Experience the art of cinematic storytelling as you collaborate with your artistic team to produce a short narrative film.

The NSLC on Film Production & Scriptwriting teaches aspiring filmmakers the foundations of narrative screenwriting and video production. Use professional camera equipment and editing software to experience the filmmaking process from pre-production to post-production, creating your own short film in the process. Improve your visual vocabulary and learn how to communicate your ideas from behind the camera to bring your story to the screen!

Program Highlights

Set your filming foundation
Discover the principles of producing, directing, shot design, and cinematography needed to create your film.

Develop a script
Explore the fundamentals of story structure, script formatting, and composing believable dialogue between your characters.

Assemble your crew
Learn about the positions that make up a film crew and the equipment each person needs to capture a scene.

Bring your story to the screen
Shoot your narrative film with your production team and learn editing techniques to perfect your project.

Meet the Experts

While at the NSLC’s high school Film Production & Scriptwriting program, you will meet with and learn from experts in the those fields.

Examples of past guest speakers include:

Mr. Walter Mears
Political Correspondent/Pulitzer Prize Winner, AP

Mr. Ron Edmonds
Photographer/Pulitzer Prize Winner, AP

Mr. Jim Morin
Cartoonist/Pulitzer Prize Winner, Miami Herald

Ms. Stu Seidel
Senior Editor, National Public Radio, Weekend Edition Sunday

Mr. Tim Kurkjian
Reporter & Analyst, ESPN

Mr. Linton Weeks
Staff Writer, Washington Post

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

An important part of the NSLC high school summer film production program is seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of Film Production & Scriptwriting.

Trips may include:

American University

American Film Institute | Motion Picture Assocation | ColorLabs | Interface Media Group | Avalon Theater | The Smithsonian Institution | Capitol Hill | Historic D.C. Monuments at Night

Leadership Training

At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

Leadership topics tailored to the Film Production & Scriptwriting program include:

  • Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Negotiation
  • Public Speaking
  • Intrapersonal Communication

College Credit Option

American University (AU) and NSLC have a unique partnership that enables you to earn college credit by enrolling in a supplemental online course designed to correlate with your NSLC program’s area of study. By enrolling in this credit course, you will enjoy a stimulating, innovative, and personalized college-level learning experience that builds on your NSLC accomplishments. The course is for one credit and is taught in a self-paced, asynchronous format across six weeks, allowing ample time to complete assignments. The course is designed to work within the framework of NSLC; students are not expected to complete coursework while on campus. Students may register for college credit via their personal student portal (myNSLC) once they have enrolled in an NSLC session.

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Tuition

Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.

Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.

LocationTuition
Washington, D.C.$3,895
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