Students begin their time at Film Academy in what we call, The Learning Level. In this first semester with Film Academy, you will learn all of the basics of filmmaking – from storytelling to lighting to camera to editing and everything in between!
Students who successfully complete The Learning Level are eligible to apply for a next-level internship opportunity. In order to move up to this level, students will be tested in their technical knowledge, as well as interviewed by our teaching artists and staff. At the intern level, students will work with, and being mentored by, our advanced Teen Film Crew members, assisting in their projects and learning what it is to be a valued production assistant.
In order to complete the intern level, students will be tested on more advanced filmmaking skills, log 100 internship hours, participate in a peer mentoring training session provided by The Mentoring Partnership of Pittsburgh, and complete a Teen Film Crew interview with teaching artists and staff. Students may complete their 100 hours in one semester or they may choose to spread it out over time.
Students at the Teen Film Crew level are paid content creators and paid above minimum wage. The students are paid to produce promotional videos for clients and their own content for our web series: “The Reel Teens.” Students at the paid level may remain there through the summer after graduating high school.