Filmmaking Summer Camps for Children

It seems like traditional summer camps have been around forever. Most of us have memories of attending some type of camp when we were kids. We camped out, built fires, sang songs, made crafts and hiked until our feet hurt. We were, somewhat, satisfied with the simple things in life.

Today's kids are different; they want a more unique summer camp experience. As a result, filmmaking camps are quickly becoming a popular choice. Many of these camps also offer activities such as dance, music, acting, photography and even circus performance.

The School of Cinema & Performing Arts (http://www.socapa.org/index.html) offers three levels of their summer camp filmmaking program… youth, high school and college level. (Up to age 25.)

The high school level filmmaking summer camp is for students 14-18. This intense, three-week program takes place in New York City, Each camper writes, directs and edits three films while at camp. (This entire experience counts toward college credit.)

No other filmmaking camp gives students access to state-of-the-art equipment such as three chip digital video cameras and pro non-linear digital computer systems. This allows campers to add voiceover, music, sound effects and dialogue to their films.

Once a week students attend a master class taught by an actor, writer, producer or director involved in the New York Independent Film industry. Past guest instructors include Peter Sollett and Morgan Freeman.

Even though students spend the majority of time camp time working on actual filmmaking, there is time for extra-curricular activities. An example of these include: a trip to Coney Island, a MTV taping and Shakespere in the Park.

Rhode Island's KidsEyeä Filmmaking Summer Camp, located in Kingston, is a five-day program geared toward 10-16 years olds. It has been designed to benefit all young filmmakers, regardless of their prior experience.

Sponsored by the Rhode Island International Film Festivalä, this program allows campers to become involved with the whole filmmaking process. They take on the job responsibilities of screenwriters, actors, directors and members of the crew.

This summer camp allows its participants to use their own video equipment, if available. Experienced filmmakers and educators present the entire program. KidsEyeä is truly a hands-on program.

Visit the website (http://www.film-festival.org/kidseye.php) for this summers tentative itinerary, scholarship and application information, coverage from ABC News and more. Long Lake Camp For The Arts (http://www.longlakecamp.com/) provides summer camp fun in all areas of the arts, including filmmaking. Located in the Central Adirondack Mountains of New York, LLCFTA has been in existence for 35 years.

This particular summer camp program accommodates 235 campers and 130 staff members. The program is open to aspiring filmmakers ages 10 to 16. There is, both, a three and a six-week session offered.

Campers will learn the ins and outs of screen writing, electronic newsgathering, lighting, camera operation, special effects, video animation, directing, producing and more!

The filmmaking program utilizes the most up-to-date equipment, which produces state of the art results. Completed films are presented to the entire camp, on a huge twelve-foot viewing screen.

There are a vast number of filmmaking summers camps available in all parts of the country, for children and teens of all ages. Many of them provide some sort of scholarship program for eligible campers.

KidsCamps.com (http://www.kidscamps.com/art/film_tv.html) is a great place to start, when choosing the perfect filmmaking summer camp for your child. Who knows, you might end up the parent of the next Steven Spielberg!