How the Residency Works
A Seasonal Residency
Video Village plans to operate in seasons that roughly follow the academic calendar, with a typical season beginning in early September and concluding around June 1. Each term has its own written agreement. Unless we are actively in production during the summer, members will generally spend June through September away from the property. This gives everyone an opportunity to travel, visit family, and recharge. Our hope is that when fall arrives, many of the same faces come back to pick up right where we left off.
Founding Session
Finding the right fit is incredibly important for both the individual and the community. Every new member begins with a two-month trial. For our inaugural season, the founding session runs from October 1 through November 20. The founding session wraps on November 20, and the house takes a short pause before the next term begins. This gives everyone a chance to head home for Thanksgiving and spend the holidays with their families.
The Village and Films
Video Village is home. It is where we live, share meals, and build together. The films themselves are made by separate production companies, one for each project. When you join the Village, you will be hired as a paid, part-time employee of the company behind our current film, Brain Rot OS 1. Your position comes with a place to live at the Village, shared meals, utilities, and internet, along with a modest cash wage and profit participation in the film you help bring to life. We call everyone who lives and works here a member. Being a member means belonging to this community and sharing in the success of the films you help create. Each member's agreement spells out their profit participation, while the production company behind each film retains ownership of that film.
Community Values
The Village Host is a gay filmmaker who values diverse, inclusive environments where all people feel welcome. Everyone should be comfortable living with—and learning from—people whose experiences may differ from their own.
Mutual respect and gratitude are at the heart of Video Village. Every position is a paid, part-time role. Lodging, meals, utilities, and internet are part of each member's compensation, and each member also receives profit participation in the film or films that they work on. Our goal is to remove much of the financial burden that often prevents independent filmmakers from doing their best work. We believe that is a compelling opportunity for the right people. If you do too, we would love to hear from you.
Work Commitment
Members are scheduled for 30 hours each week in their position. That time includes a set of shared core hours plus flexible hours that members schedule themselves. We keep track of work time so that every hour is accounted for and everyone's time is respected. The remainder of the week belongs to each member to pursue freelance work, develop personal projects, recharge, or simply enjoy the property.
Shared Living
Video Village is first and foremost a home.
Members are expected to treat both the house and one another with kindness and respect. The House Manager handles most of the day-to-day cleaning, laundry, and general upkeep. However, all residents are expected to clean up after themselves and help keep shared spaces tidy and organized. Living communally only works when everyone pitches in.
While Video Village values community, we also value solitude. Nobody is expected to be social all the time. Members are encouraged to respect one another's privacy, personal space, and downtime.
Video Village shares the property with one more person - a long-term tenant who rents the garden-floor apartment. He has his own private entrance, full bath, kitchen, laundry room, and backyard access. He's a great person, and is excited to have filmmakers living upstairs.
Guests & Pets
Friendly, well-behaved guests are welcome from time to time, provided they respect the home and the people living in it. Overnight guests are permitted with permission from The Village Host.
For half the year, Bear—a sweet, hypoallergenic Terrier/Poodle mix—calls Video Village home. You can spot her in one of the photos on this page. Bear loves people and gets along well with other dogs, so friendly, non-shedding small and medium-sized dogs are welcome. The Village Host is allergic to cats, so, unfortunately, they are not allowed.
Village Host Availability
In addition to leading Video Village, the Village Host also directs a college film program and teaches four courses each semester.
Like other residents, he will generally dedicate approximately 30 hours each week to Video Village projects. The Village Host may travel or visit family during holidays and seasonal breaks. Once a season is underway, members are welcome to remain in the house during those periods.
The Village Host is a night owl. If you're an early riser, no problem. But if you're an especially light sleeper, Video Village may not be the best fit.
Creativity & Confidentiality
Members should expect to collaborate on projects that may involve confidential creative materials, business plans, scripts, and other works in development. Respecting one another's ideas—and knowing when they aren't ready to be shared publicly—is an important part of living and working together.
Community Standards
Creating a safe, respectful, and productive home is essential to the success of Video Village.
While we hope every residency is successful, a member's position and stay may be ended if their behavior or performance has a significant negative impact on the community. This includes persistent issues related to reliability, work ethic, cleanliness, respect for others, or the shared living environment. Safety comes first, and conduct that threatens anyone's safety will be addressed immediately. Move-out timing is set out in each member's written agreement.
An Evolving Experiment
Video Village is an ambitious experiment in independent filmmaking.
Like any worthwhile experiment, we'll continue refining the residency as we learn what works best. We're looking for people who are excited not only to participate in that process, but to help shape it.
This page describes life at Video Village. It is not an offer of employment or a contract. The terms of each position are set out in a written agreement with the hiring production company.