Youth Open Lab Application

About Fall 2025 Open Lab

Fall 2025 Youth Open Lab
Open Lab is a learning opportunity for youth to pursue an original media arts project. Youth will go through the necessary steps to define individual projects from idea to final product with the support of instructors, workshops, whole group and individual check ins, and tools and resources at BAYCAT. Youth who apply must complete a project proposal to be considered. Requirements to participate:

MUST have experience in media production - taken classes at BAYCAT, media arts classes in school or other after-school programs.
MUST submit a project proposal. Applications without a project proposal will not be accepted.
Each participant MUST collaborate with at least one other participant in a supportive capacity (helping record, acting, proofreading, etc).

Expectations during the program:

Participants MUST participate in orientation.
Participants MUST meet 1:1 with Instructional staff to develop a project timeline, and be responsible for meeting their own self-prescribed deadlines.
Participants MUST provide a final product to display at the Youth Media Showcase.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application Dates: June 25 - September 30, 2025

Interview Dates: August 18-28, 2025 (except August 20 and 25)

Notification of Acceptance: Beginning August 26, 2025

Program Dates: September 9 - December 11, 2025

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays (except SFUSD Breaks and Holidays), 4:30-6:30 PM

Showcase: Thursday, December 18, 5-7 PM

Program Participant Information

Please do not use the same first name, last name, suffix, and email address as that of your parent/guardian if possible.

First Name

Last Name

Suffix

Preferred Name

Pronouns?

Pronouns - If other:

Program Participant Contact Information

Street Address

Apartment, Suite, Unit, etc.

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

County

Personal Email Address

Skip if you don't have an email address.

Preferred Phone

Skip if you don't have a phone number.

Mobile Phone

Home Phone

Work Phone

Other Phone

Additional Participant Information

Have you attended BAYCAT before?

If Yes, what program(s) have you participated in and for which year(s)?

Birthdate

Gender

Gender - Other

Ethnicity

Ethnicity - Other

How did you hear about BAYCAT?

Social Media Platform

Social Media - Other

How did you hear about BAYCAT? - Other

Please share details like the name of the person or organization that referred you or which event or place or platform where you learned about BAYCAT.

Write N/A if you don't feel comfortable sharing.

Program Participant Academic Information

School Currently Attending

Is your school in San Francisco?

If not, what city (and state) is it in? (Or is it a virtual school, homeschooling, etc.?)

You don't have to share this information.

Current Grade in School

Expected Graduation Year

Parent/Guardian Contact Information

Please do not use the same first name, last name, suffix, and email address as that of the applicant if possible.

Parent/Guardian First Name

Parent/Guardian Last Name

Parent/Guardian Suffix

Parent/Guardian Preferred Name

Parent/Guardian Email Address

Parent/Guardian Preferred Phone

Parent/Guardian Mobile Phone

Parent/Guardian Home Phone

Parent/Guardian Work Phone

Parent/Guardian Other Phone

Household Information

Number of Persons in your Family

Annual Household Income

Project Proposal and Roles

Are you open to supporting someone else's project as a crew member instead of working on your own project? (You can still tell us about your idea below.)

YesNo

Title of your project

Logline. In a couple of sentences, please describe the crux of your film. (75 words or less)

Project synopsis. (400 words or less. Give a summary of the story arc and introduce the characters)

What made you want to tell this story and why is now the right time for you to tell it? (300 words or less)

Please describe your artistic vision and stylistic approach. How will your film look and feel? (300 words or less)

What do you hope to achieve during your Open Lab residency at BAYCAT? (300 words or less)

Please Create a Project Timeline and list key milestones alone with deadlines.

What resources or support do you hope to receive from BAYCAT?

Can you bring 1-2 friends as crew members? (If so, list them here.)

In what capacity, would you like to support another project?

Film and/or media arts roles - if other?

Youth Advanced Class Information

Have you ever had a job?

If Yes, please describe your job experience.

Contact Information