Brooklyn Center for Media Education

The Brooklyn Center for Media Education at BCAT Media Center provides Brooklyn residents with media services, educational initiatives, and mentoring programs that enables the creation and production by Brooklynites of their own television programs. Brooklyn residents and individuals representing Brooklyn organizations can enroll in the Brooklyn Center for Media Education's low-cost courses to learn the basics of TV production and to hone additional skills to expand their knowledge. Upon successful completion of basic courses, students become the certified producers responsible for most of the programming you see on BCAT TV Network's Brooklyn Free Speech TV. Our program trains over 400 Brooklynites per year.

To register for a class, you first need to:

attend an orientation;
present payment (checks or money orders made payable to BRIC and major credit cards accepted);
bring a valid government-issued photo ID;
and bring proof of Brooklyn residency in the form of a current utility bill.

Orientations are held twice monthly (see dates below). You need attend orientation only one time; once you are in our computer system, you can register for a workshop. For more information: 718-935-1122 x211.

The Brooklyn Center for Media Education at the BCAT Media Center is supported in part by a generous grant from the Verizon Foundation and The Bloomingdaleís Fund of the Federated Department Stores Foundation.

Classes & Workshops

We’re pleased to be able to offer Brooklyn residents and organizations a new menu of classes and workshops, created with your needs in mind! To register for workshops, please visit the Public Equipment Room, Monday through Friday from 8am–7pm or Saturday and Sunday from 10am–4pm. For more information about any of the classes, call 718-935-1122 x211.

Note: Classes and workshops are subject to change and/or cancellation due to low enrollment.

Orientation

2 hours
Cost: Free!
(Space available on a first-come, first-serve basis)

The times for upcoming Summer 2009 orientation sessions are:

Tuesday, July 7, 6pm-8pm
Saturday, July 18, 11:30am-1:30pm
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6pm-8pm
Saturday, Aug. 22, 11:30am-1:30pm
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6pm-8pm
Saturday, Sept. 12, 11:30am-1:30pm
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6pm-8pm
Saturday, Oct. 17, 11:30am-1:30pm

To sign up for any of our classes or workshops, you'll first need to attend one 2-hour orientation, from the dates above, which covers what "public access television" is and BCAT Media Center's policies and procedures. Please bring a valid government-issued photo ID. To register for class, you'll also need to bring full payment and a current utility bill in your name and address

Please arrive promptly. Latecomers will not be admitted.

Computer Literacy

5 hours
Cost: $20│Pre-Requisite: Orientation

This hands-on workshop demystifies the techno-babble associated with computers. During the first three hours students learn how to navigate the Windows user interface; basic application software; create files and folders and discover how to input, process, and output information. At the second session, you’ll get to practice what you’ve learned in a 2-hour lab session.

Section 1: Tuesday, July 14, 6pm-9pm & Thursday, July 16, 6pm-8pm
Section 2: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6pm-9pm & Thursday, Sept. 10, 6pm-8pm

Limited to 10 students

Basic Television Studio Workshop

24 hours
Cost: $98│Pre-Requisite: Orientation

You’ll learn to use studio cameras, microphones, and all the basic equipment needed to produce your own TV studio show. Successful completion leads to becoming a BCAT Media Center Certified Producer, which gives you free access to use our studios to produce your own Brooklyn Free Speech TV show.

Section 1: Mondays & Wednesdays, July 20- August 12, 2pm-5pm or 6pm-9pm
Section 2: Mondays & Wednesdays, Sept. 14- Oct. 7, 2pm-5pm or 6pm-9pm

Limited to 12 students

Basic Field Production and Editing Workshop

24 hours
Cost: $98│Pre-Requisite: Orientation

Note: Students without basic computer skills must take the Computer Literacy course first in order to successfully complete this production workshop.

In one half of the class you’ll learn to operate a digital video camera, tripod, sound equipment and portable light kit to record your footage. The other half of the class covers the basics of non-linear editing with Avid Xpress Pro. Successful completion leads to becoming a BCAT Media Center Certified Producer, which gives you free access to use our video equipment and editing facilities to produce your Brooklyn Free Speech TV show.

Section 1: Tuesday & Thursdays, July 21- Aug. 13, 2pm-5pm or 6pm-9pm
Section 2: Saturdays, July 25- Aug. 15, 10:30am-4:30pm
Section 3: Tuesday & Thursdays, Sept. 15- Oct. 8, 2pm-5pm or 6pm-9pm

Limited to 12 students

Videoblogging 101: Your Video on the Internet

2 hours
Cost: $10
Pre-Requisite: Orientation & Basic Computer Skills

If you want the world to see your video, you need to put it on the web. This hands-on class will take you through the steps needed to make a web page that showcases videos you have created. We will show you how to set up a blog, how to upload your footage and other benefits of having your video on the Internet.

Section 1: Wednesday, July 22, 6pm-8pm
Section 2: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 6pm-8pm
Section 3: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6pm-8pm

Limited to 10 students

Basic Graphics for TV Using Photoshop Elements

18 hours
Cost: $75

Pre-Requisite: Orientation

Gain an understanding of layout, composition, color and typography. Using Photoshop Elements you'll learn the digital tools and techniques you need to create visually compelling graphics that will enhance your video productions.

Section 1: Tuesdays & Thursday, August 18- September 3, 6pm-9pm

Limited to 10 students

CME Media Literacy Series:

2 Cost: FREE │No Orientation Required
Please RSVP for all seminars to 718-935-1122 x237
Limited to 12 students

Emerging Web Technologies (2 hours)

Learn about the latest free and affordable web tools to increase productivity, get the most of everyday tasks, and communicate like never before! This class is your formal introduction to Facebook and Twitter (and other social networking sites), where to find free photo editing applications and explains why blogging is all the rage. From encyclopedic information on Wikipedia to online streaming of videos, music and more, this class will show you what's hot on the web and the daily benefits of getting to know more about these exciting technologies.

Thursday, July 30, 6pm- 8pm

Basic Marketing Techniques: From Print to Web (2 hours)

Do you have a great product, message or program that you want to tell the world about, but don't know where to start? This class is a general overview of marketing practices and strategies that can help you take your message to the next level.

Wednesday, September 16, 6pm- 8pm

Community Journalism: The Rise of Internet Reporting (2 hours)

More and more people are turning to the web to get news about what's going on in their world. They're not only visiting commercial news web sites, but are checking out local bloggers and other aggregators for information. Join this class to explore how the internet has democratized news and truly created a free press.

Wednesday, September 30, 6pm- 8pm