6-Week Teen Summer Camp for Filmmaking

Core Subjects

• Director’s Craft: Through a balance of lectures and hands-on exercises, students will learn the language of filmmaking, mastering shot composition, camera movement, blocking, and visual storytelling techniques to bring their ideas to life. 
• Writing: Students will receive an introduction to story structure and script formatting before workshopping their own film ideas. As they develop their projects, they will refine their understanding of story arc, pacing, character, narrative beats, and writing dialogue. 
• Hands-On Camera and Lighting: Students will deepen their understanding of cinematography, learning to operate a digital camera while exploring aperture, shutter speed, focus, frame rates, and color balance. Lighting workshops will cover both natural and controlled lighting setups, helping students use light creatively to enhance mood and visual impact. 
• Production Workshop: This class provides an instructor-guided set experience, where students will gain hands-on familiarity with the collaborative and technical dynamics of a working film set. Through in-class shooting exercises, students will reinforce their understanding of set etiquette, communication, and on-set problem-solving. 
• Directing Actors: Students will learn how to work with performers, focusing on communication, directing techniques, and on-set etiquette to elicit strong, authentic performances. 
• Digital Editing: Using Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, students will learn the fundamentals of post-production, including cutting techniques, pacing, rhythm, and sound design. They will explore both continuity editing and montage editing, developing their ability to shape compelling narratives in the edit. 
• Sound Recording: Since sound is an essential and complex component of storytelling, students will receive specialized instruction in sound recording equipment, sound mixing, and boom mic operation. The course covers proper set protocol for sound, sound leveling, syncing audio in post-production, and basic sound design techniques, all of which will be crucial for their final dialogue project.

Course ProjectsOver the six weeks, students will write, direct, shoot, and edit four short films, each emphasizing a different fundamental aspect of filmmaking.

• Mise-en-Scène Project (First Project) – This seminal first project challenges students to create a short film using a single, uninterrupted shot, requiring them to explore the many possibilities of framing, blocking, and camera movement to craft a more cinematic and meaningful sequence. With no edits to rely on, students must think critically about staging and visual storytelling, learning how to direct attention within the frame and use movement to enhance narrative impact.
• Continuity Film (Second Project) – In this project, students focus on seamless visual continuity and flow. They will explore fundamental filmmaking techniques, such as matching on action, spatial relationships, and screen direction, to create clear and engaging sequences where the movement and progression of time feel natural and cohesive.
• Music/Montage Film (Third Project) – In this project, 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.
• Dialogue Project (Final Project) – One of the most challenging projects of the program, this film is the only dialogue film offered at the introductory level. Students will apply all they have learned while also incorporating spoken dialogue as a complex new layer in visual storytelling. Because dialogue requires a deeper understanding of sound, students will receive additional instruction in sound recording, dialogue editing, sound leveling, and sound design to ensure clarity and emotional impact. They will also learn how to work with actors on delivering natural performances within the context of scripted dialogue.

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 directing their own projects, students will rotate through different crew positions on their classmates’ films, gaining valuable experience in various roles on set.

By the end of the program, students will have developed a comprehensive skill set in filmmaking, a stronger command of visual storytelling, and a portfolio of four completed short films showcasing their ability to tell stories using images, music, sound design, and dialogue.

To learn more about NYFA’s teen camps, visit the NYFA Camp Brochure.