Filmmaking 101

Name and Purpose

Filmmaking 101 guides campers through the basics of creating a short video, from planning through shooting.
It builds creativity, teamwork, communication, and practical media skills in a hands-on way.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 10-16 | 4-20 participants | 60-120 minutes (works across multiple sessions) | Indoor and outdoor spaces on camp property

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Brainstorm: decide what to film and sketch an outline or storyboard together.
Assign crew roles: director, camera operator, talent wrangler, slate holder.
Shoot exterior scenes first, starting in the morning for best light.
White-balance the camera each time you move between indoor and outdoor settings.
Review footage together and celebrate what worked.

Setup and Boundaries

Identify shooting locations before the session begins; confirm they are accessible to all participants
Agree on a signal for “quiet on set” (raised hand or clap pattern) and a signal to call “cut”
Check each location for tripping hazards, sun glare, or noisy areas that will interfere with audio

How to Play

Gather the group and introduce the project: “We’re going to make a short video together. Let’s figure out what we want to say.”
Brainstorm the concept as a team. Agree on a simple outline: beginning, middle, end.
Assign crew roles. Rotate roles if the session allows so everyone gets a turn behind the camera.
Create a shot list from the outline. Organise shots by location, not by order in the final video.
Shoot exterior scenes first in morning light. Move indoors after.
Slate each scene: call out the scene number and take on camera before filming.
White-balance the camera each time you move between lighting environments.
After filming, watch key clips together. Name one thing that worked well before any critique.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): On-camera talent, camera operator, or director calling the shots
S (Support): Slate holder, boom mic holder, reflector/bounce card assistant, script supervisor
Q (Quiet): Storyboard artist, editor, caption writer, or shot-list keeper
O (Observer): Watch a scene being filmed and offer one piece of constructive feedback afterward

Inclusion Adaptations

Roles rotate so no single camper carries all the on-camera pressure; speaking roles are optional
Storyboards can be illustrated or written, supporting different strengths

Stewardship Moment

Build the bounce card from scraps (cardboard, foil) rather than buying single-use materials
Ask: “What did we use from what was already here? How does making something out of what you have feel different from buying it?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “Some roles involve being on camera. For anyone not comfortable on screen, there are crew roles that are just as important and creative.”
Mid-session check: Halfway through, pause briefly. “Quick check-in. Is everyone in a role that feels good? Let me know if you’d like to swap.”
Opt-out/re-entry: Any participant may shift roles at any time by letting staff know quietly.

Risks and Mitigation

Campers wandering off-site while scouting locations: establish a clear boundary for where the crew may film
Equipment damage: agree on handling rules before distributing cameras; assign one person per device
One person dominating creative decisions: assign rotating decision-making authority per scene
Audio problems from wind or background noise: scout for quiet spots in advance; staff should be aware of the audio environment

Warm-Up Suggestions

“One-Second Film”: each camper mimes being a famous movie scene for exactly one second; group guesses what it is
“Frame It”: pairs use their hands as a viewfinder and frame an interesting shot of anything in the room

Debrief Questions

What? “What was the hardest part of filming? What surprised you?”
So What? “What did you learn about telling a story that you didn’t know before?”
Now What? “Where else in your life could planning ahead change how something turns out?”

Cleanup and Reset