Film Camp - What I learned as a TA

by Laurie Esposito

This summer, I spent two months being a TA and an RA at a film summer camp in LA. This took place a month post-grad (and post slight creative burnout as well). There were three camps, lasting either two, or three weeks, with one film made a week. The schedules were busy, days lasting around 7-8am to 10:30 pm. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into back in the spring, but the experience of working at this camp was worth every long day. I grew along with the students as people, and most importantly as filmmakers.

Throughout the camp, I was continuously impressed with the work the students presented, considering that many learned how to make films on a Monday, and then on Wednesday shot their film, then Friday have it screened. This turnaround was just incredible to watch, and honestly, more incredible to look back on. In the moment, the days felt long, with classes and filming all day, then evening activities. In reality, a week to learn filmmaking AND create a film! Crazy!

My favorite day in the camp was Tech 2 day. This class was when the students got to interact with the sound equipment. Most had never interacted with a boom or Zoom recorder before, so there was an experiencing buzz in the air that especially, with the younger kids, led to some fun experimenting with the gear. While they each got to test it out, they were able to apply moving the mic around and different ways to hold it, having a blast doing it. Compared to the camera class they had a lot more fun and a lot more questions. There were definitely some kids who found an interest in sound after the camp.

The editing process was definitely the most difficult for the students. It was the newest for most of them. Everyone can write a story; they do it in English class all the time. And everyone has a camera on their phone. But Premiere? For many of the students it was software they hadn't used before.

When I was able to be in the edit suite working with the students, it was a moment where I felt sure of myself as a graduate. Before this, I studied the topics and used the program. After being a TA and helping with both technical and creative problems, I feel more assured in my skills. Workshopping their films in the post-process lead to many learning experiences for them too. Seeing how what they got on set translated into a finished product: some being too long, others missing shots that would be crucial. I made sure to while being there to help, was more of a background, leaving any suggestion to be ultimately their idea and decision.

In the shorts, there were common themes that were addressed. This was an interesting look into to creative process. Many films focused on relationship drama, and "Will They Won't They" plots. There were a few bulling themed films as well. Those were some of the few serious films. Most students went the comedy/romance route.

I won't say every short was a winner. They had their fare share of films starting with someone in bed, hitting the alarm clock. But even those had their charms. Young filmmakers find a way to make the overused and tired interesting. With just them on the creative team, and two crew members (and a TA to supervise), the results were impressive.

One genre that many of the students leaned into is parody. I assumed that parodies were a fading art form, that Youtube parody songs and "The Starving Games" like movie parodies were an art lost to 2013. But, no. We had many parodies of both genres and other movies.

That leads to another point of how impressive these kids were. Some of the shorts made are genuinely some of the funniest short films I've seen in a while. The comedic pacing these kids had was incredible and only matched with the talent that the acting students brought to the roles.

Even if not all the films were top quality, the fact that they were making films at all was impressive. While they are students, the directors especially ended up with a tough job if the actors were younger. Having a 14-year-old on set is difficult for production with adults in charge. Put a 16-year-old in the director's chair? Things tend to get a bit tricky. On my end, being on set with the students lead to some interesting dynamics to watch. Many of them had zero experience working on a crew or with actors, so communication was the biggest learning curve. Something that is a good experience to learn now. Communication is a struggle for sets with adults too.

I noticed that limitations set on the students, especially the younger ones, just led to a new level of creativity and problem-solving. Working better with time and scale of concept than even the older students struggled with more. The students who didn't lean into the fun of a filmmaking summer camp were the ones who struggled the most. These students tended to lean older as well. Being a teenager is to overthink everything you do.

The worrying about appearances is what held some of the students back from being their best. They held more worry about the limitations set than some of their younger counterparts, It reminded me of something an old creative writing teacher used to say about writing with your "inner child". The students at the camp were having fun, and doing work. That fun fueled the passion and art. And when the students who were more in their heads were able to break free and have fun, the differences were stark. Particularly shown when the advanced kids did a 48 hr film project. This lead to their best work.

Before the camp and pre-graduation, I was ridged following a year of working on practically the same project. Fun wasn’t lost to the art entirely, but filmmaking is different when it's for a grade. Working at the camp was a palette cleanser. I was surrounded by creatives whose only want for filmmaking was for the fun of it. They loved it. And they have so much passion for the art form. I will be looking more toward my inner child for future projects. Thinking about the students who go to make films with their friends.

I won't be surprised to see some of the names of these kids in the future in the industry. With the level of commitment, passion, and talent before they even graduate high school.