“PRODUCERS” are the members of our AFS Producer Program. These are individuals ages 15 and up; living within our service area of Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, Hays and Bastrop Counties; who utilize Austin Public’s content distribution platforms that include the City of Austin’s Public Access cable channels, various streaming and video on demand services and phone applications.
Through training classes and subscription fees, a Producer may access the production resources provided at our Austin Public location, which include cameras, audio gear, lighting gear, grip gear, studios, edit space, etc.
PRODUCER PROGRAM FEE
Airing content is free, but there is a yearly or monthly subscription payment to access the production resources:
- Yearly subscription: $120/year
- Month-to month subscription: $12/month
PLEASE NOTE: If you’re only interested in utilizing our content distribution, then you’ll complete all of the steps below, but there is no subscription fee required. Airing content is free of charge. Series fees still apply for dedicated weekly cable channel slots. You’ll let us know in the intake form (STEP 3 below) that you’re only interested in content distribution. This means that you won’t need access to any production resources.
SCHOLARSHIPS: We offer partial and full scholarships to help with payments for the certification training and subscriptions that give Producers access to our production resources. Click HERE for more information.
RESOURCE CERTIFICATION CLASSES: We provide classes on a monthly and bi-monthly basis for Producers to train on the resources available within the Producer Program. Producers only need to take the class one time to gain access to program resources. Once a Producer is certified on a particular resource and paying a monthly or yearly subscription (or on scholarship) then they’ll have access to reserve that gear via their Producer Portal account to create their own content.
PROGRAM SERVICE AREA: To join the program you must live within the metropolitan area of Austin. See map below:
COMPLETE THE ORIENTATION PROCESS
NEXT STEPS TO JOIN (AFTER STEPS 1-3):
STEP 4. Sign up and complete a MEDIA POLICY class. This 2.5-hour, class is typically taught twice a month but you only need to complete it once to join the program.
STEP 5. Once the INTAKE FORM and MEDIA POLICY class are complete, then we’ll email you payment links to choose your preferred SUBSCRIPTION (yearly or monthly payments) option to access the resources within the Producer Program. If you’re opting to only submit content and not access the resources or qualify for a scholarship to access the resources then this payment is not a requirement.
- PRODUCER PORTAL: Once you’ve completed all of the necessary steps then you’ll receive your login to your Producer Portal. You’ll then be able to upload and schedule content, make reservations, see class attendance, see your certifications, see production space availability, and connect with crew members.
- RESOURCE CERTIFICATION CLASSES: You may take classes at any point in this process, and we’ll track your certifications as you go so when you join the program, you’ll be ready to check out resources.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH RESOURCE CERTIFICATION CLASSES:
Frequently Asked Questions
PRODUCER PROGRAM HOURS:
- Monday through Thursday: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Friday and Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Closed Saturdays
For sure! When we are open for the Producer Program, we are open to the public. Our tech support staff are located in the Equipment Room within the main hall of the facility.
PRODUCER PROGRAM HOURS:
- Monday through Thursday: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Friday and Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Closed Saturdays
Here is more info on Austin Public: https://www.austinfilm.org/austin-public/about-austin-public/
We’re located at 1143 Northwestern Ave., Austin, TX 78702.
Yes, if you have established a placed of residency within the five-county metropolitan area of Austin (Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, Hays, and Bastrop Counties). To join the program, you’ll need to provide a scan of a current government issued ID (preferably a driver’s license) and proof of your Austin-area residence. These forms can be submitted in STEP 3 above.
Unfortunately, no. This program (as well as the Austin Public facility) is funded in part by the City of Austin’s general fund and cable subscribers living within the Austin city limits. Distribution and access to the resources are limited to those that are living within the five-county metropolitan area of Austin. However, anyone can travel to Austin Public to take a class or take one of our online classes.
After completing the steps:
- Watch the orientation video above on this page
- Watch the tour video above on this page
- Fill out the Producer intake form linked above on this page, which includes submitting a scan of your photo ID and proof of Austin-area residency
- Completing a Media Policy class, which includes passing the 10-question test and submitting a signed warranties agreement
We will then send you the links to make the subscription payment. It’s your choice to join at a $120/year or $12/month subscription rate. If you are only submitting content, then there is no fee associated with joining the program.
Yes, a part of the Producer Program is sharing content out to the community through the distribution outlets that the Austin Film Society manages for the City of Austin. These outlets include 3 public access cable channels through the 3 cable companies in Austin, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, iPhone and Android Apps, which include the streams of the 3 channels and video-on-demand content.
Producers (members within the program) own all content created with Austin Public resources but provide permission for AFS to distribute at least a portion of the content they create out to the community through the distribution outlets listed above.
Austin Public and the Public Access TV channels are non-commercial and we do not support the production of content for commercial objectives.
Here is a passage from the Representations and Warranties Agreement that Producers (members of the Producer Program) will sign when joining the Program:
“I agree not to produce and/or cablecast any programming for air from which revenue is derived, by any party, and programming for which the purpose is to conduct trade or commerce. This stipulation does not include programming supported by underwriting grants, sponsorships or contributions of any kind and does not apply after the programming has aired on the channels.”
AFS is content neutral, so the best answer is… whatever you want to create as long as your content does not contain any of the following:
- Any material that is defamatory, unlawfully disparaging or that constitutes invasion or violation of any person’s right to privacy.
- Any material, which is in violation of Subchapter B: Obscenity, of Chapter 43 of the Texas Penal Code.
- Any material, which violates any local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
- Any advertising or material that promotes any commercial product or service.
- Any solicitation or appeal for funds.
- Any unlawful use of copyrighted material or any other proprietary property.
- Any material that has a reasonable probability of creating an immediate danger or damage to property, creating an injury to person(s), or creating public nuisance.
You will have to take our Media Policy class on the above topics. You must sign a contract to agree to this before you can submit content to air, go live, apply for a series, and/or reserve the resources.
The class is 2.5-hours and is either taught online via Google Meet or onsite at Austin Public. You only need to take the class once to join the program. The class is required for anyone wanting to join the Producer Program, and it covers topics surrounding the content that can be submitted to air on Public Access TV like copyright law, defamation, privacy laws, obscenities, solicitation, commercialism laws, etc.
Go to this link and sign up for an upcoming class: https://austinfilm.secure.force.com/ticket/#/events/a3j41000000HjXFAA0
If you’re only going to submit content then you will not be paying a subscription fee, and you only have access to distribute content on the city’s Public Access channels and our Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and online streaming services and video on demand.
If you plan to pay a subscription to gain access to the production resources at Austin Public then, with that subscription, you will immediately gain access to content distribution, our edit lab, take-home editing computers, the conference room, and the audio production suite. Accessing all other gear and studios require certification training classes be taken first and then you’ll gain access to those resources.
The term “Certification” is only used for the purposes of the Producer Program. You do not receive a certificate but rather you gain access to the resources you’ve trained on within the Producer Program.
Resource certification classes provide access to certain resources for active Producers paying a subscription to participate in the program. They are treated in an “a la carte” manner, so if you want access to a camera, then take an introductory or intermediate camera class, or if you need lighting equipment, then take the Lighting and Grip Certification class.
Classes are typically taught once a month (start times may vary) and range from 1–10 hours in length and range from $35–$65. Producers only need to take classes once to gain access to the resources, and we offer scholarships for those that qualify financially.
To see a list of upcoming classes, click here (look for the certification class tag on the class listing): https://www.austinfilm.org/classes-events/
Once you complete all the steps listed above (and make a subscription payment if you’re accessing the resources), then you’ll receive a login to the Producer Portal. The portal is where you’ll make reservations for resources, submit content and fill out show forms, access your list of certifications and class attendance, see the studio schedules, and search for crew and talent, if desired.
Here are some training videos on how to use the Portal: https://www.austinfilm.org/austin-public/training-videos/#collapse9
Production equipment may leave the building for five days at a time with 48 hours in between reservations. The equipment may travel outside the metro area of Austin but not leave the state of Texas. If you plan to leave the metro area of Austin (especially if you’re staying overnight somewhere) then please provide josh@austinfilm.org with a secondary contact name and phone number and the address of where you’ll be staying.
The Studios, audio production suite, and conference room are checked out for 4 hours at a time. The edit lab may be used for a full 8-hour day, based on our operating hours.
Only one person needs to go through the program, pay the subscription fee, and take the studio(s) classes. Everyone else that works on a shoot as a crew member only needs to go through a free 45-minute safety training of the studios. This crew class is made by appointment with our Facility Operator, Josh Rodriguez. You can reach out to Josh at josh@austinfilm.org. Live audiences are welcomed at Austin Public, and anyone else attending a production that isn’t crewing will just need to sign in at the front entrance.
We’ll cover this in the Media Policy class, but the steps are as follows:
- Log in to your Producer Portal account.
- Make sure you’ve created a Project on the Portal and click “Add New Show” next to your preferred project.
- Fill in the Show Form info and follow the instructions at the bottom on how to upload your file.
Here are some training videos on how to use the Portal: https://www.austinfilm.org/austin-public/training-videos/#collapse9
The Producer Program is operated out of Austin Public, the City of Austin’s Public Access TV station, and is managed by the Austin Film Society through a contract with the City of Austin. The cost of the Producer Program is associated with access to production gear and studio and meeting spaces for creating content to then distribute on the Public Access channels and your own distribution platforms.
The AFS membership has various levels and provides discounts and benefits at all three locations of the Austin Film Society (AFS Cinema, Austin Studios, and Austin Public). AFS Members (at all levels) receive discounts on the classes being taught at Austin Public. For more info on the AFS membership please go here: https://www.austinfilm.org/join-or-renew/
AFS Creative Careers is a workforce development program with three pathways, two of which are stipend paid. This AFS program is also operated out of Austin Public and utilizes the same resources as the Producer Program, however, Creative Careers has an application process and a set number of available spots each cycle. The Producer Program is open to anyone ages 15 and up that lives within the metro area of Austin and provides training and resources for creative media makers to come in and create their own content. So, the Producer Program is about content creation and distribution and Creative Careers is about career development.
Our Community Media Coordinator, Mike Garza, can be reached at austinpublic@austinfilm.org.
Our Equipment Room for questions about reservations, tech support, and/or programming questions can be reached at 512-478-8600 X25.
If you need to reach our General Manager, then please email doug@austinfilm.org or call 512-478-8600 X19.
