Over the last two weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of having a group of aspiring young filmmakers at DARC’s HQ. Drawn by a passion for storytelling, these teens gathered at DARC for Video Camp for Girls+, a Summer camp program that provides youth aged 13-17 with hands-on video production training.
Knowing that film and video production tend to be male-dominated, DARC was eager to prioritize the registration of young women, girls, gender non-conforming, and non-binary youth in this program, with the aim to ultimately break down entry barriers and empower them to consider a potential career in the film industry.
One participant, Bagel Biernaskie, first came to DARC through the Youth Futures program, an initiative that places high school students in professional working environments.
“Luckily enough, through my placement, I was given the opportunity to join Video Camp for Girls+,” Bagel explains.
Under the guidance of professional filmmakers and multimedia artists, our participants learned how to handle equipment, set up video shoots, and edit their projects. In only two weeks, the campers created two short films and a short documentary. Bagel says they learned about “the history of cinema and its different genres,” as well as “valuable skills such as scriptwriting, filming, acting, editing, and teamwork.”
Successful filmmaking relies on collaboration. Bagel tells of how Video Camp for Girls+ beautifully exemplified this.
“At school, when you work on group projects, one or two people usually don’t want to be there and can drag down the experience. I was blown away by how fun it was to work on a project everyone involved was passionate about. That exciting chatter and a joint effort were probably one of my favorite parts of joining Video Camp. It helped me understand how thrilling it can be to work towards a creative vision with like-minded people.”
Of course, every creative endeavor comes with its set of challenges. Bagel shares how it was difficult at times to get uninterrupted takes while filming in public areas. They also noted the challenge of memorizing lines. But with mutual support from their team members, they learned how to navigate these obstacles as a group.
According to Bagel, having access to professional equipment elevated their camp experience. “You could really see the difference in the quality of our films.”
In essence, Video Camp for Girls+ empowers young filmmakers to tell their own stories and allows non-men to see themselves reflected in the film industry. This unique learning experience will be offered again next summer. Join us at Video Camp for Girls+ 2024!
