Film & Digital Media Programs - ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą /program/arts-focus/film-digital-media/ California Art Boarding High School Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:11:08 +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 Animation Lab /programs/animation-lab/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:28:22 +0000 /?post_type=program&p=27215 Discover the magic of animation in this hands-on workshop exploring 3D stop-motion. Students will create original characters and stories while experimenting with programs such as Stop Motion Studio and Dragon Frame. Designed for beginners and experienced young artists alike, the workshop combines creative play, cinematic techniques, and collaboration. Come defy time, make something cool, and create alongside a group of new friends.

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

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ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Animation Lab

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 17

Discover the magic of animation in this hands-on workshop exploring 3D stop-motion. Students will create original characters and stories while experimenting with programs such as Stop Motion Studio and Dragon Frame. Designed for beginners and experienced young artists alike, the workshop combines creative play, cinematic techniques, and collaboration. Come defy time, make something cool, and create alongside a group of new friends.

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

Dates

June 27 – July 3, 2027
One-week session

Final Culmination

Student Exhibition
Friday, July 2, 2027
10:00 AM
Parks Exhibition Center

Ages

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 17

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$2,750

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$1,388

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

12 Students

Total Capacity includes Residential and Day Students

Overview

What if you could make a drawing walk, give an everyday object a personality, or build an entire world one frame at a time?

In this hands-on animation workshop, students will explore the principles of 3D stop-motion animation while creating original characters, stories, and short animated projects. Students will learn how animators create the illusion of movement through timing, spacing, sequencing, and frame-by-frame experimentation.

The workshop will introduce students to animation tools and programs such as Stop Motion Studio and Dragon Frame. Students will also explore lighting, framing, composition, character performance, sound, and a variety of cinematic storytelling techniques.

The primary goal is to experiment, collaborate, and have fun. Students will work independently and in groups to solve creative problems, exchange ideas, and discover their own animation styles. Whether they are making their first animation or already have experience, students will receive instruction and support appropriate to their skill level.

By the end of the workshop, students will have created original animated work to share with family, friends, and the larger creative community. Come prepared to defy time, bring impossible ideas to life, and make something cool with a group of new friends.

Additional Information

No previous animation experience or portfolio is required. This workshop is designed for students at all skill levels, from beginners creating their first animation to experienced students interested in strengthening their technical and storytelling abilities. The instructor will work with each student at their current level and help them develop new creative and technical skills.

  • A refillable water bottle
  • Sturdy, closed-toed shoes
  • A sketchbook
  • Pencils and an eraser
  • Any drawings, character ideas, small objects, or materials they may want to animate

All required animation equipment and software will be provided unless otherwise noted.

Class begins at 9:00 a.m. with a demonstration, animation exercise, or screening of inspiring work. Students then move into individual or collaborative studio time, where they develop characters, construct sets, draw animation frames, record performances, or photograph stop-motion sequences.

Lunch is from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. During the afternoon session, students continue developing their projects while receiving individual instruction and feedback. Class concludes at 4:00 p.m., when students are released for afternoon and evening activities.

Throughout the week, students will alternate between short creative exercises and the production of more developed animated projects.

Students will explore:

  • The fundamental principles of animation
  • Character design and performance
  • Visual storytelling and storyboarding
  • Lighting, framing, and composition
  • Camera placement and cinematic techniques
  • Collaborative filmmaking and creative problem-solving

The workshop will culminate in a screening of student-created animations. Students will have an opportunity to share their work with family, friends, and members of the creative community.

Isaac Webb is committed to mastering the craft of storytelling in all its forms. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and has written screenplays for Universal, Miramax, and HBONYC. Isaac wrote and directed “First Born,” a feature-length psychological thriller starring Elisabeth Shue. He was a producer on “Burning Cane,” which won the Tribeca Film Festival Founders Award, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography.

Isaac has had the honor of being the recipient of the Sundance Writer and Director Fellowship, the Rockefeller Fellowship, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship. He is an alumnus of Northwestern University and Teach for America.

Isaac has a passion for helping young people find themselves through their stories. He was Co-Director of “DESIRE: THE TEENAGE GIRL DOCUMENTARY PROJECT,” which chronicled the lives of six teenage girls in New Orleans and empowered them to tell their own stories through film. The project was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

He currently serves as the InterArts Department Chair at ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą and has also served as Chair of the IAA Film & Digital Media and Creative Writing Departments. Before coming to ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą, he served as Chair of the Media Arts Department at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

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

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]]> 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.

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ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Acting for the Camera

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 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 27 – July 24, 2027
Four-week session

Final Showcase

Final Showcase
Saturday, July 24, 2027 in the late morning (exact time TBD)
The Rustic Theatre
54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild

Ages

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 17

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$9785

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$4850

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

Throughout the first week, students learn acting techniques that will assist them in auditions and roles. In Week Two, students are chosen to act in the Filmmaking Intensive films and begin the character development process. Week Three is an intense week of filming allowing actors to showcase what they have been working on with directors on set. Their last week of camp is filled with acting exercises, techniques, and discussion about the real world of being a film actor. The students show off their efforts in a Film Culmination at the end of the final week.

The Acting for the Camera environment can be a delicate and personal space of expression. Students should be able to appreciate the sensitivity of this space and work within this environment.

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


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]]> Intro to Visual Storytelling /programs/intro-to-visual-storytelling/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:33:06 +0000 /?post_type=program&p=24001 Intro to Visual Storytelling introduces students to the creative and technical process of professional filmmaking. Campers will be treated as emerging young filmmakers: they will learn industry language, follow an authentic production workflow, take responsibility for their work, and collaborate as members of a film crew. Through demonstrations, individual assignments, group challenges, peer presentations, and hands-on productions, students will develop original stories and transform their ideas into narrative short films, documentaries, and commercials.

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

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ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Intro to Visual Storytelling

Entering Grades 5-8*

Intro to Visual Storytelling introduces students to the creative and technical process of professional filmmaking. Campers will be treated as emerging young filmmakers: they will learn industry language, follow an authentic production workflow, take responsibility for their work, and collaborate as members of a film crew. Through demonstrations, individual assignments, group challenges, peer presentations, and hands-on productions, students will develop original stories and transform their ideas into narrative short films, documentaries, and commercials.

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

Dates

July 11 – July 24, 2027
Two-week session

Final Culmination

Student Showcase
Saturday, July 24 in the late morning (exact time TBD)
Bruce Ryan Soundstage

Ages

Entering Grades 5-8

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$5,350

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$2,625

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

12 students

(Total Capacity includes Residential and Day Students)

Overview

Students will begin by learning that every strong story needs three essential elements:

  • A character: Who is the story about?
  • A problem or goal: What does the character want, and what stands in the way?
  • A change: What does the character learn, overcome, or understand by the end?

They will explore the three-act structure used in films of every length:

  • Act One – The Setup: Introduces the characters, setting, goal, and central problem.
  • Act Two – The Conflict: The problem becomes more difficult as the character faces obstacles and makes important choices.
  • Act Three – The Resolution: The character confronts the main challenge, the conflict is resolved, and the audience sees how the character has changed.

Students will also learn character development by identifying a character’s personality, motivation, goal, obstacles, relationships, strengths, weaknesses, and emotional journey.

Using industry-standard screenplay principles, students will practice writing:

  • Scene headings
  • Action and visual descriptions
  • Character names
  • Dialogue
  • Parentheticals when needed
  • Transitions between scenes
  • Scripts designed for a specific running time

Students will learn that screenwriting is visual: instead of simply explaining what a character thinks or feels, they must show it through actions, dialogue, performance, sound, and camera choices.

By the end of camp, students will have experienced the filmmaking process from the first idea to the final edit. More importantly, they will understand how preparation, creativity, communication, and teamwork come together to transform an idea into a finished film.

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 Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLRs), 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 8:15am – 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 4:00pm – 5:45pm 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.

Helena Karadimos is an Australian-Greek writer, director, and producer, born in Melbourne and now based in Los Angeles, and Founder/Creative Director of 3H Films, with over 14 years of experience across television, film, shorts, music videos, and commercials. She works across genres including horror, thriller, drama, romance, comedy, and action, with credits including the Amazon series Slaphouse and the Amazon anthology series 7eventhDAY, alongside festival recognition at the Cannes Short Film Festival, Big Terror Horror Film Festival, Dark Scream Festival, and the IndieFest and World Film Awards, among others. She continues to develop a growing slate of television and film projects while building 3H Films into a direct-to-audience studio.

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


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]]> 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.

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ĂŰĚŇÖ±˛Ą

Filmmaking Intensive: Short Films from Script to Screen

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 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 27 – July 24, 2027
Four-week session

Final Showcase

Final Showcase
Saturday, July 24, 2027 in the late morning (exact time TBD)
The Rustic Theatre
54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild

Ages

Entering Grades 9-12, up to age 17

Residential Student Cost

(includes tuition, room & board, and all fees)
$9785

Day Student Cost

(includes tuition and all fees)
$4850

Learn more about our

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

18 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


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