The Queer Media Project officially launches on Jan. 29 with an open house at Minneapolis Television Network and will provide queer youth (ages 15 to 23) a crash course on video production. Chris Durant of OUT Twin Cities Film Festival is teaching the course in collaboration with MTN.

“I was contacted by and asked by Minneapolis Television Network if I would be interested in facilitating a 12 week crash course in video production with queer youth,” Durant told TheColu.mn. “I am very interested in the opportunity to pass along my experience and knowledge, particularly to disenfranchised or unrepresented youth…so I said yes.”

Students get a free membership to MTN, access to video production equipment, a public screening of final projects, and the possibility to have their work shown at the 2014 OUT Twin Cities Film Festival. Classes begin on Feb. 1 and run every Saturday through April.

Youth interested in participating can sign up by contacting Jessica Telley at [email protected].

“I have been working closely with Jessica Talley, youth director with MTN, who is also my collaborator, to develop the curriculum,” Durant said. “We wanted to create an environment that focused on queer media but we also wanted to make the course open to all youth to create an inclusive, educational and collaborative experience for all involved. Since this my first chance at being a teaching artist, who knows what creative ideas will be captured. I am very excited to see the creativity and personal transformations.”

The Queer Media project open house is Wed. Jan. 29 from 7-8pm at Minneapolis Television Network: 125 SE Main St. Suite 244 Minneapolis, MN 55414.