Can your future Spielberg spot the difference between a boom pole and a dolly? A tight lens and a tripod? If your child’s dream is the bright lights and sound stages of Hollywood, take a look at Spark Film & Media Arts’ courses, where students can produce their own movie masterpiece.
Places fill up fast at their Summer Shoots, a series of movie-making camps for ages five to 18. Action-packed (obviously!), the camps last for one week and are held throughout the holidays at locations across London as well as further afield. Young-movie makers develop their talents and skills, both behind and in front of the camera. Working just like a professional film crew, they’ll take the role of director, crew, actor and editor, producing their own movie from slate to screen.
Throughout the week, budding Tarantinos and Bigelows can explore and express their ideas, devise their own stories and finalise scripts. Students will direct, shoot and crew each of their scenes, where they work together as a team. The programme increases in skill level and technicality with age and experience, and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to contribute towards the different production areas. At the end of the camp, student film-makers share their creations in a special screening presentation; later in the summer, they also celebrate with a glitzy screening event for family and friends.
Never picked up a camera? No matter – all levels of experience are welcome. Students work in small groups called Studios, with a maximum of 12 of their peers; small group sizes equals a high level of personalised attention, with staff ratios typically 1:8, and often lower. The workshop leaders are specialists straight from the world of professional film-making.
This is movie-making in all its glory: sign up now and bask in the glow of that future red carpet...