By Kathy Collins
This summer, young film buffs and future filmmakers can attend one of four summer film camps at the historic Tampa Theatre. Each camp, except for the Saturday session, will be divided into two age groups. Students in third through sixth grade will meet from 9 a.m.-12 Noon, and students in seventh through twelfth grade will meet from 1-4 p.m. The cost is $175 per student.
Students will work in small groups to learn the creative process of digital filmmaking, from brainstorming, storyboarding and scriptwriting to filming, lighting and editing. All equipment is provided. By the end of the filmmaking session, each production team will have a three to five minute movie to showcase.
The new Movie Download camp, which will be held the week of June 13, will teach to dissect popular features and short films into their essential elements. Over the course of the week, students will watch Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone and a selection of age appropriate short films. Activities will examine the films’ plot structures, shots and angles, lighting, score and more.
In the Live Action Filmmaking Camp, students are the stars as they write, produce and act in their own short films.
In the Stop-Motion Animation Filmmaking Camp, students will learn how to create an animated film one frame at a time using clay, Legos, paper and other materials in a style of animation made popular by South Park.
Finally, on Saturday, August 27, acclaimed documentarian Brett Culp will show filmmakers of all ages how to put their lives on screen. Students will use mobile devices and learn how to capture and share the beauty and fun of their daily stories. The three hour session is $50 per person and will run from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon.
Jill Witecki with the Tampa Theatre said, “Summer Film Camp is one of our favorite times of the year at the Theatre. It is hilarious to walk through the auditorium and see these kids filming a scene that somehow incorporates an interaction between the Predator and a boy dressed like a banana. They are learning to express themselves through film, and the results, especially after just five days, are nothing short of amazing.”
The Tampa Theatre is located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. For more information, visit www.tampatheatre.org or call 274-8981.
