Is your child into movies? Kids learn storytelling, filmmaking at FC Academy summer camp

• First-time filmmakers
• Professional storytellers teach the art of cinema to students
• Children open their minds and express emotion through film

Having already hosted 30 summer film camps around the state, Melrose nonprofit Filmmakers Collaborative is set to host its FC Academy for the first time in Medway this August.

The weeklong film course will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 22-26 at Choate Park. A similar course takes place the same week at the HCAM Studio in Hopkinton. 

The program is aimed at children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Those involved will learn how to storyboard, write, shoot, act, produce, and direct, with the final goal of creating a short film. Each movie will be premiered during Filmmakers Collaborative's own Boston International Kids Film Festival which will be held in November.

“Our classes are constantly improving and expanding, which means we can create more opportunities for kids to learn about the art of filmmaking,” said Laura Azevedo, executive director of Filmmakers Collaborative. “Many students come in with little to no experience and by the end of the week, they have something that they can proudly share with their friends and family. It is always inspiring to see the students return year after year and build upon their skill set and passion and then go on to one day pursue a career in the film industry.”

More:FC Academy, student filmmaking summer camp

She added the older children in the program will learn the art of feature filmmaking, while those ages 5-7 will learn the basics of storytelling through stop-motion animation. 

Azevedo said the group works with local city and town parks and recreation departments to keep the costs of their program similar to what communities are offering families through sports and after-school camps.

With that said, there are options for those looking for assistance with tuition. Additional information can be found on FC Acadamy's website.

FC Academy's Program Director Rachel St. Pierre, who has taught some of the courses herself, said to watch students morph from not having any film experience on day-one, to completing a self-crafted piece of art is a special experience. 

"It is really beautiful seeing the films come in," St. Pierre said. "I also really love that in (the movie-making industry) there is a job for everybody."

In her course, she said while the extroverts are quick to jump in front of the camera, the more introverted students gravitate to writing, directing, producing, and editing. A shoe for every foot.

St. Pierre said while the group has professional equipment on-site, they start students with a tool their all too familiar with, their cell phones.

"(Their phones) are easy and accessible," she said.

But there is always something to learn even with technology you know and love. St. Pierre said it is small tips like turning the phone to film horizontally, and capturing nuance and angles that make their small, test projects more successful.