Film & Digital Media Programs - ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą /program/arts-focus/film-digital-media/ California Art Boarding High School Thu, 20 Nov 2025 01:19:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Film & Digital Media Programs - ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą /program/arts-focus/film-digital-media/ 32 32 Acting for the Camera /programs/acting-for-the-camera/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:43:31 +0000 /?post_type=program&p=24026 This transformational class is fully integrated with the Filmmaking Intensive and allows beginning and advanced actors to deeply immerse themselves into the process of acting for the camera in the film world.

*This is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

The post Acting for the Camera appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]>
ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Acting for the Camera

14 – 17*

This transformational class is fully integrated with the Filmmaking Intensive and allows beginning and advanced actors to deeply immerse themselves into the process of acting for the camera in the film world.

*This is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Dates

June 28 – July 25, 2026
Four-week session

Final Showcase

Saturday, July 25, 2026
The Rustic Theatre – Time TBD
54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild

Ages

14 – 17

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$9,450

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$4,750

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

14 Students
Total Capacity includes Residential and Day Students

Overview

Working with the Filmmaking Intensive, beginning and advanced actors will deeply immerse themselves into the process of acting in the film world. Beyond acting for the camera, students will also have the opportunity to learn about character development, how to market yourself as an actor in the business, the film editing process, and more. They may also have the chance to try their hand at various support roles during filming, such as holding the boom-mic and doing makeup.

Week one starts with fun and relaxing exercises to open up the summer camp vibe. The actors are given monologues tailored to their personality and marketing, through which they can explore their feelings, find their strengths, and get past their fears. Usually these monologues are shown to the filmmakers as they start the writing process to jump start their character development and understand their talent pool. The actors then dive deep into acting on camera with memorized scenes, cold reading, frozen reading, and auditions to build connection and understand the intimate and personal level of performance that is required for film.

Week Two is all about the actual films that are going to be made. The scripts that are chosen from the filmmakers are broken down into auditions and the actors prepare to show their stuff. Actors are allowed to audition for any role and can audition for as many as they want. After the roles are cast, with a healthy desire to make sure every actor gets their screen time, the actors start preparing to bring the roles to life on camera. 

Week Three is filming week, where students get to test their new skills and take the risks that they have gained the confidence to take. When not in the cast, actors have a chance to try their skills at supporting the filmmakers, which can be anything from make-up to holding the boom. Actors’ time on set allows them to get used to the rhythm and processes so that they are no longer intimidated. 

Week Four is when some of the filmmakers go into the editing process while others float into the actor program for more learning and fun. This is the time where students learn how the acting business works and how to market themselves as actors. We dive deep into the parallel process of character development known as “personality mapping” so that actors understand the nature of how characters are created from a psychological perspective. 

Culmination: On camp’s final Saturday we get to see the end result of all the work and fun: the films and the process of making them. The whole family gets to experience what these actors and filmmakers went through, what they were able to create in just 4 weeks, and the long-term friendships that have been forged. 

Make sure to schedule your departure in the afternoon or evening so that you can be there for the Saturday morning culmination.

Additional Information

Film workshops are open admission (no audition is required). Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and/or creating films for years.

  • Closed-toe shoes
  • Comfortable work clothes
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Notepad and pens/pencils and/or a laptop
  • Rain jacket/poncho
  • Good set of enclosed-ear headphones (optional)
  • PC or Mac laptop with screenwriting software (optional)
  • External hard drive (optional)
  • Digital camera and/or a phone with a camera (optional)In addition please bring:
  • An open mind
  • A healthy dose of courage
  • A can-do attitude


Billy Cowart started acting in 1979. Since then, he has performed in over 60 plays; he also has numerous Film and T.V. credits, as well as over 30 commercial campaigns. Some of his notable appearances include roles in TV shows iCarly, Criminal Minds, and Blackish. Beyond acting; he has worked in directing and producing; he has also worked as a feature film writer, film development associate, and as a casting associate alongside several casting directors.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs


The post Acting for the Camera appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]> Intro to Visual Storytelling /programs/intro-to-visual-storytelling/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:33:06 +0000 /?post_type=program&p=24001 Learn how to convey a story or an idea as a filmmaker and digital content creator. This program is back after a hiatus due to popular demand, and will be filled with fulfilling and meaningful hands-on experiences.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

The post Intro to Visual Storytelling appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]>
ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Intro to Visual Storytelling

10 – 13*

Learn how to convey a story or an idea as a filmmaker and digital content creator. This program is back after a hiatus due to popular demand, and will be filled with fulfilling and meaningful hands-on experiences.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Dates

July 12 – July 25, 2026
Two-week session

Final Culmination

Student Showcase
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time TBD
The Rustic Theatre
54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild

Ages

10 – 13

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$5,200

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$2,600

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

12 students

(Total Capacity includes Residential and Day Students)

Overview

Have you ever watched a movie, television show, or documentary, or listened to a good podcast, and wondered, “how did they do that?” Well, wonder no more. In this immersive workshop, students will get a two-week crash course in everything you need to know about audio-visual storytelling. This class is perfect for beginners and experienced students alike, as long as they are interested in movie magic, media making, friends, and fun!

Additional Information

This program does not require any type of assessment or portfolio to get into the program. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills whether they are a beginner or have been an artist for years.

-Students must bring their own small video camera (any camera with video capability is ok!) or phone with video recording capabilities.
-Laptop if you have one
-Closed-toe shoes for navigating dirt and gravel pathways
-Comfortable work clothes
-Reusable water bottle
-Sunscreen
-Notepad and pens/pencils and/or a laptop
-Rain jacket/poncho
-Good set of enclosed-ear headphones (optional)
-PC or Mac laptop with screenwriting software (optional)
-External hard drive (optional)

In addition, please bring:
-An open mind
-A healthy dose of courage
-A can-do attitude

Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed for recreational use during class time in Children’s Center. Students in this program may be using a phone to record videos for classwork, but they should not be using them for other purposes.

On any given day, film campers will be exposed to foundational film techniques, basic equipment instruction on DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex), practical lab work as well as actual filmmaking crew experience. All of this rigorous learning is balanced with time for campers to enjoy being at camp, making new friends, and experiencing the mountainous majesty and natural beauty of Idyllwild.

Your student will be following this basic schedule each weekday:

Day students should be dropped off at Children’s Center between 8:15 – 8:25 am
(breakfast is not included for day students)

Residential Students will be walked to breakfast as a group and then to Children’s Center

8:30 am: Morning Sing/Greeting
9:00 am – 11:20 am: Morning Classes (snack provided)
11:30 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall (provided for residential and day students)
12:30 pm – 3:45 pm: Afternoon Classes (snack provided)

Day students should be picked up from Children’s Center at 4:00 pm.

Residential students will be walked as a group to afternoon activities with the RA’s.

Day students will be allowed to use the pool on Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 – 5:45 pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) Lifeguards will be present.

Saturday classes are at the discretion of the teacher. Some programs will meet on the Saturday between the two week session. Please watch out for more information from the teacher. Sundays are off for everyone, with no mandatory classes held.

Catalina Alcaraz-Guzman is a filmmaker, educator, and activist, selected as Film Teacher of the Year at the All American High School Film Festival 2024. She opened her own professional photography studio in her hometown of Medellin, Colombia, at the age of sixteen. As an active young leader, community organizer and cultural developer, Catalina participated in youth congresses, conferences, master classes, artistic events and performances, focusing on the power of film, theater, and mass media to offset the tumultuous social and political unrest in her country in the 1990s. After completing various degrees in photography, television production
and journalism, she relocated to the United States in 2002 in pursuit of an education and career in filmmaking. Specializing in history and popular culture, she received her BFA in Communication from Castleton State University, followed by her MFA in Film & Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2013.

While working as a development producer for 22 Whitestone in New York, Catalina was Artist-in-Residence at Reel Works, which mentors and empowers underserved NYC youth. In 2014, she joined Poverty Row Entertainment, working closely with Jennifer DeLia and Julie Pacino while producing various commercial and music video projects, and leading the creative team on the upcoming independent feature film about the life of Hollywood legend Mary
Pickford (starring Sophie Kennedy Clark, Cary Elwes, Luke Arnold, and Balthazar Getty).

Catalina returned to Savannah, Georgia in 2017, to raise her daughter and accept the position of Film Commission Manager for the Savannah Regional Film Commission, supporting large studio productions, independent films, television series’, and commercials filmed in Savannah. In late 2019, Catalina joined the Film & Digital Media faculty at ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą in
Idyllwild, California, and was promoted to department chair in 2022. She was also appointed as chair of the academy’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Collaborative.

Recently, Catalina was invited to direct the cinematic filming of iconic theater plays with
recognized troupes in her city of origin, Medellin, and presented in masterclasses in South America for her contributions to several documentaries and short films, including Birdsong & Coffee: A Wake Up Call. Catalina’s debut feature film #Medellin1995 is currently in
development.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about summer programs


The post Intro to Visual Storytelling appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]> Filmmaking Intensive: Short Films from Script to Screen /programs/filmmaking-intensive-short-films-from-script-to-screen/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:49:17 +0000 /programs/filmmaking-intensive-short-films-from-script-to-screen/ This program provides teenage artists the opportunity to use industry-standard equipment and software—including digital cinema cameras, professional lighting equipment, and advanced editing software—as they work with industry-experienced faculty and Acting for the Camera students to create short films that will premiere in a final culmination. No audition is required.

*This is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

The post Filmmaking Intensive: Short Films from Script to Screen appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]>
ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Filmmaking Intensive: Short Films from Script to Screen

14 – 17*

This program provides teenage artists the opportunity to use industry-standard equipment and software—including digital cinema cameras, professional lighting equipment, and advanced editing software—as they work with industry-experienced faculty and Acting for the Camera students to create short films that will premiere in a final culmination. No audition is required.

*This is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Dates

June 28 – July 25, 2026
Four-week session

Final Showcase

Saturday, July 25, 2026
The Rustic Theatre – Time TBD
54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild

Ages

14 – 17

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$9,500

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$4,800

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

20 students
Total Capacity includes Residential and Day Students

Overview

In this Filmmaking Intensive, students learn the importance of collaboration while touching on every facet of the filmmaking process; from developing narrative and writing screenplays, learning lighting and camera techniques, staging and blocking scenes, casting and working with actors, on set process and protocols, visual storytelling and editing theory.

The first week focuses on introducing the school’s filmmaking facilities and equipment, learning basic techniques in camera operation, lighting and grip, sound recording and editing software, as well as developing and writing short film scripts, a number of which will be produced and shot and edited during the camp (based on quality of work, cast, and other campus logistics).

Week two begins putting the skills and theories learned in week one into practice as scripts are chosen, actors are cast and films go into pre-production. Location scouts, building sets, procuring costumes and props, creating shot lists, rehearsing and scheduling- getting everything ready for week three.

Production starts week three, where students under the mentorship of the film faculty along with students from the Acting for the Camera program, will shoot three to four short films, employing the techniques and procedures of a professional film set. The final week is spent editing films as well as shooting smaller films ideas, exercises and personal projects. Films are screened on the last day of the program with family and friends at the Rustic Theater in the heart of downtown Idyllwild.

Make sure to schedule your departure in the afternoon or evening so that you can be there for the Saturday morning culmination.

Additional Information

Film workshops are open admission (no audition is required). Instructors will work with your child at their level. Students will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and/or creating films for years.

  • Closed-toe shoes
  • Comfortable work clothes
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Notepad and pens/pencils and/or a laptop
  • Rain jacket/poncho
  • Good set of enclosed-ear headphones (optional)
  • PC or Mac laptop with screenwriting software (optional)
  • External hard drive (optional)
  • Digital camera and/or a phone with a camera (optional)In addition please bring:
  • An open mind
  • A healthy dose of courage
  • A can-do attitude

On any given day, film campers will be exposed to professional film techniques, equipment instruction, practical lab work as well as actual filmmaking crew experience. All of this rigorous learning is balanced with time for campers to enjoy the overall experience, making new friends and exploring the natural beauty of Idyllwild.

  • Jesse Wolfe: Directing, Producing
  • Haley Breese: Editing, Camera, Sound
  • Oliver Young: Lighting, Grip/Electric
  • Tim Collins: Production Design/Art Direction

Jesse Wolfe holds a Master’s Degree in Film Direction from The American Film Institute (AFI)’s Center for Advanced Film & Television Studies. Early education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater arts/performance from Rollins College, acting apprenticeships at New York Stage & Film’s Powerhouse Theater at Vassar, and at Actors Theater of Louisville. Original member of the award-winning Off Broadway Company, Zena Group. Film and television writing, production and consulting work for Castle Rock Entertainment, Warner Bros., ABC Television, the Disney channel, AMC and Showtime Networks. He has served as Special Guest Director for the Florida Film Festival, on the film and theater faculties of Rollins College and the University of Central Florida School of Visual Art and Design, and is currently a Professor of film and Television at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Tim Collins is a production designer who graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography with a degree in Film and Digital Media. Tim has been based out of Los Angeles working in the film industry for over 15 years. As a key contributor to the creative landscape at BuzzFeed, Tim’s ingenuity and expertise have played a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of the digital media giant. From crafting captivating sets to conceptualizing compelling visual narratives. Tim has worked with major brands such as Google, Ford, Hyundai, Samsung, Lego, and Geico. Tim Collins approaches his role as a high school production design teacher with a blend of passion, creativity, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers.

After graduating from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Oliver Clinton Young began working as a Cinematographer in the Los Angeles area, New York, Atlanta and beyond. Oliver had spent most of his childhood on the Disney lot in Burbank where his father worked in production, and at A Noise Within in Glendale where his mother performed Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen amongst other incredible stage actors. Working his way up from Gaffer and Key Grip to Cinematographer has given Oliver a vast knowledge of different lighting styles, methods, and equipment. Oliver brings a unique skill set and versatility that aids him in creating deeply textured images, and the ability to show others how to do the same.

Born and raised in California, Haley Breese is currently a filmmaker based in Savannah, GA. She recently earned her MFA in Filmmaking from SCAD, where she expanded her passion for storytelling through editing. Over the past six years, she has been teaching and sharing her love for filmmaking, constantly inspired by her students to push her creative boundaries. Whether it’s a short narrative, a fashion film, or a documentary, she thrives on the challenge of crafting unique stories. Her goal is to keep growing as an editor while passing knowledge on to the next generation of storytellers.


Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs


The post Filmmaking Intensive: Short Films from Script to Screen appeared first on ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą.

]]>