<p>My rising junior in high school wants to attend a summer film program, but only has 3 weeks free, so he can't go the longer programs at NYU and USC. Has anyone been to SOCAPA? If yes, what do you think of this program. Are their others you would recommend? Thanks for any advice!</p>
<p>My d went for their dance program several years ago and performed in a number of the films. She thoroughly enjoyed it, and the films looked good. I can’t tell you anything about the quality of the film instruction, though.</p>
<p>a question about socapa; can you go for more than 1 session?</p>
<p>My kid, now in film school, attended SOCAPA early in high school, for two one week sessions and got a lot out of it. If your S is already pretty sophisticated, check and make sure the location he’d attend has an advanced track as well. But the experience was very good for a kid with a strong, long term interest but not a ton of hands on background, and the second film he made is pretty amazing for a project that took a week at camp. It was also a good experience socially, and he’s run into some of his SOCAPA friends in his college film program and in other arts programs in college. Also, with the requirement at an increasing number of film schools that the applicant provide a reel, SOCAPA might be a good way to come up with some samples to put on that reel.</p>
<p>Thanks Nester for your response. My S decided to take the money he would have spent on SOCAPA and make a film instead. He has made 7 films so far, but this one will be his most ambitious. A question for you or your kid- he is talking about doing this one in 16mm instead of digital. He thinks he would show he knows this format when applying to film school. He did 6 or the prior ones in digital, and one in 16 mm. Do you (or anyone else) thinks this would be an important distinction?
Thanks for your opinions!</p>
<p>Am picking up this thread, question for Nester, your S attended both socapa and ucla? Which would you recommend? S is junior, jakes videos foe school and YouTube, so can he go straight into advanced at ucla? Will socapa be too basic? Maddenmd did your S go to socapa last summer? Good?</p>
<p>My son decided to take the money we would have spent on the summer program and use it to make a film. It was a great experience, and he was ready for that challenge. The film was his, from script to Post. It did well at festivals and helped him to refine what parts of filmmaking he likes. So I can’t add any info about the SOCAPA program.</p>
<p>D did advanced film at UCLA thru US performing arts 2 summers ago. Had previously made approx 4-6 films. If your kid has made movies, then can go straight to advanced. You form teams of 4 people and make a movie during the 2 week period. There was a range of skill levels. Pros were lectures by UCLA TFT faculty, the film school graduate students advise each group, use of “good actors” whom you audition. Cons: felt as if the pace was too slow and wanted to make more that just 1 movie during the 2 weeks. Other con was that there were probably 10 or so “teams” of 4. At the final parent event, they showed only 6 of the films, which ranged from good to great, but I would have been upset if my film was not screened. They said it was due to lack of time due to other events not related to the session.</p>