The 7th Annual BRIC Media Maker Weekend is a three-day conference featuring free workshops, lectures, and panel discussions designed to educate makers on various aspects of media and content creation, from television, film, and podcasting. The Weekend will also be a networking opportunity for makers and content creators for future collaborations. The 2022 theme is “Homecoming.” After two years of the weekend taking place virtually, BRIC Media Maker Weekend is making a triumphant return to an in-person format. But more than a return to BRIC House, “Homecoming” symbolizes a new commitment to engagement, interaction, and collaboration that we once took for granted.
**Please note Perfect Your Pitch (Thu Oct 15, 7:00PM ET) and Keynote Address Keynote Address with Craig T. Williams (Fri Oct 14, 7:00PM ET) will air on the Brooklyn Free Speech HD channel (Spectrum 1993, Optimum 951 Verizon 47) and online at bricartsmedia.org/HD.
Thursday
October 13
2:30 – 3:30PM | Set Design with
Nicolas Benacerraf
BRIC House Artist Studio
The art of set design is an important tool for TV producers and filmmakers. It’s a skill that should not only be mastered by those with access to big budgets, but anyone with creative, innovative ideas on how to make a production set come to life. Nicolas Benacerraf will be on hand to share his expertise with a diverse array of creatives, showing how set design tactics are malleable, regardless of the tools and budget you possess.
NIC BENACERRAF is a creative director, scenographer, and public scholar. He specializes in highly collaborative processes that incorporate design from the get-go. For over a decade Nic was co-Artistic Director of a devised theater company called The Assembly, and recently co-founded Edge Effect Media Group, a polydisciplinary group that offers spaces of healing from the effects of capitalism, and which playfully deconstructs the techniques of mass persuasion in our everyday lives. Recently he was the Environment Designer and Core Artist for CANNABIS! A Viper Vaudeville, and was Director of Design for Everybody Is Gone, an piece of immersive journalism about the Uyghur crisis. He has designed at Lincoln Center, BRIC, BAM, The Public, HERE, and La MaMa. Nic’s learning communities include Wesleyan, CalArts, and the CUNY Graduate Center, where he is currently finishing a PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies
3:00 – 4:00PM | Brooklyn Public Library: Business/Career workshop
BRIC House Studio A
There is so much happening at Brooklyn Public Library that is “New & Noteworthy”. Attend this presentation and get the inside scoop on just one of our divisions. We invite you to learn about Brooklyn Public Library’s newly renovated Business & Career Center and its resources that provide:
- $20,000 to start a business
- A program for aspiring fashion designers to develop and showcase a fashion collection
- One-on-One: Legal Counseling, Personal Financial Counseling, and Resume & Career Help
- Access to in-depth business information on companies, industries, consumer buying habits, and investment tools
- Laptops for loan
- Access to private meeting spaces & more
4:00 – 5:00PM | Getting a Jump on Pre-Production with Leonardo Jimenez
BRIC House Studio B
Of the the three Ps of production, pre-production is perhaps the most important. In this session we will cover common pre-production and planning strategies such as scriptwriting, lead sheets, call sheets, production management, location scouting, and more. We will also suggest tools and software to make the pre-production process easier and streamlined.
Leonardo Jimenez is a multidisciplinary artist with a concentration in video production, photography, design, and painting. Born in Colombia but molded by New York City Leo earned his BFA from the School of Visual Arts with a focus on Computer Arts. He has been working professionally in video production for over two decades filming and editing music videos, events, documentaries, films, and corporate content. Clients span from Unilever, Thomson Reuters, and NASDAQ to collaborations with both underground and known MCs, fine artists, and community organizations like 651 ARTS, BAM and BRIC Arts Media. As an educator, Leo has taught sewing skills and the importance of recycling textiles to a range of Bed-Stuy residents in a Quilting Project. Teaching video production and self-expression to at-risk youth in low-income neighborhoods throughout the metropolitan area has enriched and expanded Leos’ perception. He is currently working with BRIC Arts Media Adult Education Instructor. From corporate offices to mountain ranges and green screen setups to live events Leo’s experience working under different filming conditions and co-creating with others has given birth to LEOWUZHERE: A multidisciplinary creative studio and an extension of Leo’s curiosity.
5:30 – 6:30PM| Branding & Marketing with Cloe Luv
BRIC House Studio A
There are many media makers out there looking to expand their budding empires beyond just creating content. Creating a viable brand for your program, production company or corporation is crucial, just as it is to market said program or corporation in order for you to maximize your audience and your reach. Entrepreneur Cloe Luv returns to BRIC Media Maker Weekend to discuss her branding skill and the nuances of marketing yourself for your audience.
Cloe Luv is a modern-day renaissance woman! With a foundational background in the music and entertainment industry as the CEO of Brook Brovaz , she has expanded her empire into the corporate world. With a Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business and another Master’s in Public Administration, Cloé Luv has developed her own patent to success by combining her extensive education, decades of hands-on experience, and elite professional network. Cloé Luv’s client list includes some of the biggest names in the business such as Bloomberg, Playboy, NYC Mayor’s Office, and much more. Cloé Luv has helped hundreds of businesses secure millions of dollars in funding to survive the pandemic and even scale. She has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs in their journey to success. Cloe Luv is also the founder of Cloé’s Corner a coworking and business center that focuses on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, capturing wealth, health, and networking. Lastly Cloé Luv is the Founder of Women with Voices a women empowerment 501 c 3 nonprofit. Next on the agenda for Cloé Luv, you’ll have to stick around to see!
7:00 – 8:00PM | Perfect Your Pitch Panel
Do you have an interesting film or television idea but are having difficulty coming up with a way to sell it? In this panel discussion, four industry experts will share valuable techniques and strategies for preparing and perfecting your pitch. These include coming up with a hook, considering the audience, creating dynamic pitch materials, as well as common mistakes and pitfalls. Come to the session with an open mind and questions for the panel!
Friday
October 14
11:00 – 12:00PM | Orientation
BRIC House Stoop
Hello there, Future Media Mogul. Welcome to BRIC! BRIC’s community media program has been educating and molding future media moguls since 1990— offering wallet-friendly courses, success-driven workshops, and networking events that assist in furthering TV, film, and podcast dreams. So, if you have dreams of becoming the next Ava Duvernay, Kathryn Bigelow, Jon Chu, Ryan Coogler, Christopher Nolan, Theodore Witcher, Frederick Wiseman, or 2 Dope Queens, you’ve come to the right place. BRIC is the place where media dreamers become media makers— only question is: Will you be next?
2:30 – 3:30PM | Color Correction in Davinci with Ed Parada
BRIC House Media Lab
Davinci Resolve is an industry standard color correction tool used in many post production houses around the world. In this workshop we will review the basics of color correction, grading, and introduce the Davinci Resolve color panel. We will also discuss the importance of color grading in filmmaking and how it can dramatically change the look and feeling of your project.
Edgardo Parada has been producing and editing films in New York City for 18 years. Born in Manila and raised in both Parañaque and New Jersey, he is a dual citizen of both the Philippines and the United States. Being one of only three Filipino students in his grade school left an imprint on Edgardo, who learned early on the significance of representation in our communities and media. When Edgardo was 16, he was accepted into the NYU Future Filmmakers Workshop, whose mission is to support black, brown and women filmmakers craft the path to their careers. He went on to pursue a BFA in Film from NYU Tisch, and to launch his independent company, Shake Up Productions, which builds crews and produces video for live events, branded content, corporate communications, documentaries, and fiction narratives. Notable projects include producing and editing for tv series Transborder Art (dir. Graciela Cassel), feature documentary Garifuna Nation (dir. Carlos de Jesus), and short documentary Under the Whale (dir. James C Martin, winner: Grand Jury Award for Experimental Documentary at the American Filmatic Arts Awards).
As an educator, Edgardo teaches editing, post-production audio, and camera fundamentals at his alma mater Future Filmmaker Workshop, Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV), and Brooklyn Information and Culture (BRIC TV). Whether in the classroom, on set, or in the studio, his mission is to share stories that come from underrepresented perspectives, and that emphasize our common humanity.
5:30 – 6:30PM| Podcast Storytelling with Onel Mulet
BRIC House Studio A
What makes a good audio story? How do you find a niche in the huge market of current podcasting? In this session we will present an overview of the wide variety of different podcast storytelling styles, including a survey of popular podcasts over the last 10 years. How to determine what kind of podcast voice you want to have–how to develop upon existing podcast styles and make them your own.
Onel Mulet is an audio engineer/podcaster/video editor/sound designer/producer/media professor and a composer whose recent credits include the film Decade of Fire, recently out on Prime Video.Originally from Miami, Florida, a son of Cuban immigrants, he has lived in NY since 2002.
7:00 – 8:00PM | Keynote Address with Craig T. Williams
BRIC House Ballroom
Delivering the 2022 Keynote Address for BRIC Media Maker Weekend is Craig T. Williams. He is a producer, editor, writer, and founder of the production company Red Wall Productions. His contributed to over 50 projects, ranging from films, documentaries, and web series. Williams will offer essential jewels for our audience, helping them understand how to transfer one media skill set to another. RSVP FOR KEYNOTE ADDRESS>>
8:00 – 9:30PM | Mixer
BRIC House Stoop/Cafe
Saturday
October 15
11:30 – 1:30PM | How To Capture A Band with Onel Mulet
BRIC House Stoop
Every homecoming needs a musical celebration, and BRIC Media Maker Weekend is no exception. Come and joy the amazing sounds of A Latin Movement, an exciting Latin/Jazz ensemble led by trumpeter Luis E. Ramirez. This musical performance comes with a twist, as an instructor will also demonstrate how to capture a live musical performance. So, come for the music, but stay to learn about camera angles, microphone techniques, and more.
Onel Mulet is an audio engineer/podcaster/video editor/sound designer/producer/media professor and a composer whose recent credits include the film Decade of Fire, recently out on Prime Video.Originally from Miami, Florida, a son of Cuban immigrants, he has lived in NY since 2002.
1:30 – 2:30PM | Short Form Video with Yosef Alexander
BRIC Media Lab Now more than ever, short-form videos have been the most dominant form of visual content creation. Never before has it been more important to convey profound, effective storytelling in a small spaces, such as Instagram, TikTok, and more. BRIC Adult Education instructor Yosef Alexander will provide some of the tools it takes to build a solid foundation in short form videos
Yosef Alexander is an innovative and results-oriented Video Storyteller and Producer with a detailed history of producing high-quality video content for special events as well as daily shows, scripted series, branded content, and documentaries. Alexander is experienced at managing high-performing teams and live event management combined with over 7 years of production management and cross-functional team leadership experience. Alexander holds a Master of Arts in Media Management from Long Island University in addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production from Howard University; and he continuously stays abreast of new best practices and ever-changing technologies. Alexander is proficient in a range of video equipment, tools, software, and technologies, including Adobe Premier, Final Cut X, Adobe After Effects, and Photoshop. Alexander has had the pleasure of serving in several key capacities including Media Educator, Documentary Producer, and more. During the pandemic he worked with small businesses and hospitals to produce video content, while managing a dedicated team of creatives and artists. Alexander currently lives in New York, and is always looking to expand my personal network.
1:30 – 3:30PM | Headshots with Sasha Davis
BRIC House Studio A
We understand that as Media Modul headshots are important to have. Whether you are an actor, makeup artist, director, podcaster, speaker etc. We are offering Free headshots that will update your current look or have a headshot ready for whatever opportunity is presented to you. Headshots will be set to you after light touch up.
Sasha Davis is a photographer from the Bronx, NY. She is driven by her culture, family, and community to promote all expressions of visual arts. Her love for photography derives from her passion for portraying the vision behind each frame she captures, hence her photography name: SIA VISION. With her career in health care administration and public health, she also works diligently on shedding light on overcoming societal issues through her photographs. She curated her first solo showcase in March 2022, bringing awareness to women’s body positivity, and aims to have more shows in the future.
2:00 – 3:00PM | BTS/Film set photography with
Stephen Edwards
BRIC House Artist Studio
One of the overlooked but essential elements of a film and television set is still photography. Catching behind-the-scenes photos of the talent, crew members, set pieces, and more are very important for the overall production. Stephen Edwards will be on-hand to break down the ins and outs of behind-the-scenes photography.
5:00 – 6:00PM |Creative Storytelling with Unreal Engine with
Adrian Miranda
BRIC House Studio A
Unreal engine is a FREE real-time 3D compositing open source software that has been used in major studio productions such as The Mandalorian, The War of the Planet of the Apes, Ford vs. Ferrari, among many others. It’s also a major developer in 3D animated games such as Fortnite, Final Fantasy 7, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In this session we will discuss getting started using Unreal Engine, and how you can implement it into your video content to create mind blowing effects to make your stories stand out.
Adrian Miranda is a physical therapist, actor, director, video content creator and owner of Gross Anatomy Studios, Inc where his team created healthcare entertainment content. His filmmaking journey started at BRIC in 2012 and since has expanded into creating the highest production quality with the latest content creation software available including Unreal Engine. He is based in Washington Heights and continues to combine storytelling with excellent design, vfx to make healthcare content more fun and digestible.
6:30 – 9:30PM | Film screening & Talk Back: The Warriors
BRIC House Stoop
Media Maker Weekends ends with a screening and audience talk back of the 1979 cult classic that encapsulates this year’s “homecoming” theme, The Warriors. Revel in this action crime drama that follows a New York City gang’s trek from the Bronx back to its home turf at Brooklyn’s Coney Island. The screening will be followed by a moderated discussion with the audience about the film’s themes, techniques, and morals.
**Beginning Sept. 12, 2022, proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test is required to visit BRIC House. View our full COVID-19 safety protocols here.**
