barefootworkshops.org

Tuition for the Mississippi Delta, Cape Town and Marfa, Texas (held annually), covers the workshop course fee, food and use of equipment. Students must cover their own travel expenses to and from the workshop. This includes flights and rental cars. Housing is an additional expense. Please note details in the course description.

Q5. Are scholarships available?

Not at this time. However we do have an active Scholarship Fund. If you would like to make a donation to the Barefoot Workshops Scholarship Fund, we are a 501(c)3, and earmark such donations for students who cannot afford our programs. This is especially encouraging for participants in developing countries. Please contact us if you would like to donate to our Scholarship Fund.

Q6. What is an "international student"?

An "international student" is any student that comes from outside of the country where we are conducting a workshop. Part of our philosophy is to run "hybrid" workshops, inviting internationals- those outside of the region- to create media projects in partnership with local or indigenous participants. This creates a dynamic learning environment and opens opportunities for international students to gain valuable field experience and learn about issues firsthand.

Q7. Do I need a VISA to participate in a workshop abroad?

Most countries require a VISA to enter. Many will allow you to purchase visa upon entrance. Please check the course description of the workshop you are interested in, and allow plenty of time to secure your VISA from your local consulate. We recommend that you secure your VISA well before you leave your country.

Q8. Do I need to bring my own equipment?

No. Barefoot Workshops provides all necessary equipment.

Q9. What kind of equipment and software does Barefoot use?

We have the backing of corporate sponsors who provide the latest tools and technology for our students to use for the duration of the workshop. Packages vary depending on needs of the workshop. Click here to see a list of sponsors. Click here to see sample equipment packages. Our in-house computers that we use and rent for purposes of workshops are MAC, but we work on PC computers when necessary. We use Final Cut Pro editing software when using MAC, and Adobe Premiere with PC.

Q10. What can I expect to get out of a workshop?

Barefoot has eleven years of training people from vastly different backgrounds and skill levels, in how to blend the technical and artistic aspects of storytelling, beginning with the basics of image-making, the idea of the "decisive moment", and moving into topics such as proper mic placement, painting with light, the art of the interview, story structure, and how to bring all of these elements together in post-production, or what we call a "symphony" of image and sound design. Through our international workshops, we offer field placements, matching students with organizations on the ground to produce media projects together. The goal of these workshops is to communicate a message to a target audience. The emphasis is on choosing a media format or template link to page that describes our media templates (e.g. public service announcement) that will advance development goals, for example, to improve HIV/AIDS outreach at a township clinic. We keep our classes small and flexible, and invest a great deal of personalized attention in our students, customizing workshops to meet their highest expectations. After workshops are over, we continue to support students however we can, and connect them whenever possible with further training and resources.

Q11. What about copyright? Who owns the footage?

As of March 1st, 2012, Barefoot Workshops owns the copyright privileges to all content produced after March 1st, 2012. Barefoot Workshops retains master tapes of all footage. Mini DV copies of footage and final projects are made by students at their expense. Barefoot Workshops reserves the right to use any and all footage or media projects produced by students in our workshops for any purpose including sale, promotion and advertising. Individuals who enroll and create projects during a Barefoot Workshop must acknowledge Barefoot Workshops on all materials published or mass produced videos. The Barefoot Workshops logo should be included in a prominent or easily visible place in the beginning of the video and at the end of the video and the following language should be used: “This film was created during the Barefoot Workshops program, (insert workshop location here). More information about Barefoot Workshops can be found at: www.barefootworkshops.org." If it is anticipated that displaying the Barefoot Workshops logo or placing this language in project publications will be detrimental to Barefoot Workshops, individuals must contact Barefoot Workshops to request a waiver of this requirement prior to publication or mass production. If videos produced during a Barefoot Workshop are submitted to film festivals, broadcasters or for online, Barefoot Workshops must be notified before the submission and then notified again should the video be selected. Barefoot Workshops has the legal right to post all workshop material on the Barefoot Workshops website and on any other websites associated with or in partnership with Barefoot Workshops.

Q12. Can I get college credits?

Barefoot Workshops does not offer college or university credits at this time.

Q13. How do I intern or volunteer?

Internships are approved through an interview process, either in person or by phone. We encourage interns or volunteer to telecommute if they are based outside of NYC. Our greatest need at the moment, is to mobilize public awareness around A River Blue (http://www.ariverblue.org), a humanitarian project to support post-conflict children in Northern Uganda to gain vocational and agricultural skills. We would like young people at high schools and college levels to host the traveling exhibit of art at their schools, to screen the documentary, "A River Blue", and/or form clubs to raise funds and awareness. We encourage stories by bloggers and/or the media to raise the visibility of the program.

Q14. What is the DVD Club and how do I subscribe?

Every workshop results in a DVD comprised of videos and other media produced by students. Barefoot is offering a membership of $150.00 per year to receive one DVD three times a year.

Q15. Do I receive a hard copy of my project after taking a workshop?

Barefoot Workshops does not provide DVDs to participants. We post your documentary online and provide Youtube and Vimeo links. If people in the community request a copy, we will provide copies to them at our earliest convenience. We will do everything we can to support the distribution of the film you made. If we provide a DVD to a community member (someone featured in the documentary), it will include all documentaries from the workshop. We strongly recommend that students purchase an external hard drive for the workshop. Students are then able to transfer their project file and entire project media from Barefoot's computers and continue working on them from home after the workshop ends.

Q16. Can I order a hard copy of videos I watch on the web site?

Yes, for a fee of $50.00 Barefoot can mail you a hard copy of one video and 35.00 for each additional video. (for educational use only).

Q17. Does Barefoot Workshop offer one-on-one instruction and training?

We offer half-day ($350), full day ($650) and weekly rates ($3000 for a 5-day week). Consult with us and we can build a rate plan that meets your needs.

Q18. Does Barefoot teach outside of its own workshops?

Founder and Director, Chandler Griffin, has run workshops for clients such as The International Film and Television Workshops in Rockport, Maine, University of Puerto Rico, Filmaid International, PLAN USA, and Global Nomads Group. We are available on a consultant basis, to design and lead media workshops and programs internationally.

Q19. Does Barefoot Workshops speak at conferences or on panel discussions?

Yes.

Q.20 Is Barefoot Workshops hiring instructors?

No, but please forward us your resume/CV, as we are considering a workshop by invitation only that will train instructors to teach with us. If you have taught media workshops before please be sure to include a link to your STUDENTS online work.

Q21. How do I register for a workshop?

Q22. Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

There are no refunds but credit can be applied to another workshop if the student notifies Barefoot Workshops two weeks prior to the start date of the workshop they are enrolled in. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. If a student notifies Barefoot two weeks prior to the workshop they have enrolled in and the tuition is transfered to a new workshop, the deposit amount will not be transferred and will have to be covered by the student.

For Organizations

Q1. Is my organization well-matched for a workshop with Barefoot?

Please begin by researching past workshops and by downloading our brochure to make sure your goals are in line with our program offerings. Barefoot Workshops uses media to address areas of: health; education; transitional justice & conflict resolution; civil rights; youth empowerment; and democracy building. We work with victims of natural disaster, refugees, displaced persons, youth in post-conflict areas, and those working on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS. We occasionally produce projects or programs outside of these interest areas, but strongly encourage applicants to approach us in these fields.

Q2. How do I invite Barefoot to do a workshop in my country?

Barefoot requires the commitment of a Sponsoring Organization in each country where we conduct a workshop. The Sponsoring Organizations must extend a formal letter of invitation to Barefoot Workshops, and speak with us to agree upon services and deliverables that will be provided in line with their program goals. We usually request Sponsoring Organization to provide a minimum of: classroom space, instructors stipends, food and transportation to/from the field. Often we require airfare to and from our destination to be covered, along with per diem for food and accommodations. A nominal rental fee is included if organizations require Barefoot to provide equipment packages. Barefoot Workshops and the Sponsoring Organization sign a contract that states the terms of the agreement. The average cost for a two-week workshop is $25,000, and $35,000 for a four-week workshop. These amounts vary quite a bit, and we will not be held to them. Direct inquiries to: chandler@barefootworkshops.org

Q3. How far in advance do I need to schedule a workshop?

We recommend scheduling workshops three to six months in advance. Those organizations who wish to qualify for a workshop at reduced cost, must allow ample lead time.

Q4. What can my organization expect to get out of a workshop?

Every organization is different. We work with you to identify areas in which you need to increase your communications capacity. We then train your staff and/or beneficiaries to use media to accelerate program goals. The benefits of our two and four-week workshops in digital video production, for example, include the ability to write, shoot, produce and edit distinct formats, or "media templates", such as:

fundraising and promotional videos
outreach videos
public service announcements
training videos
mini-docs (to serve as discussion pieces for workshops in schools, churches, clinics, etc.)
peer counseling videos
videos that highlight best practices

Q5. What is an NGO Care Package?

Barefoot Workshops has a Laptop Initiative in partnership with New York-based Tekserve, and occasionally we donate refurbished computers to qualifying organizations who complete a workshop with us. NGO care packages also include a video camera and accessories (valued at US$1000.00). Click here to see our standard NGO equipment list. In order to receive equipment, organizations must be willing to establish benchmarks together with Barefoot to ensure the continued use of any equipment after the workshop ends. NGOs can also purchase equipment through Barefoot Workshops.

Q6. Is it true that Barefoot can offset the costs of workshops for qualifying organizations?

We realize that not every organization can meet the costs of a workshop. Therefore, Barefoot Workshops offsets up to $10,000 of program by enrolling "international students". The student tuition effectively reduces the overall costs of the program, and reduces the burden on Sponsoring Organization. However, the Sponsoring Organization is still responsible for covering costs for the balance of the program. To be considered for a workshop at reduced cost, please fill out a registration form and indicate your working budget.

Q7. Can our organization receive training and support from others in the Barefoot network?

Barefoot Workshops actively facilitates local "hubs" of talent to assist one another with ongoing media productions. This is a great way to get your feet wet and to see if Barefoot is for you. Please contact us to find out if there are filmmakers and/or organizations who have trained with us in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Individuals

For Organizations

For Individuals

For Organizations