NOVAC

Community Documentary Cohort:

NOVAC Community Documentaries addresses the cultural and social issues of our community through filmmaking.  We develop documentary and creative productions designed to amplify stories of our unique communities in SE Louisiana, and in the process collaborate with our creative community of independent media makers. 

Do you have a connection to stories around Black Maternal Health in Louisiana? Want to learn about documentary filmmaking? 

This year's Documentary topic is: Black Maternal Health; Birthing and Birth Work As Revolution

Black women and birthing people are suffering the worst birthing outcomes and gynecological care in American health care systems,  but why?  Two filmmaking teams led by Black women / birthing people directors will respond to the Black maternal health and womb care crisis with investigative reporting and problem solving around better Black birthing and health outcomes.  

NOVAC is taking applications for a cohort of eight New Orleans community members to learn and produce films over the course of nine months, November 2024 to July 2025, who have a connection to the theme of Black Maternal Health. Participants are not required to have prior filmmaking experience. APPLICATION DEADLINE is ______

The cohort of eight filmmakers will be broken down into two separate film projects and the following roles, with one role per film:

• Two Directors
• Two Producers
• Two Editors
• Two Cinematographers

All of the cohort participants will learn about their skillset in depth, with a collective emphasis on learning about general production. The two director cohort members will be responsible for guiding the vision of their team's project, under the mentorship of the Director Mentor. The two producing cohort members will manage the structural, logistical, administrative side of production under the mentorship of the Producing Mentor- from pre-production through post-production. During production, the cinematographer cohort members will be collaborating with the Cinematography Mentor to shoot the films. During post production, the editor cohort members will be responsible for delivering a rough cut, fine cut, and picture locked cut, working in close collaboration with the Editor /mentor.  In addition to the production of their short films, each cohort member will be required to attend our independent filmmaker courses over the course of the nine month program to strengthen their technical and creative filmmaking skills. Each cohort participant will receive an $800 stipend upon the completion of the cohort. 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR A DIRECTOR ROLE: Tell us your connection to Black Maternal Health, and why you want to become a director. Pitch us story about Black Maternal Health in Louisiana, and why you are the one to direct this story.  We want you to be central to shaping  this narrative through this process, and  hone your filmmaking skills along the way. 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR A PRODUCER ROLE: Tell us your connection to Black Maternal Health, and why you want to become a producer.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR AN EDITOR OR CINEMATOGRAPHER ROLE: Tell us about why you want to learn about either editing or cinematography, and tell us about your connection to the theme of Black Maternal Health.

Each film team will produce an 8-10 minute short film. Cohorts will be led and supported by mentors and have assistance from professional filmmakers. This is a hybrid program between in person and virtual meetings, participants should be able to get to New Orleans, as needed. Participants should be prepared to dedicate about 5-10 hours per week to this commitment (ranging depending on what part of the production process we are in) from November 2024 to July 2025. These weekly time commitments include: bi-monthly independent filmmaker courses with industry professionals, cohort meetings for production, and shooting / editing the film in the spring.

This program is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts 

NOVAC is excited to announce our next Louisiana Economic Development and Delta Regional Authority-funded training is a Production Assistant Intensive in partnership with Louisiana Film Prize. 

This training is FREE and open to Louisiana residents who are (18 yrs old +)  (priority to Shreveport/Bossier City residents). 

Prospective participants are required to complete an application and may be asked to interview for placement in a training. Participants that complete training and post-training requirements will eligible to be referred to film-industry positions as productions reach out to NOVAC for their hiring needs. 

Participants also gain NOVAC membership for one year. NOVAC member benefits include:   

• Film-Industry Job referrals  (Louisiana residents only)
• Annual career consultation (Required for job referrals)
• Annual resume assistance (Required for job referrals)
• Equipment rentals
• 20% discount on workshops
• Member-only events
• Film industry resources

Participants will learn basic protocol for working behind-the-scenes on set. This includes; understanding set lingo, interpreting set paperwork, and practicing daily skills required to proficiently execute production assistant responsibilities.

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm 

Location: LSU Shreveport

Application Deadline: November 1, 2024