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Filmmaking camps near you

As filmmaking grows in popularity, the list of film and movie making camps continues to grow. Below, find a camp close to your area.

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More than just summer camp

For those interested in filmmaking, there are other options besides summer camp. Filmmaking programs are offered throughout the year. This includes after-school, evening, and weekend programs. Below, find the right program for you.

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Other camps you might look at

If your child is interested in filmmaking, you might also look into the following.

Acting and drama camps: Enable your son or daughter to unleash their creativity through movement, improvisation (improv), vocal training, and dance.  

Animation camps: Offer curriculum and teaching in specialized animation programs, software, techniques, and topics.

Visual arts camps: Focus on the fine arts, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, and fashion.

Graphic design camps and programs: Teach kids basics in real-world design and presentation including design for logos, flyers, and more.

Writing and journalism camps: Teach and develop various writing skills, for both fiction and non-fiction, such as grammar, punctuation, clarity, creativity, stylistics, and engagement.

Video game design camps: Kids learn different types of design and function, creation of 3-D characters, lighting, sound effects, and programming with the best tools and technologies available today.

Skills learned at filmmaking camps

Filmmaking camps enable kids to acquire critical knowledge and skills. They’ll also learn about the film and possibly the television industry. This can be useful during childhood, the teen years, and throughout one’s life. It can also open up interesting learning pathways, both in school and out. 

Here are some skills and knowledge your child will likely acquire at a filmmaking camp:

• Film direction
• Film production
• Cinematography
• Storytelling
• Scriptwriting
• Storyboarding
• Film media
• Videography

Depending on the level and focus of the camp, your child may also acquire other important skills and knowledge: 

• History of cinema
• Camera work
• Digital animation
• TV vs. movies
• Character development
• Sound production
• Marketing and distribution
• Benefits of filmmaking camps

Film and movie-making camps can inspire and motivate your child, give them technical know-how, and introduce them to a new industry.

Beyond these, there are numerous other potential perks of these camps. They include:

• Cultivating creativity
• Instilling curiosity
• Learning and making friends with like-minded peers
• Forming connections in a new community
• Opening up learning and career pathways

Possible career trajectories of filmmaking camps

Many filmmaking camps give kids specific pathways to pursue educational opportunities. This includes pursuing specific, arts-focused programs in high school, community college, or university.

Filmmaking camps can also open the door to potential career paths. These include both high-level and more technical and specialized careers in the film or television industry.

High-level careers

• Director
• Producer
• Cinematographer
• Film editing
• Screenwriter
• Casting director

Technical and specialized careers

• Location manager
• Set designer
• Grip
• Runner
• Gaffer
• Makeup artist
• Costume designer
• Camera operator
• Props manager
• Marketer and distributor
• Production designer
• Sound designer
• Visual effects artist

Choosing the right filmmaking camp for your child

What’s the best way to choose the right filmmaking camp for your child? First, think more seriously about them: their age, experience, interests, and goals. 

• Is your child aiming to just learn the basics of filmmaking? Or are they looking to take an important step towards a career in this field? 
• Do they want to focus on a specific area of filmmaking, such as cinematography? Or are they looking to acquire a more general background?

Then, of course, you should look closely at the camps themselves. Talk to directors and staff, and visit camps whenever possible. For instance, if it’s a camp focusing on visual storytelling, you may ask the following questions:

• How do you teach visual storytelling?
• Is there a specific approach you use?
• Does my child need any specific background in this area?
• How might this skill help my child?
• What careers might this skill provide the basis for?

Other resources

For further guidance on choosing the right camp for your child, check out the following resources on Our Kids.net:

Finally, to learn more about filmmaking, check out the following sources:

NYU: The Beginner’s Guide to the Filmmaking Process
Master Class: Film 101
Studio Binder: What is Cinematography?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Filmmaking camps are there?
There are 11 programs specializing in Filmmaking. In addition, there are 20 programs offering filmmaking as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Filmmaking camps?
Fees for Filmmaking camps range from $195 to $545 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Filmmaking camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 8 through 18.

Where can parents meet with Filmmaking camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.