The New York Film Academy is pleased to offer weekend film and acting programs for youth (ages 10-13) at its Union Square, New York City and Universal Studios, Hollywood locations. We have designed weekend “Tween” programs with the same high standards and passion for filmmaking that we apply to our high school and university level programs.

INTRODUCTORY TWEEN FILMMAKING CAMP PROGRAM

Filmmaking Camp challenges young people to tell a story with moving images. Film school students begin on the first Saturday working with digital cameras and learning the fundamentals of directing films. Hands-on classes in directing, writing, editing, cinematography, and production cover the creative and technical demands of telling a story with moving images.

During the program students will work in small crews to make their films. Students will get the opportunity to fulfill each of the basic crew positions as well as write, direct and edit their short films of up to three minutes.

Tween film school students will shoot on digital video cameras and will learn how to compose, direct, and light for quality image and edit using Final-Cut Pro on Apple editing stations. At the Universal Studios location, students will have the opportunity to shoot their productions on the studio back lot.

At the end of the course, the final films are celebrated in a screening open to cast, crew, friends and family.

INTRODUCTORY TWEEN ACTING FOR FILM CAMP PROGRAM

This course emphasizes the basic elements of the craft of acting for film using fundamental acting technique and scene study as starting points. Students participate in in-class shoots aimed specifically at training the actor for the technical requirements of acting on a film set. Students should be prepared to devote additional hours of their own time for rehearsal and preparation. Every student shares the same curriculum. Some additional time may be scheduled for productions as needed.

Classes encourage students to break down physical and internal inhibitions, and help each child find the most effective personal sources for the creation of truthful characters. Students should be prepared to work in non-traditional acting classes emphasizing the construction of and control of character given the unique pressures of a film or television shoot. Video cameras will be used during class time.

Students will develop the techniques and confidence they need to create believable performances for the camera. They will apply what they have learned to a series of on camera exercises designed to develop their screen acting ability.

Students in the Two-Week Camp perform in a film scene that will be taped, edited and screened for a live audience. Students will leave with a DVD copy of the project.

Students in the Two-Week Summer Camp Program who enroll in only the first week will not act in the student productions but will receive all the fundamental acting instruction.

INTERMEDIATE TWEEN FILMMAKING CAMP PROGRAM
(Prerequisite: NYFA Tween Filmmaking Camp Program)

(Some additional time may be needed towards the end of the intermediate Camp Program for production days. )

Designed expressly for graduates of the Academy’s Tween Filmmaking program, this intermediate course offers students the opportunity to take the next creative and technical step in filmmaking.

Students will develop, pre-produce and create a longer and more complex project than that completed in the beginner program. Unlike the first course, intermediate film school students will be required to work collaboratively to develop a group project, and assume roles on a larger crew. Closer attention will be paid to set and costume design, locations, shot choices and coverage, as well as additional crew roles.

The finished product will be a film of up to 10 minutes. Classes will focus on topics including digital cinematography, screenwriting, editing practice and aesthetics, and directing for cinema.

While students will also be introduced to specific acting techniques and exercises as they apply to acting for the camera, classes will primarily focus on rehearsal and preparation for the final project.