Learn How to Shoot a Short Movie at NYFA
During this intensive filmmaking camp, students aged 14-17 get a hands-on introduction to filmmaking. Throughout the hands-on summer camp, students learn how to shoot a short movie through coursework and projects, writing, directing and editing their own content. No experience is required to attend.
Program Description Camp Name: 3-Week Filmmaking Camp for Teens
The 3-Week Filmmaking Program is an intensive, hands-on course designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of visual storytelling. Through a combination of structured lessons, practical exercises, and production workshops, students will explore the director’s craft and learn how to translate their ideas into compelling visual narratives using the digital format.
Core Subjects
This program expands on the fundamental principles of filmmaking by incorporating more in-depth training in the following core subjects:
- Director’s Craft: Through a well balanced combination of lecture and hands-on exercises, students will learn the language of filmmaking and how to make creative and technical choices that translate their vision into effective and compelling visual storytelling.
- Writing: Students will begin with an introduction to story structure and script formatting before workshopping their own film ideas, developing a strong foundation in story arc, pacing, character, and narrative beats.
- Hands-On Camera and Lighting: In these sessions, students will deepen their understanding of cinematography, covering both the creative and technical aspects of capturing visually engaging images and working with available and controlled lighting.
- Production Workshop: Provides students with an instructor-guided set experience, allowing them to gain practical insight and familiarity with the collaborative dynamics of a working film set.
- Directing Actors: Students will receive instruction and practice in working with performers, focusing on communication, technique, and directing methods to elicit effective performances.
- Digital Editing: Through hands-on practice in Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, students will learn the fundamentals of post-production, refining their films through editing and sound design.
Course Projects
By the end of the program, each student will have written, directed, shot, and edited two short films: a continuity film and a music/montage film. Both projects will be non-dialogue films, meaning that both will not include any dialogue, written or spoken, relying entirely on visual storytelling, music, and sound effects to communicate narrative, mood, and emotion. Effectively steering these young storytellers into the habit of showing instead of telling.
- Continuity Film (First Project) – The continuity film will focus on maintaining seamless visual continuity and flow, allowing students to explore essential filmmaking techniques. Through this project, students will learn how to construct clear, engaging sequences where the movement and progression of time feel natural and cohesive.
- Music/Montage Film (Second Project) – For the music/montage film, students will take a more expressive approach, where music and sound effects become a pivotal aspect of storytelling. By experimenting with rhythm, juxtaposition, and visual composition, students will explore how the relationship between sound and image can shape mood, tone, and meaning. This project encourages creative editing techniques and a dynamic approach to narrative construction.
In the Los Angeles campus, at least one of these projects will be shot in the backlot of Universal Studios, in all other campuses these projects can be shot on outdoor locations around that city.
In addition to creating their own films, students will work as crew members on their classmates’ projects, ensuring a well-rounded, immersive, and highly collaborative filmmaking experience. By the end of the program, each student will have developed a stronger command of visual storytelling and a deeper understanding of how to craft engaging films using only images, music, and sound design.
To learn more about NYFA’s teen camps, visit the NYFA Camp Brochure.
3-Week Filmmaking Summer Camp for Teens I
| Location | Program Start Date and End Date | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | June 29, 2025 – July 19, 2025 July 20, 2025 – August 9, 2025 | Tuition:$ 4,525 Program Duration: 3-Weeks |
| Los Angeles | June 29, 2025 – July 19, 2025 July 20, 2025 – August 9, 2025 | Tuition:$ 4,525 Program Duration: 3-Weeks |
| Harvard University | June 22, 2025 – July 12, 2025 July 13, 2025 – August 2, 2025 | Tuition:$ 4,525 Program Duration: 3-Weeks |
| Paris, France | July 6, 2025 – July 26, 2025 | Tuition:$ 4,525 Program Duration: 3-Weeks |
| Florence, Italy | June 29, 2025 – July 19, 2025 July 20, 2025 – August 9, 2025 | Tuition:$ 4,525 Program Duration: 3-Weeks |