Sign Up for Free Summer Film School at Muncie Public Library

Students editing their video as a team during Summer Film School. Photo by: Stuart Cotton, Muncie Public LibraryStudents editing their video as a team during Summer Film School. Photo by: Stuart Cotton, Muncie Public Library

By: Susan Fisher—

Muncie, IN—Muncie Public Library (MPL) will host free Summer Film School for teens in grades 8-12. This program puts professional equipment in students’ hands every day for three weeks as they gain video production and editing experience.

“Students who participate in the film school will create professional video projects that will give them an advantage when approaching colleges and careers,” said Dan Allen, Technology Coordinator at MPL. He added that each student will create six video projects for their professional portfolios. Allen notes that 2019 marks the third year MPL has offered the free program. ”Each and every year comes with exciting new challenges we take on as a team,” said Allen. “It’s a lot of the same kind of work and challenges students could expect to discover in college or in a career, and I know each and every one of the students coming in will uncover the skills needed to meet the challenges head-on.”

Allen teaches the film school with Stuart Cotton, a Digital Mentor at MPL’s Connection Corner.

The Summer Film School will take place Mondays through Fridays, June 10-June 28 from 2-6pm at Maring-Hunt Library in the idea studio creative design center, located on the second floor. The final day of film school will be a showcase of all of the projects created. The students, their family members, and the community will be invited to attend the showcase, hosted by Ball State University in the Telecommunications Complex. Students will get the chance for formal critiques of their work by current BSU students then tour the facility with Telecommunications students and professors.

To apply, teens can pick up an application/flyer at any MPL branch and return it by Sunday, June 2 to any branch. Those interested can also contact Dan Allen by email at dallen@munpl.org or by phone at (765) 741-7337. Students younger than eighth grade are eligible to apply and will be considered based on the application.

Video camera and software technology in the Maring-Hunt Library idea studio was made possible by technology grants from the Best Buy Foundation and the George and Frances Ball Foundation. The equipment in Idea studio is free for the public to use within the creative space and assistance from digital mentors is available. Call 741-7337 for idea studio hours.