This summer, students from Italy, Bulgaria, and the United States joined for an incredible 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp at the prestigious LUISS University in Rome, Italy! The course was conducted by the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and taught by Colette Freedman, a NYFA Screenwriting faculty member at the Los Angeles campus.
What was the 1-Week Screenwriting Teen camp about?
In this intensive 1-Week Screenwriting Teen camp, students engaged in classroom lectures about film theory and the practical application of film storytelling techniques. The instructor incorporated visual examples to support the discussion and provide examples of techniques presented. Students spent their afternoons in a supervised writing lab, building their ideas into a short movie screenplay using professional screenwriting software and screenwriting format.
Over five days, students completed the camp with a basic understanding of a story’s three-act structure, story and character arcs, dynamic character development, subtext, authentic dialogue, world-building, and the fundamentals of Hollywood filmmaking practices.
Who is the instructor for this Screenwriting Teen Camp?
The camp instructor, Colette Freedman, is an internationally-produced playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. Considered one of Hollywood’s top script doctors and ghostwriters, Freedman has instructed both screenwriting and playwriting at NYFA for the last six years. Her indie film about pilot and aviator Amelia Earhart, 7,000 Miles, starring Wendie Malick, is currently on the film festival circuit.
“At the beginning of our NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp, these students had no idea how to write a screenplay, and by the end of the week, each one of the students completed a short film script. As a working Hollywood screenwriter, I was inspired by the students as I watched them absorb my instruction on the elements of screenwriting and consequently gain the confidence to tell their stories in a cinematic fashion.”
Colette Freedman, a NYFA Screenwriting Faculty Member, Los Angeles Campus
LUISS University (full name “Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli) hosted the NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp and offers top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in the disciplines of finance, business, management, law, and political science.
Ranked #1 in the best Italian universities among medium-sized, non-state universities in 2022 by Censis Ranking, the University does not offer film, media, or performing arts disciplines. For this reason, the University partnered with NYFA to offer a screenwriting opportunity for students enrolled in the LUISS summer school and students enrolled in the program through NYFA.
The student’s experiences of the 1-Week Teen Camp were overwhelmingly positive. The international student body appreciated Freedman’s ability to condense complex information into forms that a young student could understand.
“Colette Freedman’s enthusiasm never failed to make my day. I learned a lot but, honestly, my biggest takeaway was the reminder that writing is still a possibility for me.”
Camila, Student of the NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp
Other students appreciated the course’s opening them to a new field of interest. An opportunity for students in various majors to gather the basics of screenwriting and storytelling, the camp is short enough not to disrupt ongoing classes for international or US-based students but long enough that students take away a short film script.
“I would like to thank you again for the wonderful week, I was able to discover a world that I never really paid attention to and you made it very simple for people like me to understand it.“
Luca, Student of the NYFA 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp
When can I take the 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp in Rome?
Our 2024 1-Week Teen Screenwriting Camp dates are as follows.
- Sunday, 7 July 2024 – Saturday 13 July 2024
- Sunday, 21 July 2024 – Saturday, 27 July 2024
If you’re interested, learn more by reviewing the camp page on our website or by requesting information to speak with a NYFA Admissions staff member!