Filmmakers Project and Diversity In Film Workshops:
HMSTV provides certain free media education workshops and training modules for the Houston community; some of which are our Filmmaker’s Project (started in 2019), Diversity In Film (started in 2023) and our Podcast Show “Unfiltered” which serves as a ‘training module in show format’ (started in 2024). In these workshops we focus on all sorts of media and arts subjects, with focuses on the narrative film and podcasting/quick form media production models.
Filmmaker’s Project: meets monthly on weekends to promote film production in the local Houston film communities.
Participants can learn various sides of the industry through attending workshops on various aspects of film production as well as donating their time to participate in development of local film content that is selected by the program head Alex Saenz, Jr. It’s required that all participants donate at least 10 hours of their time per month for a period of 12 months per new session starting each October. The workshop provides an intensive real-world experience of film production and is meant for a collaborative group of people to engage with the group and help each other produce quality content to develop themselves and the Houston film scene on a whole.
Diversity In Film: meets once per month to promote media education and content creation.
DIF started out as a ‘women in film’ type group because of feedback received from the community of wanting to have a safe and encouraging environment for women and gender diverse BIPOC communities to learn and develop themselves within the arts. That original concept evolved into a space where all minority voices are welcomed, valued and uplifted to learn and collaborate for the betterment of the community. However we still have a particular emphasis on uplifting female BIPOC voices of all identities. Currently we’ve been doing a deep dive into learning podcasting with various programing geared to learning the different sides of producing this popular model of media production. The group meets during the last or second to last Fridays of every month from 6-9PM CST at the HMSTV Facilities.
“Unfiltered” Podcast is a monthly show and training module that has different guest hosts and subjects covered each episode.
It also invites the public to come participate as guests on the show or as tech crew trainees so that people can learn all aspects of producing a podcast through HMSTV. Unfiltered show screens live to social media on the first or second Fridays of every month from 6-9PM CST.
If you would like to get more information on these workshops please email the Productions Manager Mel Petersen at melp@hmstv.org and Equipment Manager Alex Saenz, Jr. at alexs@hmstv.org
Equipment Department Policies
· The HMS Equipment Department will be open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 8pm.
· Studios may be reserved during our hours of operation for 4 hour blocks, availability is a first come first served basis. Studio reservations may be made until 8 pm. Equipment Reservations may be made for a maximum of seven days. Producers may check out equipment again two days after their last equipment return.
· Please call the Equipment Department at 713-524-7700 x111 to inquire as to availability of Studios or Equipment.
· Community producers will be limited to a maximum of 10 guests for Studio A & B reservations.
· Editing suites will be available for reservations, but laptops loaded with editing software are now available to check out. Please inquire at the Equipment Department regarding availability.
Classes
· Classes will continue to be available in both virtual and in-person formats. Please contact the Equipment Department to schedule a class. Class schedule may be viewed on https://www.hmstv.org/class-schedule/
No Contact Check Outs
· Any community producer so desiring may request a no-contact check out and / or return. In these instances, the equipment specified during the reservation will be loaded on a cart and placed outside the HMS Equipment Entrance for pick up and / or return.
Equipment Check-Outs
Community producers must claim reservations within 30 minutes of the assigned day and time, or that reservation will be cancelled. This measure is in place in order to limit the number of people in the building at any one time.
Equipment Department Hours
The Equipment Department will be open during the following hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: Closed
Please do not come to HMS if you are exhibiting symptoms or if you have been in contact with an individual testing positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
Program Submissions
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, HMS continues to accept new programming. Moreover, we encourage all active producers to do what they can – given current conditions – and provide us with fresh content to run on HMS-TV. You can send video files to Operations Manager James Danner (jamesd@hmstv.org) via WeTransfer, Dropbox, etc. Alternately, you may mail discs to HMS 410 Roberts Houston, TX 77003 or drop them in the mailbox by the Equipment Entrance.
Programming Contract for Television
HMSTV Series Application