2010 Guide to Austin Summer Film Camps

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Austin Film Society Digital Filmmaking Camp

Summer is almost officially here with plenty of free summer movies, and there's still time to register for kids' summertime filmmaking camps and workshops in Austin. A few of last summer's offerings are either full or are no longer taking place -- Dougherty Arts Center has no film classes this year -- but kids still have plenty of camps and sessions to choose from.

These affordable camps and workshops provide unique experiences for local youth in various aspects of filmmaking including acting, screenwriting, editing and animation. At the end of many of them, friends and family are invited to attend a screening of the movie campers helped make, or bring home a DVD to hold their own private screening party.

Here's a list of all the summer movie-related camps and classes in the Austin area that we could find. Some of the descriptions are pretty much verbatim from press releases or websites -- although I was the Sierra Cubs Camp director for several years, sadly I've yet to be involved in any kids' film camps. Although they're for kids and not adults, don't be too disappointed -- you'll find a couple of options for grownups at the end of the list.

If I've missed anything, let me know in the comments and I'll add the info to the list.

Austin Film Festival Summer Film Camp

Austin Film Festival's Young Filmmakers Program presents the eighth annual Summer Film Camp. The camp offers students access to in-depth, personal instruction on screenwriting, comedy filmmaking and claymation from local industry professionals. Workshops take place at a new location, Austin High School.

Ages: 9-18
Cost: $195 for one-week sessions, $390 for two-week sessions and advanced full-day one-week sessions, with discounts for children of AFF members or AISD faculty/staff

Austin Film Society: Digital Filmmaking Camps

Come make films with the pros at Austin Studios this summer. AFS youth filmmaking camps teach hands-on narrative and experimental techniques using digital video. In a fun project-based environment, students work in teams to craft short digital films and animations, from developing the kernel of a project idea to final edit and exhibition of their films. AFS camps at Austin Studios include select film screenings, a guest filmmaker visit, and a behind-the-scenes studios tour. Finished films are screened for family and friends at a culminating Friday night showcase in the AFS screening room. Camps run in one-week sessions, and are co-sponsored by the Texas Film Commission.

Ages: 12-15
Cost: $250; $225 for AFS members

Austin School of Film: Summer Film Camp

The Austin School of Film's award-winning Youth Summer Film Camp is made up of intensive one-week half-day courses that cover the fundamentals and creative aspects of filmmaking, animation, acting and editing. Kids work with experienced filmmakers and animators to realize their creative visions and produce their own films by the end of each course. From developing the idea to planning the production process to screening the finished masterpiece, Austin School of Film fully and quickly immerses the student in the wonderful world of filmmaking.

Ages: 10-19
Cost: $195, with discounts for multiple classes

Channel Austin

As one of their iYouth Media programs, Austin's community media center and public access television station Channel Austin is offering the "Kids Make TV" Camp this summer. The one-week sessions feature content from beginner to advanced techniques in writing, directing, shooting and editing as well as animation and blue-screen techniques. I wish I were young enough to enroll in the "ATXedition: Uniquely Austin Documentary" session in late July. Campers will tell the story of their favorite Austin institutions, people and landmarks. Cameras are available to check out overnight so kids can show off their neighborhoods, schools and favorite places. At the end of the week, campers will showcase their short documentaries on the people, places and things that give Austin its unique character.

Ages: 10-18
Cost: $300 for one-week sessions (except the Girl Scouts "Movie Maker" session, which costs $225; details are available on the Girl Scouts of Central Texas event calendar)

University of Texas: RTF Media Camps in Film and Visual Effects

The Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) offers summer media camps in filmmaking and post-production special effects. Camps take place on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, in the same building where the Austin City Limits television series is filmed. Campers work with RTF faculty and equipment to produce a short film project. Filmmaking classes run full-day for one week; the post-production class runs for eight days over two weeks.

Ages: Grades 7-12
Cost: $475 per session, with discounts for multiple classes for one student or for relatives of UT faculty, staff, or students

Summer Classes for Grownups

What about classes for grownups?

Austin School of Film holds classes throughout the summer in many aspects of filmmaking and video production, including:

The Informal Classes program at UT offers courses related to film, including beginning acting, basic special effect and performance makeup, "Hollywood" screenwriting, and film directing basics.

Don't wait too long, though -- Austin Film Society's June dates are full, and the summer session of Informal Classes will be the last of almost 40 years of non-credit courses offered.

[Photo credit: Austin Digital Filmmaking Camp, courtesy of Austin Film Society]