -> Build your community!
What is a Filmbuilder?
A Filmbuilder is a community member who works in a small group to co-create a short film answering the question “WHO IS MALDEN?” Small groups are made up of people representing different backgrounds, education, ethnicity, gender, age, interests, etc. – all connected to Malden in some way. This is part of the Filmbuilding Malden: Our City in Motion program.
Filmbuilders work under the mentorship of professional filmmakers and UMA’s in-house media experts.
What does a Filmbuilder do?
- Explore Malden with a phone lens and through the eyes of others
- Take pictures and video with a smartphone or small camera
- Share stories
- Plan, produce and edit a short film with a team
- Check-in with the team through the Summer, 2023, as you work on the film
- Co-create a short film with a group of community members
- Share and discuss the final film with a responsive audience
What does a Filmbuilder receive?
- $300 Filmbuilder stipend
- One year of free membership to Urban Media Arts (UMA) – includes access to facility, equipment, workshops and support
- Mentorship and asstance from experienced local filmmakers
- Training in visual storytelling and creative collaboration
- Training in cross-cultural and community-oriented dialogue by Essential Partners
- Opportunity to explore and engage with the community in a fun way
- VIP (Very Important People) invitations to screening events
Who is eligible to be a Filmbuilder?
Individuals who are:
- 18 or older
- Interested in exploring Malden and its people
- Comfortable speaking basic English
- Available for initial Orientation, May 20, 2023 from 9:00 am to 4:30 PM (NOTE: please indicate if you have babysitting, transportation, or other support needs to be able to attend this orientation in the application form below)
If you are concerned about whether or not you can commit to the program as a Filmbuilder, please reach out to our team (in your most comfortable language) and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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. NOTE: Submitting this form does not guarantee a spot in the program. We will be in touch with you to discuss next steps. Deadline for submission is April 20.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in completing this application, please email Ose Schwab at ose@umaverse.org.
Filmbuilder Application
Application Due April 20, 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.