Our Programs

Incubators

Major Films

These initiatives are designed to provide students with an intensive learning experience in film, media, and technology. Upon completion, students will have produced a piece of work for their portfolio. They will have the opportunity to collaborate with leading industry experts, receiving invaluable mentorship. These projects, which are fully funded, provide financial support to small storytelling teams.

Major Films

These projects provide apprentices up to 40 hours of training before the production in subjects like film culture, expectations, safety, and procedures so they are set up for success on day one. Most projects have 20 or more apprentices, each receiving a minimum of 200 paid hours of training on the production.

Training and Mentorship

Our specialized departmental training equips participants with the necessary skills to become efficient crew members right from the first day at work. In addition, this program offers mentorship along with career advisory services for comprehensive professional development.

Job Placement

Training and Mentorship

The job placement programs offered by Lion Speaks encompass a range of services. These include securing a position on a professional film set, providing a recommendation to the local union, and offering guidance in the union membership application process. Additionally, the program assists with paying the initial union membership fee and dues.

Outdoor School: FEATURE FILM

During the summer of 2022, Lion Speaks filmed our first full-length feature project, "Outdoor School." The Film tells the story of Vin Shambry, a Black 12-year-old boy, in 1994 in Portland, Oregon. Homeless, Vin sleeps under a tree in the park with his mother and baby sister at night, by day palling around with his school-yard friend, the daughter of a famous shoe designer. Vin's 6th-grade class embarks on an educational coming-of-age adventure known as Outdoor School. For the first time, Vin learns what it means to be a kid as he navigates the tension between his family life and the great outdoors while masking his poverty at all costs to protect himself and the people he loves. The Film is in post-production and will hit the festival circuit for distribution in 2024.

Outdoor School trained over 30 apprentices in various departments during this major motion picture production. Over 70% of the crew were Black, Indigenous, people of color, or women.