Film Camp. Make films all day.
Eleven full school days spent making short films, with University of Arizona cinema equipment, workshops from industry professionals, and a premiere at the Loft Cinema.
About the course
Film Camp is a full-day filmmaking intensive for high school students from across Tucson, at Salpointe and beyond. Over three weeks in late May and early June, you'll spend the school day making short films from first idea to finished cut, working with a crew on real projects. Salpointe students can earn credit for either Film & TV Productions I or II, depending on what they need.
You'll plan each film the way a working production does: develop the story, write the script, break it down into shots, and board it in Slate OS, then shoot it. We're partnering with the University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film & Television, so you'll shoot on professional cinema equipment, tour their broadcasting studios, and hear from people who work in the industry.
The finished films premiere at the Loft Cinema and on the University of Arizona campus. They're also practice for the following year's NATAS Student Production Awards: you'll leave with finished work, and with a clear sense of which category a film belongs in and how to plan it to fit.
With the University of Arizona
Professional cinema equipment
Shoot on the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television's professional cinema equipment.
Tour the broadcast studios
Visit the University of Arizona and walk through their broadcasting studios.
Workshops with industry professionals
Special workshops led by people who work in film and television.
Premiere on the big screen
Your finished films premiere at the Loft Cinema and on the University of Arizona campus.
Dates for the campus visit, the workshops and the premieres will be announced.
Course details
- Who can come
- Any high school student in Tucson
- New to filmmaking or experienced, every grade 9 through 12.
- Cost
- $495 per student
- Early bird: $349 if you register by February 1, 2027. Scholarships are available.
- Credit
- Salpointe students can earn credit for either Film & TV Productions I or II, depending on what they need.
- From another school? Ask your counselor whether your school will accept the credit.
- Registration
- TBD
- Room
- TBD
Dates
Session I
11 days over 3 weeks
- Week 1May 24 to May 27Mon–Thu4 days
- Week 2June 1 to June 3Tue–Thu3 days
- Week 3June 7 to June 10Mon–Thu4 days
The last day of the session is June 10, which lets out early.
A camp day
Regular days
- Camp starts
- 8:00 am
- Lunch
- 11:00 am – 11:30 am
- Dismissal
- 2:35 pm
Last day of each session
- Camp starts
- 8:00 am
- Early dismissal
- 12:30 pm
No lunch on this day.
Camp runs on the regular school day, 8:00 am to 2:35 pm, based at Salpointe, with off-campus visits and screenings announced separately. There is no lunch service on Fridays.
What you'll be working toward
Every film you finish is practice for the NATAS Student Production Awards. Once you're back in the fall, the production plan is how you pick your category and get your script, storyboard and shot list cleared before you shoot.
Interested?
Tell us you're interested. It isn't a sign-up or a commitment; it helps us plan the camp and know who to talk to as details are finalized.
Need help with the cost?
Film Camp is $495 per student, or $349 if you register by February 1, 2027. Cost should never keep a student out: if it would, ask for a scholarship. Only the advisor sees what you write. Families from other schools can ask in the “questions” box on the interest form.