Teaching Artist – Winter Supported Experimental Film Lab (Neurodivergent Youth)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reel Works is hiring a Teaching Artist to co-facilitate our Supported Experimental Film Lab. This position supports neurodivergent teens in New York City as they explore storytelling through filmmaking.

Location: This position requires candidates to be based in the New York City Metro area.  The physical office is located in Brooklyn, NY. 

Reports To: Director of Education

Compensation: Part-time ~20 hours; $40 - $50/hr 

Estimated Start Date: February 18th, 2025

Application Deadline: January 30, 2025

ABOUT REEL WORKS

Reel Works mentors, inspires, and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking, creating a springboard for successful careers in media and beyond. Reel Works challenges teens to tell their stories and have their voices heard. Students build literacy, leadership, and self-confidence skills to create productive futures. Reel Works serves 1,000 youth annually from middle school through college and beyond to launch careers in media.

THE SUPPORTED EXPERIMENTAL FILM LAB

Schedule

• Winter Session: February 18th - February 21st, Monday - Friday, 12 pm - 4 pm

Overview

The Reel Works Supported Lab is a FREE filmmaking program that provides community, support, and resources for neurodivergent NYC teens as they explore storytelling through filmmaking. Reel Works' mission is to advance diversity and inclusion efforts in our community and create and strengthen an inclusive culture for all people in the media industry.

Teaching Artists will conduct workshops, assist with student projects, and create a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. The Teaching Artists are responsible for guiding students through the process of making their first experimental short film. They will support students during pre-production, shooting, and post-production. The Teaching Artists will also be responsible for writing lesson plans. This role requires close collaboration with the other co-lead Teaching Artist and the Director of Education.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lesson Plan Development

• Responsible for developing engaging and informative sequential lessons for a specific filmmaking craft.
• Create lessons customized to student strengths and ideas to improve their experiences and educational outcomes.

Teaching

• Be available to run in-person workshops in Brooklyn, NY.
• Co-teach an effective, fun, and engaging in-person workshop.
• Provide overall industry and career advice in a positive atmosphere.

Student Support

• Use the Reel Works MediaMKRS badging system to track student progress and reward achievements.
• Foster a safe and inclusive learning environment that supports the needs of neurodivergent youth.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the other co-lead Teaching Artist, Director of Education, and Peer Mentors.
• Foster community with Teaching Artists, Students, and Mentors.

Professional Development

• Participate in Reel Works' paid Teaching Artist University, which offers ongoing support, resources, and training.

Location

• This position requires candidates to be based in the New York City Metro area. The physical office is located in Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation

• $55 per hour, commensurate with experience in filmmaking, technical skills, teaching, and youth development.
• This temporary part-time position does not include health benefits.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Professional filmmaker with extensive documentary experience (7 years).
• Experience mentoring or teaching teens or young adults.
• Proficiency with Adobe Premiere Pro editing software.
• Knowledge of youth development principles, strong personal boundaries, and self-awareness.
• Ability to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Preferred

• Experience working with neurodivergent youth.
• Fluency in multiple languages.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and work sample via Reel Works online portal link.

Reel Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team. BIPOC, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA , women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities and others with lived experience being part of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, the application for all positions at Reel Works includes the option to respond to questions regarding gender, ethnicity, disability, and veteran status (learn more here). This information will not be used as selection criteria in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Self-reporting of personal identifiers is voluntary. While we appreciate your cooperation as we aim to ensure we attract a diverse candidate pool, we respect your right to decide whether to share your personally identifiable information. If you'd rather not share this information, feel free to select "Decline to Answer".

Reel Works is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. For information about when and why we collect personal information on candidates, and how we keep it secure see our privacy policy. 

Salary : $40 - $50