Instructor for Documentary History Project for Youth

Scribe Video Center is seeking instructors for the 2025 Documentary History Project for Youth, an after-school and summer production workshop for middle and high school students.  The program provides a forum for Philadelphia area students to explore the social, political and cultural history of Philadelphia, while learning the craft of documentary filmmaking. The Documentary History Project for Youth program begins in April and runs until November. It meets two days a week during the school year (an afternoon and a Saturday) and three days a week during the summer.  Two instructors will work with a cohort of up to 16 workshop participants/student-workers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a curriculum that allows for the development of humanities research skills, as well as solid media production skills;
• Identify local humanities scholars who can assist the student-workers in the research and understanding of their documentary topics;  
• Instruct workshop participants in techniques of humanities research – including researching archives, oral history methodologies, working with scholars and humanities consultants, developing a subject thesis
• Instruct the student-workers in all aspects of digital video and audio production, ensuring that they are trained in production planning, production (camera operation, lighting, sound recording, etc.), use of archival materials, and editing.
• Guide workshop participants in the production of work of high aesthetic quality;
• Complete projects and final reports in a timely manner.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate college degree required, graduate college degree preferred, and professional experience documentary film/video production

• Experience teaching a diverse cohort of young people, including developing curriculum 

• Proficiency in all aspects of digital video production, audio recording and post-production 

• Strong organizational skills

• Demonstrated commitment to Scribe’s mission and educational philosophy

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills

• Flexibility, resourcefulness, and a sense of humor

COMPENSATION & SCHEDULE

Compensation for instructors is $6500, which is paid in monthly installments. The Documentary History Project for Youth runs from late April to November. The instructor will spend approximately 6 hours a week in workshop with the group of student-workers during the school year and 12 hours each week during the summer portion of the project. In addition to time for planning, the Instructor will also be asked to commit reasonable additional time to make sure all workshop-participants can complete their documentary on time.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this position, candidates must successfully pass a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania criminal background check and a child abuse clearance, as required by state regulations, due to the nature of direct interaction with minors.

Please send a cover letter, resume and web-links of your work to jobs@scribe.org with “Instructor – Documentary History Project for Youth” in the subject line.

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Technical Coordinator

Scribe is in search of a Technical Coordinator, a part-time position with benefits. The Technical Coordinator has the primary responsibilities of supervising Scribe’s evening and weekend workshops, checking-out production equipment, assisting with the operations for a low power FM radio station, and assisting program participants with post-production (Adobe Premiere.) The Technical Coordinator is present during all workshop activities, screenings and public programs that take place at Scribe, as well as coordinating on-line presentations. The Technical Coordinator reports to the Technical Director and works closely with the Media Center Manager. The work schedule is variable, averaging 20 hours a week, with the weekly determined in advance by workshops and other program activities.

Facilities Management

Scribe’s facilities are open to the public. The Technical Coordinator is on-site during weekday evening programs, which are scheduled from 5 PM to 10 PM, and on weekends, usually on Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM.  The Technical Coordinator is in the center during those hours to answer questions, receive the public, and secure the building as necessary. The technical coordinator also is responsible for coordinating workshops that happen remotely over Zoom,

The Technical Coordinator is on-site whenever guests are in the facility after Scribe’s regular public business hours. The Technical Coordinator welcomes and receives participants of Scribe’s public programs, unlocks and locks the doors and makes sure all public areas are clean and secure.

Workshop and Program Support:

The Technical Coordinator provides program information and registers program participants during evening and weekend hours.

The Technical Coordinator works closely with the Technical Director and Program Managers in preparing for workshops, screenings and other public programs at Scribe. The Technical Coordinator is the staff member who provides technical support to workshop instructors prior to and during workshops, including setting up equipment, assembling chairs, making photocopies and making sure all materials are on-hand for the smooth operation of workshops. When Scribe programs are offered on-line, the Technical Coordinator hosts and manages the Zoom room or other on-line portal.

Screenings

The Technical Coordinator is the primary technician (audio and video) and projectionist for digital video screenings that take place at Scribe.  The Technical Coordinator may also assist in the smooth operation of off-site programs, such as screenings at other venues.  Also, the Technical Coordinator assists with hosting and managing on-line screening platforms.

Community Radio Station WPEB

The Technical Coordinator works with volunteer broadcasters, engineering consultants and other members of Scribe's technical staff. The Technical Coordinator is responsible for basic engineering and maintenance to make sure the low power FM station is running smoothly.

Equipment Scheduling

The Technical Coordinator, in consultation with the Media Center Manager and Technical Director, schedules and reserves equipment and space usage for those individuals authorized to use Scribe equipment and facilities. Only individuals with an approved equipment usage application or individuals authorized through Scribe programs may use Scribe equipment or space. Technical Coordinator consults with Media Center Manager if there are questions about access to equipment.

Requirements

• •           Superb organizational skills.
• •           Excellent communication skills;
• •           Solid knowledge of digital video and audio technologies;
• •           Experience with professional digital video and audio equipment – purchasing, usage, trouble shooting and repair;
• •           Experience operating and maintaining digital video projection and public sound systems;
• •           Experience with IT and computer networking,
• •           Knowledge of technical, equipment & software for terrestrial radio
• •           Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud software
• •           Experience with digital file management (encoding, archiving),
• •           Microsoft Word and Excel; Data base management software
• •           Politeness, good humor, kindness and courtesy.
• •           Punctuality
• •           Ability to work with diverse constituencies.

Compensation = $26 an hour, approximately 20 hours a week, with benefits (paid time off, employer contribution toward health care insurance, dental insurance, employer contributions towards savings retirement) 

Please submit a letter of interest, a resume and the names/contact information of three professional references to “jobs (at) scribe (dot) org” and please write “Technical Coordinator” in the subject line.

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Teaching Artists Wanted

Some of Philadelphia’s most outstanding media makers have taught and presented works at Scribe. We create a venue for experienced media makers to share their skills with emerging artists at our workshops in West Philadelphia and in community media production projects throughout the Philadelphia region. We are looking for talented artists with solid skills in videography, sound recording, editing, animation and motion software, web design and AR/VR production. Most of our instructor/facilitators have MFAs and/or have produced a solid body of creative work. Our hourly rate for teaching is comparable to area colleges. 

Please send a cover letter, resume and web-links of your work to jobs@scribe.org with “Teaching Artist” in the subject line.

Freelance Photographers Wanted

Scribe Video Center seeks work-for-hire photographers to document community media projects. The photographer will attend production planning meetings and document community-based productions throughout the Philadelphia area. We are asking for behind the scenes production photos, as well as publicity stills suitable for newspaper, printed brochure, and web-based promotion. Scribe will pay $125 per shoot date for a minimum of ninety minutes per shoot and a minimum of 100 digital images.

If interested please send a resume and examples of your work to jobs@scribe.org.

Storyville Call for Works

Scribe's Storyville provides a forum for regional media artists to exhibit their works and engage audiences in discussion. 

For consideration, send a weblink of your film (or a DVD) and a cover letter with the title, total running time, director, distributor, and a brief description to:

inquiry@scribe.org. Please write "Storyville" in the subject line

or via US Mail to:

Scribe Video Center
Attn: Storyville
3908 Lancaster Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

For more information, call (215) 222-4201.

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Volunteer At Scribe

We often need volunteers at screenings and events. If you would like to be added to our list of prospective volunteers please email us at inquiry@scribe.org.