MISSION:
The AoBFF Learning Center makes continuing media education accessible for emerging and experienced filmmakers. We support career growth through skill building, developing production expertise and professional networking with working artists. We also offer community programs for youth and seniors in media literacy and visual storytelling.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
The AoBFF Learning Center uses a structured, practical approach to build essential media skills with confidence and clarity. We emphasize easily accessible technology and open source software to reach the largest number of students, and foster a collaborative, empowering environment. Most classes are offered individually but they can be grouped together by design to form an individualized course of study.
AoBFF Learning Center’s Three Tracks:
The AoBFF Learning Center runs on three tracks: Technical, Practical, and Creative.
1. TECHNICAL
Technical workshops and classes are designed to teach the newest skills for creating media. They are focused on free and accessible media production tools like Blender, Unreal Engine, or DaVinci Resolve. This also includes skills around camera and audio for production.
What is it?
Practical workshops and classes teach career and organizational skills that help filmmakers navigate making and working in media. These include workshops that range from how to breakdown a script, how to write a contract, and the basics of putting together a production.
What is it?
3. CREATIVE
Creative workshops and classes are designed to guide media makers in developing their craft and unique vision. These include performance and directing workshops, panel discussions with artists, filmmakers, festival programmers, and others.
What is it?
1. TECHNICAL
Technical workshops and classes are designed to teach the newest skills for creating media. They are focused on free and accessible media production tools like Blender, Unreal Engine, or DaVinci Resolve. This also includes skills around camera and audio for production.
What is it?
- A structured, practical approach to help you build essential skills with confidence and clarity.
- Emerging and Experienced film and media makers looking to expand their technical skillset.
Practical workshops and classes teach career and organizational skills that help filmmakers navigate making and working in media. These include workshops that range from how to breakdown a script, how to write a contract, and the basics of putting together a production.
What is it?
- Courses supporting career growth in production taught in a collaborative creative environment.
- Emerging and Experienced film and media makers looking to develop the production skills necessary to gain mastery of their own work.
3. CREATIVE
Creative workshops and classes are designed to guide media makers in developing their craft and unique vision. These include performance and directing workshops, panel discussions with artists, filmmakers, festival programmers, and others.
What is it?
- Professional development courses, workshops and events that build community with working professionals and curators to guide and galvanize independent artists.
- Emerging and Experienced film and media makers seeking inspiration, counsel and community.
Director of Education: Sean Mannion
Sean Mannion is an award-winning independent filmmaker and media maker with a breadth of experience in both media production and media education. Sean has screened at festivals around the world including The Cucalorus Film Festival, The Big Apple Film Festival, The DUMBO Film Festival, The Underground Film Festival, The New York Television Festival, and Zed Fest.
His debut film MEME was awarded Outstanding Feature at the 2018 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and Sean was invited to return to AoBFF as Guest Festival Director for 2019, setting the creative vision and curating the films for that season. He was selected for an artist residency at the Cill Rialaig retreat in Ballinskelligs, Ireland.
Sean is the Founder of 4Mile Circus an award-winning Brooklyn-based production company that makes films, web content, podcasts, and he has had projects highlighted in IndieWire, Film Threat, and Forbes.
As an educator, Sean has taught a wide range of learners including teens, elementary age students, senior citizens, adults looking to retrain mid-career, active duty soldiers, veterans, first responders, corporate and non-profit teams. He has worked as a parent adolescent and youth victim/offender mediator, led teams on set, in offices, and on-site in security conscious environments.
Sean has taught at Universities and organizations including The School of Visual Arts, New York Film Academy, BRIC, The Patton Veterans’ Project, New York City Housing Authority, The Prospect Park Zoo, and Manhattan Neighborhood Network, where he was Manager of Media Education. He is a Davinci Certified Trainer and is certified in Operating Virtual Production Systems, Virtual Production Workflow, Unreal Engine Fundamentals and is an Authorized Instructor in Unreal Engine.
As Director of Education Sean has helped create the AoBFF Learning Center, designing the curriculum and managing the learning communities it serves.
His debut film MEME was awarded Outstanding Feature at the 2018 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and Sean was invited to return to AoBFF as Guest Festival Director for 2019, setting the creative vision and curating the films for that season. He was selected for an artist residency at the Cill Rialaig retreat in Ballinskelligs, Ireland.
Sean is the Founder of 4Mile Circus an award-winning Brooklyn-based production company that makes films, web content, podcasts, and he has had projects highlighted in IndieWire, Film Threat, and Forbes.
As an educator, Sean has taught a wide range of learners including teens, elementary age students, senior citizens, adults looking to retrain mid-career, active duty soldiers, veterans, first responders, corporate and non-profit teams. He has worked as a parent adolescent and youth victim/offender mediator, led teams on set, in offices, and on-site in security conscious environments.
Sean has taught at Universities and organizations including The School of Visual Arts, New York Film Academy, BRIC, The Patton Veterans’ Project, New York City Housing Authority, The Prospect Park Zoo, and Manhattan Neighborhood Network, where he was Manager of Media Education. He is a Davinci Certified Trainer and is certified in Operating Virtual Production Systems, Virtual Production Workflow, Unreal Engine Fundamentals and is an Authorized Instructor in Unreal Engine.
As Director of Education Sean has helped create the AoBFF Learning Center, designing the curriculum and managing the learning communities it serves.
