FOCUS, SPONTANEITY, CREATIVITY...

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

• 11-day intensive, hands-on documentary filmmaking workshop.
• An award-winning staff and a student-teacher ratio of 1:3 (only 10 students admitted).
• The curriculum is divided into three phases: storytelling and narrative structure, taught by John Jacobsen; cinematography, taught by Shana Hagan; and editing, taught by camp directors Pete Vogt and Doug Pray, who also provide one-on-one instruction throughout. Each day features a balance of instruction, discussion, collaboration, and physical production.
• Daily classes cover the art of storytelling: identifying great subjects, creating a shooting plan, and understanding the mythic and entertaining elements within your documentary story. Production workshops teach interviewing techniques, camera operation and coverage in live situations, lighting on a budget, and the importance of great location sound. Post production classes are based on the principle that editing is writing. We teach footage analysis, workflow strategies, story structure, editing techniques for pacing, and the use of music and sound design.
• Equipment: HD video camera packages, audio recording gear, basic lighting packages, Final Cut Pro editing systems and hard drives, projectors, connectors, and all other basic filmmaking necessities are provided. You are welcome to use your own equipment, but none is required.
• Short Films: each filmmaker creates his or her own 3-to-5 minute film with each other's help during the course of camp. In-class exercises are tested in the field as students practice all aspects of the filmmaking process (producing, directing, shooting, editing, and collaborating with others).
• Documentary subjects: Although the Methow Valley is remote, its towns and countryside are full of interesting stories, history, controversy, beauty, and a surprising diversity of people from all walks of life. During camp we also learn how to cover live public events (in 2012 we filmed the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival).
• Wild Mind Film Festival: on the last night of camp, a public showing of your short film provides an opportunity to measure your growth as a filmmaker and test your ideas in front of an audience. You’ll be heroes to the locals who will attend in droves to hear stories from their own backyard told through the eyes of developing filmmakers.

BASIC CAMP INFORMATION

• Dates: July 17 to 28, 2013
• Application deadline for 2013 (now past) was April 15. We will begin accepting applications for 2014 in the fall.
• Applications accepted from anyone over 21, serious about developing their professional documentary filmmaking abilities.
• Tuition: $3,000 includes 11 days of instruction, equipment, room and board.
• Location: Twisp, Washington, in the gorgeous Methow Valley, nestled along a river below the Cascade Mountain range, in Twisp, Washington. It’s about a 4-hour drive from Seattle, and about the same distance from Spokane in the east.
• Classes, workshops and screenings will be held at TwispWorks, a former Forest Service facility that’s been redeveloped into an innovative center for arts, agriculture, technology and education.
• Accommodations are walking distance from campus at the beautiful Methow Valley Inn, a large bed-and-breakfast with gorgeous gardens, just a block away from the river.
• Great food: Our caterer will supply two meals per day of the best of what’s local, fresh, and delicious (with vegetarian/vegan options if desired). Breakfast and dinner are included in tuition. Campers will be responsible for their own lunches and can take advantage of a number of wonderful eating options nearby campus.

Wild Mind Film Camp was a transformative experience, and has given me the confidence and skills to advance forward as an independent producer. This well-rounded intensive includes important lectures ranging from production to storytelling, and is paired with hands-on experience that results in the creation of your own documentary short. All four of the teachers bring different expertise to the table and are incredible filmmakers and instructors. For someone that is interested in taking their documentary skills to a new level, this experience cannot be missed.