Fledgling Films Summer Institute

Each summer, Fledgling Films holds an intensive media writing and production program for teens at Lyndon Institute, a private high school with excellent facilities and a scenic campus in Lyndon Center, Vermont. Fledgling Films is an important component of Lyndon Institute's larger "Vermont Arts Institute," which also includes theatre, dance, animation, and visual art programs.

The Fledgling Films Summer Institute combines workshop experiences with hands-on involvement in the writing and production of dramatic and documentary films. The teen-made films are rooted in vivid and well-developed characters and stories. Students have the option to participate in writing and script development, then divide up into acting, directing, technical and design positions during the production phase.

There is a one-week screenwriting program, taught by award-winning screenwriter and director Jay Craven, and a two-week production program. Students may choose either writing or production, OR attend both sessions for a complete three-week filmmaking experience.

Applications for the 2004 Institute are now available!
Call 802-592-3190 or e-mail kcp@pshift.com.

Michael Burke, cinematographer, leads a workshop

PROGRAM: During the screenwriting week, students are encouraged to bring their own work and will develop a short screenplay during the 5-day program. During the production workshop, several short films will be produced, using teen-written stories and screenplays. Documentary projects are also developed. Students work as actors, directors, camera operators, editors, production designers, sound recordists, prop masters, costume designers, hair/makeup artists, producers and other behind-the-scenes crewmembers. Professional mentors, including writers, experienced directors of photography, and acting coaches supervise teen crews and guide the work on each film.

Finished films are made available to participating teens. Kingdom County Productions and Fledgling Films release the films for screenings, video sales, festivals and possible TV broadcast.

ACTIVITIES: In addition to specific film preparation, production and post-production, daily workshops take place at base camp. Workshop leaders include actors, cinematographers, storyboard artists, musicians, animated filmmakers and other visual and performing artists. Recreational activities and off-campus trips are also planned. Evenings are spent screening dailies, in workshops, performing improvs, or at film screenings and discussion.

HOUSING & FOOD: Lyndon Institute offers exceptional housing and dining facilities for participants. Students are assigned a roommate and stay in dormitories. Two or three counselors live in each dorm. KCP staff makes their best effort to accommodate any special preference, including vegetarian meals.

l to r: Team Leaders Tracy Ward, Jay Craven, Sarah Ream

TUITION: Tuition for the Screenwriting Workshop (1 week) is $650 for boarding students and $500 for day students.

Tuition for the Production Workshop (2 weeks) is $2350 for out-of-state boarding students, $1950 for Vermont boarders, and $1650 for day students.

Vermont tuitions are lower because of Vermont Arts Council funding. Scholarship support is available to qualifying students, regardless of state of residence.

AUDITIONS: Teen actors and directors are selected through an audition process on the first day of the Production Workshop. Actors prepare a monologue and work from scenes selected by Fledgling Films staff. Directors are given a scene to direct with student actors.

DOCUMENTARIES & ANIMATION: We also produce documentary film projects and offer introductory animation workshops for interested students. For students interested in documentary, we would like to hear ideas for possible subjects. Please include them on your application.

Forrest Borie and Schuyler Towne play a theater game in an acting workshop

APPLICATIONS: Students will be asked to submit a resume and writing sample. Applicants will be asked to list specific filmmaking jobs that interest them, although they will not be limited to those jobs. Previous filmmaking experience is not necessary. Students who like writing, acting, visual art and design, music, technical theater, props and costumes, literature, dance, and video are especially encouraged to apply.

We are also looking for exceptional teen written stories! Please submit your short stories, stage plays or short screenplays, to be produced during the Fledgling Films Summer Institute. If your work is selected, you'll receive a $100 honorarium and an invitation to visit the set. Teens do not have to participate in the Institute to have their work produced.

For more information and application materials, contact us at: