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Film & Video Concentrations

Learn Your Craft. Build Something Together.

Every student chooses a primary concentration in Acting for the Camera, Production, or Screenwriting. Mornings are devoted to focused training in one of these disciplines, giving students the chance to strengthen their skills, take creative risks, and learn from experienced instructors.

At the same time, filmmaking is never a solo art form. Throughout the summer, students work closely with one another, learning how writers, actors, and filmmakers collaborate to bring stories to life.

Along the way, students experience:

  • Elective classes exploring areas of filmmaking outside of their chosen concentration
  • Film screenings, guest speakers, and master classes
  • Hands-on film projects with fellow students from all over the world
  • An institute-wide film festival, the culmination of their work 

Acting on Camera

For students interested in performing for the screen, this concentration develops the skills and confidence needed to create truthful, engaging performances on camera. Through scene work, character exploration, and performance exercises, students learn how to adapt their acting for the unique demands of film and television.

Students explore topics such as:

  • Scene study and monologue work
  • Character development
  • Audition techniques
  • Working with directors
  • Performance for the camera
  • Movement and acting approaches

By the end of the summer, students have a stronger understanding of both the artistry and the technical craft of screen acting, allowing them to develop an on screen presence unique to them as performers.

Production

For students who love being behind the camera, the Production concentration provides a hands-on introduction to filmmaking. Students learn how visual stories are planned, filmed, and edited while working with professional equipment and collaborating on projects throughout the program.

Areas of study include:

  • Cinematography and lighting
  • Directing
  • Editing
  • Sound recording and design
  • Visual storytelling
  • Production planning

Whether students are interested in becoming a director, cinematographer, editor, or simply understanding how movies are made, they'll gain practical experience creating work of their own.

Screenwriting

Every great film begins with a great story. In the Screenwriting concentration, students learn how to turn ideas into compelling screenplays through a process of writing, revising, and collaboration.

Students work on:

  • Story structure
  • Character development
  • Dialogue
  • Screenplay formatting
  • Genre conventions
  • Collaborative writing exercises

Students leave the program with a deeper understanding of visual storytelling and an original screenplay that reflects their own creative voice.