Summer Film Programs for High School Students: Why They Matter
Are you an aspiring young filmmaker, or the parent of a budding director? If so, you should consider the benefits of a specialized summer film program. These courses let students take a deep dive into the medium—connecting with like-minded peers, collaborating on hands-on projects, and learning from seasoned industry professionals. It's not just a fun summer activity—it's a stepping stone to a dynamic career in the film world.
Here’s what you need to know about summer film programs for students and why they matter for both future film majors and film enthusiasts.
Why should high school students take summer film programs?
Summer film programs provide lots of useful information for teens both still in high school and between high school and college. Beyond the obvious benefits for a teen looking to enter into a college film degree program, these courses can also be great for teens looking to improve their creative and team-building skills.
For teens seeking a career in the film industry, summer film programs can offer valuable training in a wide range of skill sets. Each of these has the potential to be incredibly useful for them later on across many career paths, from screenwriting, to directing, to cinematography, and more. They might learn to create a compelling plot; craft a pitch for a production company; gather and organize resources for filming; set up meaningful and aesthetically pleasing shots; and edit a scene for maximum impact and resonance.
For teens who have a passion for filmmaking, but are not explicitly looking for a career in the film industry, summer film programs can provide an excellent opportunity to learn and grow as a person. They encourage teens to socialize with peers who have similar interests and to build a community of like-minded friends. A summer film program can also be a great way to build out a resume for other careers: filmmaking is a discipline that has lots of transferable skills like teamwork, organization, and project management.
What do summer film programs look like?
A summer film program may take a few different forms, but generally, there are two options.
In-person summer film programs take place on the campus of the hosting school and may be either day programs or intensives that offer on-campus accommodation for the duration of the program.
Online summer film programs take place digitally via online learning platforms which include video conferencing software. These programs do not require students to attend the physical campus of the hosting school at any time.
Depending on the kind of program you are attending, the schedule and classes will look a bit different.
In-person programs may focus heavily on the physicality of filmmaking, while online programs may incorporate remote collaboration as well as hands-on projects. In-person programs may be more convenient for those who learn best via immersion, while online programs might work best for those who are either geographically constrained or who thrive in independent learning environments.
If you opt for an online program, it may be synchronous or asynchronous.
Synchronous programs are led on a specific schedule with live lectures and workshops hosted by the course instructors.
Asynchronous programs are led via recorded lectures and self-guided exercises, allowing students to control their own schedules for the allotted duration of the course.
A synchronous program will offer students a chance to receive immediate feedback from their instructors and peers, while an asynchronous program offers students the chance to work through the material at a pace that is comfortable to them and explore topics of interest in more depth.
Are Summer Film Programs Worth It or Not?
Summer film programs can be great ways for students to explore their interests through more independent study than they’re used to, which is excellent preparation for college and future learning. These programs are diverse, exciting, and perfect for teens who want to keep their studies going outside of the school year.
If you’re interested in learning more about high-quality online summer film programs for high school students, you can explore NYU Tisch’s Cinematography Fundamentals course through Smashcut. This asynchronous three-month course features pre-recorded lectures and a hands-on final reel project, for which students receive written feedback from expert instructors with long histories in the film industry. You can learn more on their website.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Online Cinematography Courses
