Over the course of the camp students will: Learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, and editing. Learn about different jobs in the film industry what each crew member does, and the production process. Gain an understanding of storytelling, screenplay structure, examples of various narrative and genre styles. Write their own screenplays in a workshop setting. Learn about the business of film, releases, contracts, and all the legal documents needed to successfully make and present a film. Students will learn camera techniques, functionality, and operation, as well as the basics of lighting and sound. Gain experience using equipment through the Houston Media Source, which they will have access to after the camp. Learn how to work as a crew, how to storyboard, how to direct, and how to edit. Screen their films at the end of the workshop, and will post them online for friends and family to view.

Tentative schedule: Week One Monday June 17 9 – 12 - Methods of storytelling including basic narrative and visual elements. 12 to 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 Camera exercises to teach tilt, pan, angle and frame sizes Tuesday – June 18 9 – 12 Lighting and it’s emotional impact on the story and audience experience and Basic Lighting exercises 12 – 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 Hands on Camera exercises Wednesday – June 19 Juneteenth holiday Thursday - June 20 9-12 Finalize script selection and rewrites – lighting exercises 12 – 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 Begin Prep Friday – June 21 9 – 12 Audio – how does sound impact the final film and sound recording basics 12 – 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 Audio exercises Week Two Monday – June 24 9 – 12 Audio recording and mixing continued 12 – 1 Lunch 12 - 4:30 – Shot selection and building a shot list and storyboards Tuesday - June 25 9 -12 Final prep for shoot 12 – 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 review equipment, roles and shot lists and ensure all is ready for filming Wednesday, June 26 9 – 4:30 Filming Thursday June 27 9 – 10 am review yesterday dailies 10 – 4:30 filming Friday June 28 9 – 10 am review dailies 10 – 4 Film pick ups Week Three Monday July 1 9 – 12 Editing basics, getting the raw footage and building a workflow 12 – 1 Lunch 1 – 4:30 Cutting together a string out Tuesday July 2 9 – 12 Getting for a string out to a fine cut 12 – 1 lunch 1 – 4:30 Basic Audio editing Wednesday July 3 9 – 3 Editing individually with assistance from instructors, breaks taken as student choose. 4:00 screen selected rough cuts *This may look different from the final schedule.

Open to students age 12-17. No prior filmmaking experience is required. Only 15 spots.

The Summer Camp will be hosted at HCC Alief Hayes campus 2811 Hayes Road, Houston, TX 77082. During Production Week, location shooting may be arranged within walking distance of the classroom. Details of all supervised shooting locations will be mailed to parents prior to production.

$800 for all weeks, $100 off for SWAMP $75 off for HCAS Scholarships are available on a financial-need basis. Please email info@swamp.org for an application. Full refunds are available up to 7 days before camp begins. After that only 50 percent refunds are available.

Julye Newlin – You may have seen Julye on the sidelines shooting the Rockets games or working on an independent feature or shooting a commercial. With more than 20 years’ experience behind the camera on an array of projects from documentary to industrial Julye has turned a childhood passion for photography into a career that ranges from the decks of The Nautilus to the sets of feature films. She is a passionate cinematographer and craftswoman but also a passionate educator who has been working to teach the next generation of storytellers for over 10 years. Currently on the faculty of HCC, Julye brings our campers both theory and practical application. Randee Ramsey – Randee is a filmmaker and screenwriter. She has written features, shorts and plays as well as worked as a production manager and AD. She has a wide knowledge of the industry and has been a film instructor for more than 5 years. Currently, Randee serves as the Executive Director of SWAMP, on the Board of Women in Film and Television, Houston and as a script consultant and an adjunct at HCC. She began her career working with high school students at Blair High School in Pasadena as part of the California Institute of the Arts Partnership program. Stephen Hurst – Director, Actor, Teaching Artist. Stephen has an MA in theatre for Young Audiences and Youth from Oklahoma City University and a BA in Business Administration from CSU, Fresno. He is currently working at The Branch School as the Theatre Director. Previously, he spent 20 years working with the A. D. Players Theatre Company here in Houston. During that time Stephen taught all around the Greater Houston Area teaching students from age 2 through adult the art of Theatre and Creative Drama. He has directed shows such as James and the Giant Peach, Neverending Story, The Little Mermaid, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, for companies like Kid’s Back-porch Productions in Pearland, Christian Youth Theatre Houston, and Good Company Players in Fresno CA. He has been a Tommy Tune Administrative Judge, a presenter at Christians in Theatre Arts, is a member of Theatre for Young Audiences—USA, The American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and Texas Theatre Education. Stephen has an extensive performance resume with favorite acting roles such as The Hobbit (GOLUM ), Godspell (ENS.), Fiddler on the Roof (FYEDKA), Diary of Anne Frank (MR. DUSSEL). He has two Television credits, The Parsley Garden (an ABC After-School special) and a pilot series called Fresno. Brian Maratea – Boom operator, Sound mixer, and sound recordist for Films like Logan, Gerald's Game and Dark Places.

Download and fill out application. Purchase your pass here. Email to randeeramsey@swamp.org.