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We see film as a means to explore the world around us. The program focuses on kid-made projects from start to finish. Kids learn by exploring, trying, testing, making mistakes, refining, and always while having fun.
CinemaKidz has developed a deep understanding of child cognitive development and the important role creativity plays in building self-confidence and critical thinking. The program is designed to engage children in ways that complement and enhance traditional education.
Kids take the reins, and are empowered as they are guided through the creative, technical medium by experts in the field. We focus on collaboration, just like on a real film set!
Children are actively engaging with film, and media arts. While technology is an important part of filmmaking, kids are engaging with a wide variety of hands-on elements as well beyond screen usage. Kids learn to build costumes and props, learn how maneuver lighting, gels, and production set up. They are building characters, or drawing and planning with paper and colored pencil.
Take a peak at a sample day in the life of a CinemaKidz Camper!
Creative Filmmaking Morning Camp
8:50 – 9:10am: Check-in & Games Outside
9:10 – 9:40am: Movie idea pitchfest and story planning
9:40 – 10:30am: Pre-production – Costume making or Special Effects make-up workshop
10:30 – 10:45am: Snack & Games
10:45 – 12:00pm: Prep for filming – Acting workshop or Equipment workshop
Optional Lunch & Games Hour
12:00 – 12:30pm: Lunch Outdoors
12:30 – 1:00pm: All camp water balloon match
CinemaKitchen Afternoon Camp
1:00 – 1:30pm: Team creations and Apron making
1:30 – 2:00pm: Kid-safe Knife skills workshop
2:00 – 2:30pm: Set dressing and film preparation
2:30 – 3:30pm: Recipe 1: Make homemade pasta dough
3:30 – 4:00pm: Editing Episode 1
4:00 – 4:15pm: Check out outside
Take a peak at a sample day in the life of a CinemaKidz Camper!
A Sample Creative Filmmaking Morning
9:00 – 9:15am: Check-in & Ice Breaker Game
9:15 – 10:30am: Movie idea pitchfest, story planning
10:30 – 10:45am: Snacks & Games
10:45 – 12:00pm: Choose your topic: Props and Costumes, Scriptwriting, Acting Workshop, Directing
12:00 – 12:30pm: Lunch with friends
Recess Outside
12:30 – 1:30/2pm: Recess includes a variety of structured games and water sports, or choose to pick up a book and read in the shade
A Sample CinemaKitchen Afternoon
1:30 – 2:30pm: The Test Kitchen: learn to make fresh pasta
2:30 – 2:45pm: Optional Snack & games
2:45 – 3:55pm: Editing Workshop: Editing Episode 1
3:55 – 4:00pm: All-camp circle up and project share
4:00 – 4:10pm: Check out
4:00 – 5:30pm: Late Bird – Structured games, independent projects guided by teacher, reading
We see film as a means to explore the world around us. The program focuses on kid-made projects from start to finish. Kids learn by exploring, trying, testing, making mistakes, refining, and always while having fun.
CinemaKidz has developed a deep understanding of child cognitive development and the important role creativity plays in building self-confidence and critical thinking. The program is designed to engage children in ways that complement and enhance traditional education.
Kids take the reins, and are empowered as they are guided through the creative, technical medium by experts in the field. We focus on collaboration, just like on a real film set!
Children are actively engaging with film, and media arts. While technology is an important part of filmmaking, kids are engaging with a wide variety of hands-on elements as well beyond screen usage. Kids learn to build costumes and props, learn how maneuver lighting, gels, and production set up. They are building characters, or drawing and planning with paper and colored pencil.
Take a peak at a sample day in the life of a CinemaKidz Camper!
A Sample Creative Filmmaking Morning
9:00 – 9:15am: Check-in @ 4th Street & Prospect Park West
9:15 – 10:30am: Movie idea pitchfest, story planning
10:30 – 10:45am: Snacks & Games
10:45 – 12:00pm: Filming in Quaker Hill Rambles
12:00 – 12:30pm: Lunch with friends back at The Picnic House
Recess in The Great Lawn
12:30 – 1:30/2pm: Recess includes a variety of structured games and water sports, or choose to pick up a book and read in the shade
A Sample Treasure Hunters Afternoon
1:30 – 2:30pm: Map making & orienteering lesson
2:30 – 2:45pm: Optional Snack & games
2:45 – 3:55pm: Costume & prop making, followed by filming at Nethermead
3:55 – 4:00pm: All-camp circle up and project share
4:00 – 4:15pm: Check out
CK Badge Options: Costume maker, Propmaker, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Editor
Fee: $350/half day $475/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
Ages: 6 – 15 (broken up by age)
Includes Maker Kit: Superhero costume making Kit, Prop Making Kit, Mini-Tripod, Green Screen
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Superkid!! Join CinemaKidz this week, as we invent, design, and become an original superhero to star in a comic and finally a short film! Participants will begin with drafting up a look and power for their hero. Using the CinemaKidz Maker Kit, children will then learn to create a costume and build props for their original character. After storyboarding a short film and making a comic, kids will then learn to use a green screen and film a short video to star in! Participants will learn how to add special effects and bring their character to life for the big screen, as they create their superhero action film.
Required software/devices: A portable device for filming + class (iPad or smartphone) OR a portable device and a computer
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Game Designer, Game Designer Gold, Coder, Drawer, Cinematographer, Storyteller
Fee: $250/half day $375/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
Age: 8 – 15 (broken up by age)
Optional Maker Kit: $60, Sketchpad, Game Design packet, markers, colored pencils, watercolors
Explore the art of game design, as you plan, code, build, and create your very own platform style video game using Scratch! Think Mario Brothers, Sonic, and Kirby games. This class combines critical thinking + fundamental math skills with creativity, storytelling, and art to get the gears really going!
We will discuss various video game worlds, and stylistic visuals, as well as how storytelling works in video games to create a very unique world. Kids will design and build characters, levels, scenery, and plan a game structure and story of their own.
Students will use scratch to create their own sprites, platform levels, and backgrounds. They will use scratch’s node based programming interface as an introduction to coding to bring their game to life.
Required software/device: A computer (cannot be chromebook) is required as well as a premium Roblox account ($4/month) is necessary during the course
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Storyteller, Dancer, Cinematographer, Director, Art Direction, Propmaster, Filmmaker, Editor, singer/songwriter
Fee: $350/half day $475/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
Ages: 7 – 15 (broke up by age)
Included Maker Kit: Prop Making material bundle, mini-tripod, green screen, special effects gel kit, and more
Get moving and creative in Dance + Music Videos! Working closely with CK’s professional choreographer, participants will pick a song, create an original dance routine, and plan an awesome music video! Create custom outfits and flare, dream up a fun story with awesome Art Direction in mind.
Participants will have the opportunity to create their own new lyrics or a twist on the original song.
Kids will also have a chance to experiment with camera tricks, and special effects looks for their video. Learn how to use filmic Gels, create awesome visual effects using a variety of tools like mirrors, rolled up paper, and more.
The Sky’s the limit in this camp! The group will film the video, and edit the footage a fun video project!
Required software/devices: A portable device for filming + class (iPad or smart phone) OR a portable device coupled with a computer
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Actor, Chef, Chef Gold, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Editor
Fee: $350/half day $475/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
Ages: 7 – 15 (broke up by age)
Includes Maker Kit: DIY Apron, Recipe worksheets, 3 recipe bundles with specialized ingredients, child-safe knife, variety of other cooking tools
Come play with your food at Camp CinemaKidz! In this hands-on week, campers put on their custom-made apron, and head to the kitchen to experiment, learn, and act in their very own Cooking Show! Kids will plan the look and feel of the show, and work in the test kitchen, experimenting with various recipes to feature in each episode. Show ideas may range from how-to videos to a kids version of Iron Chef, Nailed it, or the Great British Bake-off. From yummy favorites like vegetarian sushi and pizza to cake building fondant decoration and cake pops, recipes will be fun and kid-friendly. Participants will cook, act, direct, film, and edit in this hands on engaging class. Campers will learn about food preparation AND making movies from start to finish!
Required software/devices: Any device, computer recommended
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Art Director Gold, Costume maker, Propmaker, Storyteller
Fee: $350/half day $475/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
Age: 7 – 14 (broken up by age)
Includes Maker Kit: Costume making Kit, Prop Making Kit, Basic SFX Kit, Green Screen
If there’s a budding Artist and creator in you, filled with ideas, and searching for the right tools and techniques to create real cinematic looks and effects, then you’ve come to the right place! The CK Team will show you the ropes of what it means to create a cinematic world, from the make up and effects, to set dressing, prop-making, and costume design.
Learn how to make something new look 1000 years old, create fantastical costumes for goblins and Star Wars characters, build props and create effects for a real film set, and try your hand at special effects make-up looks. This class is for the artist and creative kid, and is completely hands on and project driven.
Kids will also build their very own 3D sets, and learn how to “set dress” like the pros. Think Star Wars! Students will even get to use 3D printers to build awesome fantastical characters for their films. The week will culminate in filming a short project with the moody world they’ve created.
Required software/devices: Any device
See available times and register
Fee: $580
CK Badge Options: Game Designer, Game Designer Gold, Coder, Drawer, Cinematographer, Storyteller
Explore the art of game design, as you plan, code, build, and create your very own video games, in Scratch and in Roblox !
Starting with coding our own game from “Scratch,” kids will design the look and feel of a platform game. Think Mario Brothers, Sonic, and Kirby games. Campers use scratch to create their own sprites, platform levels, and backgrounds. They will use scratch’s node based programming interface as an introduction to coding to bring their game to life.
Next participants will dive into more complex coding and 3D game design as we learn to develop our own games in Roblox. Make an adventure obstacle course with traps and power-ups; create your very own spaceship and race it on an alien planet; practice skills like 3D modeling and coding as you publish games on your own server for friends and family to play.
Kids will finish the week with several games to share with friends as a new understanding of coding.
See available times and register
Ages: 7-14
Fee: $580
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
CK Badge Options: Storyteller, Dancer, Cinematographer, Director, Art Direction, Propmaster, Filmmaker, Editor
Get moving and creative in Dance + Music Videos! Working closely with CK’s professional choreographer, participants will pick a song, create an original dance routine, and plan an awesome music video! Not a big dancer, then focus on Directing the actors, filming the scenes, or building the props and scenery!
Create custom outfits and flare, dream up a fun story with an awesome uniques set. Work with Gels and special effects tools to make a Lit video! The group will film, and edit the projects using professional software. Participants will even have the opportunity to create their own new lyrics or a twist on the original song. The Skys the limit in this camp!
See available times and register
Fee: $580
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
CK Badge Options: Editor, Editor Gold Cinematographer, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Sound Designer
Learn how to create amazing visual effects and unique looks through camera shot, cinematography techniques, green screens, and video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro. Kids will experiment with the potential of green screens, practicing various camera tricks and techniques, utilizing stock videos, and much more, as they make a film of their choice over the week. Kids will learn how to make movies from start to finish as they plan, film, and edit awesome film projects, utilizing professional software. Movie themes may include: sci-fi fantasy stories, action adventure tales, Star Wars inspired flicks, and more.
See available times and register
See available times and register
Maker Kit Included With Class: Costume and prop making materials, green screen
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Superkid!! Join CinemaKidz this semester, as we invent, design, and become an original superhero to star in a comic and finally a short film! Participants will begin with drafting up a look and power for their hero. Using the CinemaKidz Maker Kit, children will then learn to create a costume and build props for their original character. After storyboarding a short film and making a comic, kids will then learn to use a green screen and film a short video to star in! Participants will learn how to add special effects and bring their character to life for the big screen!
Device: iPad, computer
See available times and register
Optional Maker Kit Includes: Costume and prop making materials
Musical Theatre at CinemaKidz is designed for the young generation of storytellers, actors, moviemakers, and creators. With our famous approach to hands-on, interactive learning, your child will be completely immersed in developing practical skills in acting, singing, dancing, and stage presence. Kids will learn how to create original music and lyrics using a web-based music production program, and work together to dream up a plot for a musical short video project. Working with CinemaKidz’ professional actor and singer, kids will practice and work on their acting and stage presence skills when they create their very own musical show. Kids will also have a chance to build props and make costumes for their character. Kids will then work together to practice, film, and then edit the final project. The project will be recorded and shared as the culminating event!
Device: computer, smartphone, or tablet accessible
See available times and register
Material Kit Included with class
If there’s a budding Artist and creator in you, filled with ideas, and searching for the right tools and techniques to create real cinematic looks and effects, then you’ve come to the right place! The CK Team will show you the ropes of what it means to create a cinematic world, from the make up and effects, to set dressing, prop-making, and costume design.
Learn how to make something new look 1000 years old, create fantastical costumes for goblins and witches, build props and create special effects for a real film set, and try your hand at special effects make-up looks. This class is for the artist creative kid, and is completely hands on and project driven.
Kids will finish the class with some real craft and building skills, and the class will culminate in each child art directing and filming their very own moody movie short!
The class comes with a souped up materials kit including everything you need to make some awesome projects!
Devices: Tune in with any hands-free device
CK Maker Kit Includes: High quality drawing pad, colored pencils, fine tipped markers, watercolors, planning sheets and game design worksheets
Explore the art of game design, as you plan, code, build, and create your very own platform style video game using Scratch! Think Mario Brothers, Sonic, and Kirby games. This class combines critical thinking + fundamental math skills with creativity, storytelling, and art to get the gears really going!
We will discuss various video game worlds, and stylistic visuals, as well as how storytelling works in video games to create a very unique world. Kids will design and build characters, levels, scenery, and plan a game structure and story of their own.
Students will use scratch to create their own sprites, platform levels, and backgrounds. They will use scratch’s node based programming interface as an introduction to coding to bring their game to life.
Devices + software: Computer required
Learn the art of 3D digital animation in this special course. This course mixes both hand-drawn backgrounds and characters along with watercolors, and fine art drawing techniques, with digital drawing and technical 3D art, Using Disney’s 12 principles of animation as a starting point, students apply these principles using professional 3D animation software, and other tools, which are the industry-standards for today’s animations and films. Kids will work on several small experiments to get a handle on the software and professional rigging techniques, and finish the class with a longer culminating animated project!
CK Maker Kit includes: Costume-making materials including various fabrics, stitchings, etc.
Costume design is an essential part of character design. From a character’s clothing down to the smallest accessory, what a character is wearing helps make the character memorable and is a crucial element of storytelling. In this very hands on course, kids will utilize the CinemaKidz maker kit, and learn all the tricks of the trade for making awesome costumes for their characters for film. Film characters may range from ghouls and zombies, to Alice in Wonderland characters or Land Before Time characters. Kids will learn how to work with foam, cloth, wire, and various craft materials to create awesome looks, then develop their very own character for a project which they will design and craft. We will film the project and have a film festival and fashion show to conclude the course!
Devices: smartphone, tablet, or computer
See available times and register
CK Maker Kit Includes: Tripod, Green Screen, planning resources
In this course children will learn how to create professional video effects and camera tricks using the professional software, Adobe After Effects. From Tik Tok videos or animated intro videos, to special effects within their films, kids will learn ways to create motion graphics for video.
This is a highly technical class, but fun class with skills that can be used well beyond this course. Your child will feel so accomplished after creating truly unique projects to share with friends and family. Children will work on several small projects and one final project.
Devices: Computer with minimum go 8 GB that can run Adobe After Effects, a monthly student subscription to Adobe After Effects ($20/month), a smartphone or tablet for filming
CK Maker Kit includes: Tripod, planning sheets and various digital resources
Much like a conductor of an orchestra, or the head chef in a kitchen organizing the servers and cooks, a director must coordinate a team of actors, crew members, camera operators, producers, and the many other individual positions in such a way to put their vision on the big screen. In this unique course, students do not just learn how a film set works, but also how to take a film from an initial idea through creating a script to production and editing their films on a professional level.
We will look at some of the most famous (kid friendly) directors, and learn what techniques they used to create a unique stamp on their films. This class will focus on production work, and the fun of creating a unique brand and style via filmic techniques for your projects. We will encourage participants to work together both during class, as well as outside of class to make their project. Kids will make one longer project, and several experimental projects over the course.
Device options: Tuning in via zoom on a Computer or tablet preferred. Must have a tablet or smart phone available for filming
Learn the awesome art of comedy and acting with CinemaKidz! Kids will build confidence, and skills as they work together to create 2 shorts projects. We will start with hosting a writing workshop to help kids learn how to generate new material on the fly, off the cuff, and on just about any topic you can imagine. Kids will generate some original funny material to plan for both a short skit tv show, as well as some stand up comedy.
Next, we will go through the tricks of the trade for both physical expression, voice acting, and timing.. its all about the timing. Kids will work together to build and act out scenes, and rehears for the big filming of the show and stand up comedy spotlights.
Kids will finish the class having filmed, and editing these projects to share with friends and family!
Device options: Tuning in via zoom on a Computer or tablet preferred.
CK Maker Kit includes: Tripod Kit, Green screen, planning and resource sheets
Join CinemaKidz Virtual learn the ins and outs of filmmaking! Children become directors, actors, cinematographers, and editors, as they learn the fundamentals of making video projects from start to finish. Participants are encouraged to stretch their imagination and experiment with the basic techniques of filmmaking in a team-oriented and collaborative environment. Whether this is your first time making a film, or you are a seasoned and experienced moviemaker, our professional staff teach at all levels and customize the curriculum based on interests. Children will learn how to: tell stories using video, set up their very own home production studio, plan, film, and edit video projects. We encourage children to think out of the box, experiment, and play with the creative medium. This is the class where children find their passions and fall in love with film.
Device options: Tuning in via zoom on a Computer or tablet preferred. Participants must have a tablet or smartphone available for filming projects.
CK Badge Options: Editor, Editor Gold Cinematographer, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Sound Designer
Fee: $250/half day $375/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm) ($50 off until March 1 Code:2021-50)
Age: 8 – 15 (broken up by age)
Optional Maker Kit: $100, Tripod, Green Screen, Condenser microphone, Production Packet
Learn how to create amazing visual effects and unique looks through camera shot, cinematography techniques, green screens, and video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro. Kids will experiment with the potential of green screens, practicing various camera tricks and techniques, utilizing stock videos, and much more, as they make a film of their choice over the week. Kids will learn how to make movies from start to finish as they plan, film, and edit awesome film projects, utilizing professional software. Movie themes may include: sci-fi fantasy stories, action adventure tales, Star Wars inspired flicks, and more.
Required software/device: A computer is required (cannot be a chromebook), as well as Adobe Animate. Free trial available, please inquire for IT questions
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Storyteller, singer/songwriter, editor, Sound designer
Fee: $250/half day $375/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
($50 off until March 1 Code:2021-50)
Ages: 8-15 (broken up by age)
Optional Maker Kit: $60, Subscription to podcasting software, tabletop professional condenser mic with spit guard, Podcasting planning packet, Radio ply packets
Become a reporter, storyteller, and investigator in this special audial storytelling class. Children will learn the art of interviewing, and audial storytelling, as they plan, record, and edit original Podcasts + Radio Plays. Kids will learn all about how to create a world and mood through music and sound. Next, participants will plan out their original idea, which may include: new reports, fantastical stories, spooky tales, and more. Campers will use professional digital programs to produce original recordings, with creative music, sounds, their own voice, and more. Campers will explore the world of sound effects and foley art to add to their podcasts. After testing and trying out creating sound from random objects and their own body, kids will record sounds to mimic naturally occurring noises and add these to their audial story landscape. This camp is great for the creative kid, actor, storyteller, or musician!
Required devices/software: Computer highly recommended, access to a portable device to record elements outside of class
See available times and register
CK Badge Options: Storyteller, Storyteller Gold, Drawer, Comics Master
Fee: $250/half day $375/full day (9am – 11am and/or 12:30pm – 2:30pm)
($50 off until March 1 Code:2021-50)
Ages: 6 – 15 (broken up by age)
Optional Maker Kit: $60, DIY Binded comic making book, comic template, markers, colored pencils, water