There’s an obvious sign that Austin Cinemaker Space, the creative collaborative space in East Austin, has responded to the pandemic: The plinths normally used for art displays are now sanitation stations.
That’s the first indication that after being closed for 15 months, the facility has now reopened and is changing to respond to the shifting local media scene.
Since it opened in 2015 as part of the Motion Media Arts Center nonprofit (also home to Austin School of Film), the space has constantly reinvented itself. Founder Faiza Kracheni described it as a hybrid between a studio and a co-working space, reflected in the wide diversity of creatives both leasing suites and sharing access to the 4,500-square-foot central atrium. “Not every filmmaker is just a filmmaker,” said Kracheni.
That’s her own experience, as she’s also a filmmaker and plays in several bands. She offered that the space itself was inspired by the all-together, DIY ethos of the punk scene. Her aim was to create “a safe space where [people] can let their freak flag fly,” especially for the historically underserved women and people of color in East Austin, who have seen many creative spaces close over the years. In one office there’s a dance festival director, an editor, and a podcaster sharing the room, and that’s a model echoed around the building. “Everyone here is a working-class creative,” which is reflected in the equipment that Cinemaker keeps on-site for filmmakers to borrow if they’re in a bind. “If you’re an indie production and you need extra C-stands or sandbags, or your Zoom recorder is not working, you can actually add that on for no additional fee with your membership.”
Those supplies are intended to supplement, not replace, the bulk of the equipment needed. Kracheni explained that they want to encourage local businesses, which is why members get a 10% discount from Austin Movie Gear. “That’s a way to directly support them,” she said.
Of course, membership took a hit when the pandemic struck and the facility was closed down. Before COVID-19, there were roughly 300 members; so far, 37 of those original members have already returned, and membership now stands at around 100, with applications for slots now open. However, there are no plans to get back to the old levels, Kracheni said. “This is a clean slate so I can see – what is the perfect number?”
Those that are accepted are able to reserve the on-site facilities, which evolve in response to members’ needs. This year the team has gone back to their DIY roots, renovating on a shoestring budget (as Kracheni noted, the space saw an 83% drop in income last year). More photographers are booking out the White Box (one of two soundproof studios) for photo shoots, so the 710-square-foot Flex Studio is being converted into a second White Box more useful for photo shoots, thus freeing up the original for film and video shoots that need soundproofing. Further reflecting the growth in photography, the developing lab is being converted from movies to movies and still photography. Meanwhile, reflecting a growing media market since Cinemaker opened, a podcasting studio has been built in the room next door.
Then there is a space marked “TBA”: Before the pandemic, it was an open area with a conference desk, but Kracheni is eying giving it a more dedicated use. A light-controlled editing suite has been suggested, as has a “run-and-gun” content creation area with backdrops, “but those are just my ideas. I want other people to have input.”
Austin Cinemaker Space, 2200 Tillery. More details at austinsfilmschool.org.
This article appears in June 25 • 2021 and June 18 • 2021.
