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Southern Exposure Film Fellow

Company/Organization Name
Southern Exposure Film Fellowship

Internship Title
 Film Fellow

Internship Duration
June 17 – July 26, 2019

Internship Descritpion
Southern Exposure provides a positive and challenging learning experience to exceptional film students and emerging filmmakers from across the country seeking to explore and develop their own voices as environmental advocates through nonfiction storytelling. This innovative summer fellowship equips students with the skills, equipment, content knowledge and contacts to create authentic, engaging films intended to raise public awareness about important issues facing Alabama’s environment — from the mountains to the coast.

The selected film fellows will spend the summer working in partnership with Alabama Rivers Alliance’s partner groups and other state environmental organizations, who will provide guidance on film topics and crucial community contacts to help the fellows create the short documentaries that will be most useful for raising awareness and advocating for the protection of Alabama’s special places.

Components of Fellowship:

  • Production of an original short film to document a contemporary topic of environmental concern that will support environmental advocacy work in Alabama.
  • Field trip visits to some of Alabama’s beautiful natural resources.
  • Orientation with Alabama Rivers Alliance and representatives from local conservation partner groups.
  • Feedback sessions with representatives from ARA, conservation groups and filmmakers.
  • Workshops to examine various styles and techniques of the documentary as a persuasive medium.

Supervisor/Hire Name
Kelly Marshall

Supervisor/Hire Email
kmarshall@alabamarivers.org

Supervisor/Hire Phone Number
205-322-6395

Application Deadline
March 1, 2019

Application Process
 Although participants are not required to have backgrounds that would necessarily lead to careers in filmmaking, applicants are required to have completed at least one short film in order to be considered. Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, as this fellowship is a highly interactive and interpersonal experience. A weekly stipend and dormitory style or other suitable housing will be provided.The following materials must be received via email by the Alabama Rivers Alliance by March 1, 2019 in order for you to be considered for the program.

  1. Cover letter that answers the following two questions:
    1. What is it that you hope to gain from participation in this fellowship program?
    2. What is one environmental issue that you are passionate about and why?
  2. Resume, including full name, current email address, mailing address, and cell phone number.
  3. Academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable). To qualify, all applicants must have had at least two film production courses. Please remove or redact your birthdate and social security number from your transcript.
  4. Link to a film for which you have had creative control. Upload a sample of your video or film work to YouTube or Vimeo and copy the link on a one-page summary of the creative work including a brief synopsis, running time of the clips, the circumstances of production and your role. Do not submit work on which you have had only a “production assistant” role. A submission may be 10 minutes or less of a single film or a compilation reel from several films. Please follow the YouTube or Vimeo guidelines for uploading so that you have the highest resolution and highest video quality possible for your video.
  5. OPTIONAL: Letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference that speaks to your accomplishments and potential.

All application materials should be combined into one pdf and emailed to southernexposure@alabamarivers.org.

Films should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo as indicated above and jpgs can be emailed separately to southernexposure@alabamarivers.org. File sizes should be reduced so that no emails are larger than 8 MB. If you choose to submit a letter of recommendation, the letter should be emailed from the account of the person who writes the letter directly to southernexposure@alabamarivers.org.

Internship Type
 Paid

Other Information
 Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-April 2019.