Make a Film Without Leaving Your Room
With the nationwide COVID-19 related shutdowns and stay-at-home order in place since mid-March, filmmaking has mostly taken a pause in America. The film industry has adjusted to the work-from-home lifestyle, as many notable filmmakers are completing their projects under their own roofs.
For example, the new Michael Jordan Docuseries, The Last Dance, premiered in April. Upon initial release, the series had not been fully edited and director Jason Hehir coordinated his team remotely to finish the documentary. Unfortunately, other productions were halted entirely, including season four of the critically acclaimed crime show Fargo which had to suspend shooting due to COVID-19.
Even with the complicated state of filmmaking, there are still many ways to make a film remotely. All that’s needed to make a film is a camera, microphone, and editing software.
Most of that equipment already exists within our everyday internet-connected devices like phones and computers.
Our Intro to Filmmaking summer camp will teach students how to harness this technology to create a film without leaving their bedroom. Campers can film what is around their house and collaborate with other students via Zoom to brainstorm creative ideas and story choices.
Intro to Filmmaking focuses on the aspects of creating a film that doesn’t involve cameras, the pre and post-production stages when the narrative is created and completed. The camp has multiple sessions for different age groups, the first session is July 6 -10 and is for kids and teens ages 11- 14, the second session is July 20-24 for ages 8 – 10.
This camp will teach students narrative techniques and the basic rules of storytelling. The course will also focus on the physical acts of filmmaking such as directing, shot choice, editing, and acting. This class will be taught remotely through Zoom so campers will learn how to do this from the safety of their own homes.
Students will meet and discuss over Zoom in order to maintain the collaborative spirit that is vital to filmmaking. Each film will look completely unique due to the evolving nature of remote summer camps.
Only a fraction of the actual work that comes with making films happens on set with most of the work falling into the pre and post-production periods. In pre-production, the writers and director are still figuring out how the story will develop. To help envision what the story will look like, writers and directors create storyboards with sketches of various scenes.
At our Film 101 camp, students will not only learn how to make films remotely but the essential act of film history and appreciation. This camp will be taught both remotely and in-person at the FACETS‘ facility. Campers will collaborate virtually on their films and learn professional vocabulary when discussing.
Campers will learn film-industry vocabulary and how to write critical reviews. They’ll gain a greater appreciation for filmmaking by learning the history of cinema from its silent, black, and white roots to the technological innovations in CGI and animation to today.
Students can use the knowledge learned in Film 101 when discussing new films with peers and adults, leading to more mature conversations about filmmaking and media in general. Film 101 will run from August 3 -14 for ages 8-13.
In order to prioritize the health and safety of the campers, each participant will make films individually to minimize risk with shared equipment. Film history lessons will be taught in person at FACETS. This link has a detailed description of the safety measures that are in place for Film 101.
Another way FACETS is teaching the youth of Chicago to make films while staying safe at home is through our Fun with Foley camp. Foley artists create sound effects for films, as most sound effects are made artificially and added in post-production. This camp teaches students how to reimagine the sounds of everyday objects and use them as sound effects in their own films.
Campers will use editing software to brainstorm sound effect ideas and will use a microphone to capture sounds from household objects. For example, a camper could use the sound of frying bacon in the morning to mimic rain falling in a scene. The best foley artists use creativity to find ways to make new sounds. Practicing foley is an easy way to get creative without leaving your room.
Fun with Foley runs from July 13 – 17 10 – 11:30 a.m. and requires an additional 1-2 hours of outside work and is available for anyone ages 11 – 14.
FACETS Virtual Summer Camps teach kids and teens the skills necessary to tell their stories through film and animation. Bringing Facets’ 30 years of experience in film education online, campers can safely learn the essential elements of filmmaking. Learn more
Sean Hemmersmeier is a journalism student at Loyola University Chicago and he prefers movies over films.