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What is the Young Filmmakers Program? How does the Summer Camp for Kids + Teens fit in? |
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The Northwest Film Center's Young Filmmakers Program offers programs and services to young people ages 8-18 and their families, and to K-12 educators, throughout the year on a statewide basis. These include artist-in-the-schools programs, after-school and school break classes, and Young People's Film & Video Festival. The program believes that young people of all backgrounds and abilities deserve the opportunity to become media literate and that media arts and technology have much to contribute to their understanding of the world and the uniqueness of their voice within it.
The Summer Camp for Kids + Teens is an informal, interest-based program which provides young people entering grades 4-12 with the chance to experiment with and learn about media arts and technology from experienced teaching artists. No previous experience is required, just the desire to participate in an active, fun, and educational learning experience. We provide the equipment and mentorship (and snacks). Kids and teens provide the ideas and bring them to fruition!
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| Q: |
Can you tell me something about your instructors? |
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Our faculty are award-winning independent filmmakers who devote a portion of their professional lives to teaching, and who are devoted to helping young people experience the creative process and the rewards of learning to express themselves through the film arts. Many have years of experience working as artists-in-residence in K-12 schools or in community youth programs, in addition to their work as Summer Camp instructors. Click here for bios. |
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| Q: |
What is your instructor-to-student ratio and how large are the classes? |
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Classes and camps are limited to 14. There is one instructor and one assistant instructor per class, making the instructor-to-student ratio 1:7. |
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| Q: |
Where exactly are you located? |
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Summer Camp for Kids + Teens meets at the Northwest Film Center School of Film, which is located at 934 SW Salmon Ave. The School is between Jefferson and Main Streets, along the Portland Streetcar line near the tree-lined South Park Blocks in downtown Portland. The immediate neighborhood includes the Portland Art Museum, Portland State University, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, and other Cultural District destinations. The MAX light rail line and TriMet bus mall are just 4 blocks away.
Please note that our mailing address is shared with the Portland Art Museum, and is different than the street address. Mailing address: 1219 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR 97205.
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| Q: |
What is your facility like? What kinds of measures are in place to ensure safety for my child? |
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The School of Film facility consists of four air conditioned classrooms, a digital video editing lab, equipment room, faculty offices, registrar's office, restrooms and student lounge. Inside the main door is a lobby where you will sign your child in and out with a staff person. Students will not be allowed to leave the facility unless accompanied by their instructor and/or assistant instructor. |
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| Q: |
What kind of equipment does the School have? |
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The School of Film equipment pool includes up-to-date digital video cameras, sound recording equipment, lights, microphones, and Macintosh-based digital editing work stations. Animation students use inexpensive software which stores and plays back single frames of their two and three-dimensional artwork. |
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| Q: |
How do I know exactly what my child will be learning? |
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As an arts-based program, our mission is to teach visual storytelling and media production in a manner that supports creative expression. This is accomplished through small group exercises and low key, hands-on instruction in a project-oriented environment. Students are encouraged to try new experiences and contribute in a positive manner to the class as a whole, while discovering something about themselves and receiving support for their participation. By the end of the week, we want them to leave with a richer understanding of the collaborative nature of media production and the value of their own personal voice. Along the way, they will acquire an impressive vocabulary and be able to watch television programs and movies with new insight. |
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| Q: |
What types of breaks from classroom activities are provided to younger students? |
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Camps for 4-6th graders include a morning break, lunch break, and afternoon break. If the weather is nice, we will often walk them to the South Park Blocks for fresh air. |
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| Q: |
What do you serve as snacks? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions? |
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We serve healthy snacks such as fresh or dried fruit and whole-wheat crackers and cheese (and yes, low sugar afternoon treats). Juice and water are also served. Please let us know if you have a special dietary restriction at the time of registration so we can do our best to accommodate you. |
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| Q: |
What about lunch? |
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Campers in the following classes should bring a sack lunch that does not require refrigeration: Make It Move, Digital Storytelling and Video Activism. Participants in the Media Arts Academy for Teens are provided catered lunches each day. Students may not leave the facility to purchase food during class time. |
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| Q: |
What time is drop-off and pick-up? |
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Our doors open at 8:45 a.m. Campers gather in the lobby until 5 minutes before class starts, at which time they are ushered to their classroom. At the end of class, campers will either be in the lobby or a staff person will show you to their classroom. Pick-up ends 15 minutes after class is over. |
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| Q: |
What parking options are available for drop-off and pick-up? |
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There is metered off-street parking along SW 11th in front of the School. The parking lot next to the School is for long-term parking only. |
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| Q: |
What is your good behavior policy? |
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We expect all children to behave in a way that is conducive to a fun and healthy learning environment. In the event that a child is being overly disruptive, we reserve the right to remove the child from the classroom. If the behavior persists, parents will be notified. If the behavior does not improve, the child may be asked not to return to class. In these situations, tuition will not be refunded. Please notify the Northwest Film Center at 503-221-1156 x25 in advance if your child may have difficulty meeting these expectations so that appropriate responses or strategies may be discussed prior to the beginning of camp. |
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| Q: |
Do you offer before and after care? |
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No, due to space limitations. |
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| Q: |
Will you administer medication to my child? |
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No, due to staffing limitations we cannot administer medication. |
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| Q: |
What's the quickest way for me to get an answer to a specific question not covered here? |
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Most of the time it is faster for staff to respond via e-mail. You are welcome to call us during regular business hours and, if necessary, leave a message. Please direct scholarship and general information inquires to Kristin Konsterlie, kristin@nwfilm.org, 503-221-1156 x16, and registration inquiries to Pam Minty classes@nwfilm.org, 503-221-1156 x25. |
