Sneak Peek at Heights Middle School Shorts 2021

Heights Middle School Shorts is taking shape! We’re finalizing the venue, blocking out the schedule, and putting the final touches on the course curriculum all in preparation for a May 1 rollout at our Parent and Camper Meet & Greet.

Until then, here’s a sneak peek at Heights Middle School Shorts 2021:

Writing Workshops (Saturdays in May and early June)

The writing workshops will be held at Lake Erie Ink from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays beginning May 8 and ending June 5 (no workshop will be held during Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 29).

At the workshops, campers will learn the basics of storytelling, dialogue, and writing for film as they draft and block out their films. At the end of the workshops, we’ll expect each camper to have a storyboard setting out his or her film so that we can begin filming as soon as HMSS meets again on June 14.

Campers will also use the writing workshops to hold casting calls, where they select fellow campers to appear in their films, and begin to identify locations for filming (with guidance from Antonio and Cliff).

Filming Week (June 14-18)

The first week of full-time camp, from June 14-18, will be devoted to filming. Campers will learn – and put into practice – how to block out each scene in their short films as they work out the details of each actor’s moves in relation to the camera. They’ll discuss and select filming locations with HMSS instructors.

Most importantly, they’ll use this week to shoot all the raw footage they’ll need for their films. We’ll wrap up filming at the end of this week so that campers can focus on editing, sound, music, and other post-production elements of their films during the final week of camp.

Post-Production Week (June 21-25)

The final week of camp will be devoted to making magic: turning the raw footage they shot during Filming Week into a coherent and interesting story.

Campers will edit, mix in sound, create titles, and more this week so that their films are ready for our June 25 HMSS 2021 Screening Night.

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We’re excited to meet our campers on May 1, and to see their creativity and innovation in action!