• Introductory Classes

CLASS DESCRIPTIONBring your story ideas into the pre-production phase in this hands-on workshop where you and a creative cohort will collaboratively map out next steps for your story ideas. It’s easy to get stuck in the early stages of putting together a production, and it takes a team of support to get it off the ground! In this workshop, you’ll work in a small group and dive into the pre-production process. Start organizing your ideas through storyboards and shot lists, become familiar with industry roles and shot types, and learn how a production moves from development to distribution. At the end of the course, you’ll walk away with a toolkit of additional resources to help you bring your story into the production phase.DETAILSRegistration closes on Tuesday, September 17th at 9:00pm.$60 for non-members / $30 for SPEAK MPLS membersThis virtual event will be held online via Zoom. Once registered, participants will receive an email confirmation with additional details on joining the Zoom call.INSTRUCTORS + BIOSJames Harris is the Director of Education at SPEAK MPLS and is a media maker, storyteller, and educator with nearly a decade of experience working in community media. He is passionate about bringing voices together to creatively tell stories. As a media maker and member of the LGBTQ+ community, he strongly believes that media is a powerful tool for sharing experiences and healing. James is also energized by creating opportunities for youth to use media to tell their own stories. In his spare time, James enjoys playing video games, watching horror movies, and playing Dungeons and Dragons!Vageesha is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, with degrees in film and communications. He has numerous years of experience working within the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul community as a videographer and media specialist, supporting important non-profit causes as well as some for-profit ventures. He is interested in the importance of media, and its power to craft narratives and culture for those disadvantaged communities whose voices may not be usually heard.INTRODUCTORY LEVEL CLASSThis class is perfect for beginners and open to all skill levels! SPEAK MPLS is your community media home. We offer four introductory level classes for anyone that has a story to share. Dive deep into your media journey by joining one of our monthly cohorts and implementing our industry‘s best practices. Kick-start your production journey with the "Writer’s Room." Design your studio production from start to finish in "LIVE On Set." Take your project on-the-go during "In The Field." Finalize your story and share it with Minneapolis in the "Edit Lab." With these classes, you’ll gain the skills and reference resources for a successful production experience.CLASS REGISTRATION, ATTENDANCE, CANCELLATION + OTHER POLICIES- Class schedules and registration information are available at www.speakmpls.com. - This virtual event will be held online via Zoom. Once registered, participants will receive an email confirmation with additional details on joining the Zoom call.- Please join on time. The instructor will begin at the start of class.- In the event that a class must be canceled, SPEAK MPLS will contact registered participants with as much notification as possible, to either reschedule or refund the cost of the class.- A participant may cancel a class by providing written notice of cancellation to SPEAK MPLS’ Director of Education James Harris at james@speakmpls.com within 48-hours of the scheduled class. Participants may have a one-time option to reschedule the class at no additional cost.  If a participant fails to attend the rescheduled class, no refunds for class fee will be granted.  If the class was a one-on-one class, the instructor has the discretion to reschedule based on the instructor’s availability.- If participants have financial challenges to pay for membership or classes, SPEAK MPLS offers a sliding scale fee. Please contact info@speakmpls.com for application information. Once we have received the application, a SPEAK MPLS team member will be in touch within 10 business days of receipt of the application.- Participants are expected to follow the SPEAK MPLS Policies, as defined in Chapter 4 of the Member Playbook.  Instructors and SPEAK MPLS staff reserve the right to dismiss any participant from a class for violation of SPEAK MPLS Policies.CONTACT USIf you have any questions or concerns, please contact SPEAK MPLS’ Director of Education James Harris at 612-208-7215 or james@speakmpls.com with accommodation requests or if you have additional questions.