AFFMedia Labs

Watch Lab Films

The AFF Media Production Lab is a free 3 month Workforce Development/Career Exploration program featuring Master Classes, Lectures, Workshops, and Media Production Experiences, intended to empower NYC Residents between the ages of 18 and 28, providing them with essential skills, hands-on experience, and valuable connections, so they can pursue industry careers in film/tv/digital media production.

Disabled and ELL youth are welcome in the LAB.

THE AFFMEDIA LAB is funded partially by a grant from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. and partially by the generosity of our partners Kaufman Astoria Studios, Gotham Sound, Samansa, BridgeNext, Sound Lounge, MiniKorn, and Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, who provide free spaces, Master Classes and Workshops. The rest is subsidized by the Astoria Film Festival.

The FALL 2025 Media Lab will run from OCT 2- DEC 22, 2025

Requirements: Ages 18-28 (note: future labs will only accept residents 18+), NYC Resident, must be available for the days/times of the lab events, both in zoom and in person.

We run a lab once a year, if funding is available. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIN to find out about future lab dates.

Fall 2025 Lab Schedule

SCHEDULE

ZOOM MEETINGS 7:30-8:30pm ET unless otherwise noted

DECEMBER

WED DEC 3 Jen Beman, Award-Winning Documentary Editor

TH DEC 4 Alison Weller, Directing Actors - Artist at The Civilians Theater & Adjunct Professor, Brooklyn College

WED DEC 10 Shemeka Foster, SONY Animation Production Coordinator

THURS DEC 11 - 7:30-9:30pm- Pre-Production on Lab Film with Nina

IN PERSON LAB FILM SHOOT: SAT AND SUN DEC 13 and 14, 11am-4pm at Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens 21-12 30TH ROAD, LIC, NY, 11102

NEW DATE AND TIME: WED DEC 17 - 7:30-9:30pm - Editing Workshop using Lab Film footage with BridgeNext Senior Creative Editor John Joseph Gill

DEC 19-22 - 1:1 Zoom Meetings with Astoria Film Festival to Review Resumes/Get Job Advice

JAN 5-15, 2026: Interviews for Internships with Industry Partners (if selected)

MAY 30 or 31, 2026 - IN PERSON FILM PREMIERE at The Zukor Theater, Kaufman Astoria Studios

  • Production Sound Workshop with Gotham Sound

  • Gaffing and Grip Workshop with The MBS Group at Kaufman Astoria Studios

  • Creating a Short Film Together as a Group

  • Audio Editing Workshop with Emmy-Winning Editors at Sound Lounge

  • Weekly Zoom Meetings with TV/Film Execs