Charlotte Unconventional Film School Announces Free Workshops in 2019

The Charlotte Unconventional Film School announced something truly unconventional this week: free classes. 

According to a press release, CUFS has teamed up with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to launch the Make a Movie workshop series, offering 10 free filmmaking classes on Saturdays between January and May in 2019. The classes will cover a wide range of topics on both narrative and documentary filmmaking, including audio production, the art of the interview, casting and location scouting.  

The mission of CUFS is to pair professional filmmakers with those interested in entering the field, whether on an amateur or professional basis. Teachers for the upcoming workshop series include producer, director and writer Joshua Overbay; writer, director, editor and casting director Keema Mingo; screenwriter and UNC Charlotte film professor Rodney Stringfellow; and more. 

Participants need no experience to attend the classes, but do need to register at the library website. The classes will be held at various library locations throughout the city (see list below). 

“This partnership with the Library means we can offer our top-notch workshops at no cost to participants. Men and women who want to make movies will improve their skills, knowledge and contacts so they can make the best movies possible,” Julie McElmurry, executive director at CUFS, stated in the release. “This is a unique opportunity to learn in person from teachers who are true professionals with varied backgrounds and expertise.”

The partnership is part of the library’s new “community media strategy,” which aims to find creative and accessible ways to connect with residents through inventive programming. 

“We’ve developed a strategy of innovative programs where experimentation is encouraged, rewarded and elevated across the library system. Announcing this first partnership with Charlotte Unconventional Film School is a great launch point for what we will offer the community,” said Seth Ervin, chief innovation officer at CML. “The workshops give our participants the opportunity to engage in learning experiences that we also hope will affect our community through their creations.”

Below is a full list of classes, instructors and dates for the Make a Movie workshop series: 

• Jan. 12, 2019 – Secrets to Making a Successful Film presented by Keema Mingo
  at Hickory Grove Library
• Jan. 19, 2019 – Hands On: Getting your Indie Film Made presented by Joshua Overbay at Hickory Grove Library
• Feb. 2, 2019 – Audio Production for Filmmakers presented by Michael Quigley
  at West Boulevard Library
• Feb. 16, 2019 – Telling Stories for the Screen presented by Rodney Stringfellow
  at West Boulevard Library
• March 2, 2019 – Intro to Cinematography for Narrative Filmmaking presented by Chuck Bludsworth at Hickory Grove Library
• March 16, 2019 – Directing presented by Joshua Overbay at West Boulevard Library
• April 13, 2019 – Casting & Location Scouting presented by Chip White, PGA
  at Hickory Grove Library
• April 27, 2019 – Making a Short Documentary presented by Reuben Bloom and Kathleen Bloom at Plaza Midwood Library
• May 11, 2019 – Brilliance of Bollywood Movies presented by Ananda Mitra, Ph.D. at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library
• May 18, 2019 – The Art of the Interview presented by Mike Collins and Tommy Tomlinson at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library