Charlottesville – Filmmaking lead & assistant teaching artists needed – Summer 2026 – Paid

Job Position(s): Charlottesville – Filmmaking lead & assistant teaching artists needed – Summer 2026 – Paid

The Virginia Film Office is listing openings for a Filmmaking Lead and Assistant Teaching Artists in Charlottesville, Virginia for Summer 2026. These roles sit within a youth or community film education program, where the lead and assistants guide students through hands-on film production workflow, from pre-production planning through to a finished short-form project. This suits working film educators or early-career film production professionals who are comfortable running a camera, teaching story structure, and managing a small crew of students in a live production setting.

About the Role

The Filmmaking Lead oversees the full instructional arc of the program, while Assistant Teaching Artists support daily production exercises across writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. A typical day involves leading workshops on a core filmmaking discipline, supervising student-led shoots, and reviewing footage to guide editorial decisions before the next session. The program functions like a compressed short film production, with students taking the project from concept to a screened cut over the course of the summer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead structured workshops covering short film production fundamentals including script development, shot composition, and basic editing principles.
• Supervise student-operated camera and audio equipment during field production days, ensuring safe and functional on-set workflow.
• Guide students through the post-production process, reviewing cuts and providing notes that reflect industry-standard editorial feedback.
• Manage daily lesson pacing to keep the group on schedule for a finished short film deliverable by end of program.
• Coordinate with fellow teaching artists to align instruction across departments so students receive a coherent production education.
• Facilitate a final screening or presentation of completed student films for program stakeholders.

What You Bring

• Hands-on credits in short film production, documentary, or narrative filmmaking in a crew capacity.
• Experience teaching or mentoring in a film education, after-school media program, or workshop setting.
• Working knowledge of DSLR or mirrorless camera operation, basic lighting setups, and location sound recording.
• Familiarity with accessible editing platforms such as DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro for student instruction.
• Comfort managing group dynamics and keeping a youth production schedule on track under real-world constraints.

Why This Role

The Virginia Film Office posts only paid positions, and this Filmmaking Lead and Assistant Teaching Artist listing is confirmed as a paid engagement for Summer 2026. The Virginia Film Office serves as a direct connector between working film professionals and production opportunities across the state, giving these roles real visibility within the regional film community. For mid-career educators or production professionals looking to expand into film education, this is a grounded, credit-worthy program with a defined run and a tangible student outcome.

Apply now for the Filmmaking Lead and Assistant Teaching Artist positions listed through the Virginia Film Office and bring working film production knowledge to students in Charlottesville this summer.