Category: Film & Video

Justin Wan, Mason Film & Video Summer Camp 2020 alumnus, recently won the Grand Champion prize at the Montgomery County Fair 2020. “After I finished attending George Mason University’s filmmaking camp, I decided to create another short film to practice the skills I had learned. To my surprise, I had received the prize for turning in a small project of mine. I was motivated and encouraged to further my hobby of filmmaking,” Wan said.

A first-timer of Mason Community Arts Academy’s Filmmaking Workshop, Wan advanced his technical skills and dived into deep learning of the filmmaking process with award-winning producer and George Mason University professor Lisa Thrasher.

“I always talk with the Summer Filmmaking Workshop students about applying to college film programs and film festivals with their camp films. One of the 2018 & 2019 participants started as a Film and Video Studies major at Mason this fall. Now, Wan’s award is another exciting first for our Summer Filmmaking Workshop alumni. It’s a thrill to see their drive and successes,” said Professor Thrasher.

A rising filmmaker with a passion for documentary and visual poems, Wan said it wasn’t an easy process at first when finding ideas that represent him. As he continued to think about the meaning of life while experiencing a global pandemic, Wan started to experiment with a short visual poem to share his reflections of life and his path.

“I enjoy these types of genres because whenever there is a pressing issue, I feel like it can be voiced through a film,” Wan explained, a freshman at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. “No matter how small or big the topic at hand is, I enjoy making these types of films. It offers a voice to me and to the many other filmmakers who have a message to pass on.”

“Justin displayed an advanced level of commitment to artistry and drive for filmmaking, which resulted in a beautiful and moving short film.” Thrasher shared her interaction with Wan during the two weeks of the filmmaking Summer program.

Demonstrating much talent and interest in multimedia storytelling, Wan said that the process of brainstorming ideas, executing the shoots, and creating a visual story is a gratifying experience that inspires him to advance his love for filmmaking.

“It’s inspiring to see young filmmakers create,” Professor Thrasher said of her experience working with Summer Filmmaking Workshop participants. “With today’s technology and so much access to behind-the-scenes videos from their favorite directors, many young filmmakers have already honed their creative vision and craft to a point that they are already creating college-level work. I’m excited to see where they go next.”

With the recent success of winning an award, Wan is working on a new documentary for the C-SPAN StudentCam Competition, combining his interest in filmmaking with voicing his opinion.

“This was something that fit right in my alley,” said Wan. “But to be honest, this was a little out of my comfort zone, so having a friend push me was important when undertaking these daunting projects.”

Wan enjoys making films as a hobby and is looking forward to further improving his skills through more creative projects. “For all of the people who say that filmmaking is just a hobby, I say that you guys are already a step ahead,” said Wan. “Continue to do what you enjoy with passion and persistence. To those of you reading, I hope that you don’t give up on something before you even have the chance to try it.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FILM & VIDEO SUMMER PROGRAMS

Our two-week Filmmaking Summer Workshops (Middle School July 8-19, High School July 22-Aug 2) give students an exciting opportunity to develop their creative expression and technical knowledge of film production, one of the most competitive and top-grossing industries today.

Mason Professors Lisa Thrasher and Lucy Gebre-Egziabher from Mason Film & Video Studies lead the workshops, along with student assistants from the university program. Located on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (in the Washington, DC Metro area), the camps takes place in the university classrooms and computer labs in the Art & Design Building. The final film debuts usually take place in Mason’s movie theater.

Students are thoughtfully separated into small groups for the duration of the program in order to learn teamwork and collaboration. Fun communal creative exercises are employed for icebreakers and for bonding. The workshop is designed to stimulate kids intellectually, creatively, and socially through teamwork.

“This year’s program will focus on quality story telling and creative visual interpretation of the scripts,” said Ms. Thrasher.

“In addition to learning about the filmmaking process and taking part in an actual film production, students will also get to watch short films and critique them, cultivating their film analysis skills,” explained Ms. Gebre-Egziabher.

The Filmmaking Workshops are a great way for kids and teens to develop their filmmaking talent, teamwork, story-telling, visual expression, and technical skills – qualities sought, needed, and used by not only the entertainment industry, but also by every company in America – all of whom use audio/visual works to promote their products/services and communicate with their customers!

“I am always so impressed by the students’ knowledge, commitment to the process, and the films themselves!” stated Ms. Thrasher.

“This program does more than teach kids how to make films,” emphasized Ms. Gebre-Egziabher, “It helps them work with a team of their peers, it gives them an opportunity to bond socially with other kids, and it gives them the chance to see the fruits of their labor at the end – the film they make together! I often witness the shyest kids at the beginning of the program become the liveliest by the end.”

A selection of film scripts from the Screenwriting Workshop, June 24-28, are voted on to be used in the Filmmaking camps. Sign up to help write the scripts too!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Are you a creative writer, playwright, and/or storyteller between the ages of 11 and 18? The Summer Screenwriting Workshop, June 24-28, 2019, can help you create and develop amazing characters, translate stories and dialogue into tv and movie ready scripts, and give you tools to transfer your ideas and plotlines to the written page.

George Mason University Professor Amanda Kraus leads this exciting program, in collaboration with Mason’s Film & Video Studies Program. Located on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (in the Washington, DC Metro area), the workshop uses the university classrooms in the Art & Design Building.

With the underlying theme that good stories come from great characters, the topic of character development is one that is heavily emphasized, discussed and explored.

“Your child can look forward to a fun structured camp where they learn the fundamentals of good story telling,” stated Professor Kraus.

“I love working with the students and seeing their ideas come to life throughout the workshop,” said Ms. Kraus. “One of my favorite parts is on the last day, when they do the performed table reads of their scripts, and also the a-ha moment when they realize how to break down the structure of a story.”

Another fun feature of the program is that selected final scripts will have a chance to be used in the following Filmmaking Workshops, where the stories and characters will come to life on the screen in several edited versions.

“Good stories come from great characters and great characters come from living your best life,” proclaimed Professor Kraus. “What inspires you? Write about it!”

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

DOWNLOAD FLIER (spread the word!)

Mason Film & Video Studies Professor Sam Meddis, formerly a deputy managing editor and video team lead at USA TODAY, will direct the new “Making Of A Documentary” summer workshop for teens, where students will produce fact-based films depicting the stories of real places and people around them.

In contrast to our popular Summer Filmmaking Workshops, which tend to explore fictional storytelling and characters, the two-week Documentary workshop, June 18-29, will blend filmmaking, journalism and principles of photography to provide students with an immersive experience which will help them see with new eyes and greater empathy things in the real world that are often unobserved or taken for granted, and to tell that story. Working as filmmaking teams, students will learn how to better collaborate and communicate with their peers, and produce their own short documentary film.

In addition to producing short documentaries, students will also watch, and learn how to interpret, some of the world’s top documentaries. They will study in a collaborative environment designed to help produce a lifelong appreciation of documentary films.

“We live in an increasingly visual society,” explained Mr. Meddis. “This course will help equip students to more fully participate in it by learning the fundamentals of visual storytelling and communication. Students will experience the personal satisfaction that comes from expressing themselves creatively.They will begin to acquire skills that they can apply to a wide range of fields in in their education, future careers and beyond.  Most important, they will realize that filmmaking is great fun!”

In previous roles at USA TODAY, Sam Meddis helped oversee news coverage and operations of usatoday.com, coordinated training programs for print and online editorial staff, and supervised the editorial technology group. He is a founding member both of usatoday.com and USA TODAY the newspaper. At Mason, Mr. Meddis was awarded a GMU Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award in 2018 and  a GMU Teacher of Distinction commendation in 2017 for his work in the Film & Video Studies program.

“My favorite part of the workshop is the final day,” said Mr. Meddis, who produced the video above, “when students’ films are presented in the class for family and friends, and we all get to applaud their fine work.”

Although not required as a prerequisite, students who have previously taken our Filmmaking Workshops are highly encouraged to attend. Spaces are limited for this program – sign up now!

GET DETAILS AND REGISTER TODAY!