Your Stories
At the heart of great films are great stories. At SOCAPA, students focus on storytelling. Each student writes, directs and edits their own films, crafting the stories they want to tell from start to finish.
Pre-College Summer Intensives
Where Elite Film Training Meets Summer Camp Fun
SOCAPA mixes the best of elite film programs and exciting summer camps. Nowhere else will you find this level of filmmaking intensity combined with this much fun.
For new students: Start with our Core Filmmaking Program—our most popular intensive!
For experienced filmmakers: Level up with Advanced Filmmaking.
For storytellers: Master narrative craft in Screenwriting.
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A Film Summer Camp
Like No Other
Dual System
Learn to capture picture and sound separately, like the pros! Students are introduced to the industry-standard dual system for higher control of each element.
Collaborate
Collaborate with SOCAPA's Acting students, the stars in your films. Crew on one another's films and gain experience on set with other filmmakers.
Three Intensive Programs
Choose Your Intensive
SOCAPA offers three filmmaking intensives for high school students ages 14-18. For new students we recommend Core Filmmaking. For return students or teens with extensive experience, we have Advanced Filmmaking. Writers can hone their craft in Screenwriting.
Screenwriting
- Experience
- Beginner to Advanced
- Program Length
- 2 & 3 week options
- Projects
-
Multiple Short Screenplays
Mood Board and Pitch Prep (3wk)
Group Film Production (3wk)
- Locations
- NYC, LA & VT
MOST POPULAR
Core Filmmaking
- Experience
- Beginner to Advanced
- Program Length
- 2, 3, 4 & 5 week options
- Projects
-
Lumière Film
Porter Film
Kubrick Film (3wk only)
- Locations
- NYC, LA, Chicago & VT
Advanced Filmmaking
- Experience
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Program Length
- 3, 4, 5 & 6 week options
- Projects
-
Hitchcock Film
Kurosawa Film
Music Video
- Locations
- NYC, LA, Chicago & VT
Your Stories
"A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end... but not necessarily in that order."
Bring your stories to life!
Stories are a way for people to connect, to make meaning out of experiences, and to share their own unique view of the world. Tell your stories through your films. Learn to craft a compelling narrative and bring that to life from script to screen.
At SOCAPA we believe in providing students with the opportunity to express themselves through the exciting and timeless medium of film. That's why each student has the chance to write, direct, and edit films of their own creation, in addition to working on one another's films in the essential roles of supporting crew.
World-Class Instruction
Who We Are
Our school is our faculty. Learn from award-winning filmmakers, writers, and directors who are actively working in the industry.
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Ready to learn from the best?
Explore Film ProgramsStudent Films
Watch SOCAPA Student Work
A selection of award-winning short films from our Core, Advanced, and Screenwriting programs.
2026 Summer Intensives
Summer Campuses
Four incredible campuses in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Burlington, Vermont.
College Experience
A Summer on Campus
From NYU to Pace University, Occidental College, Loyola Chicago, and Champlain College, all of SOCAPA's programs are run directly on college campuses.
Experience the classrooms, dormitories, and facilities that undergraduates use. Live with roommates and floormates, enjoy independence under the guidance of our experienced staff.
Dorm Life
College dorms with roommates & community
Dining Halls
Eat where college students eat daily
Real Campuses
Actual university facilities & studios
Day Students
Live locally? Save on room & board
Dual System
Students are introduced to using a dual system for capturing picture and sound separately, which is the industry standard and allows for a much higher level of control of each element.
In addition to learning the technical workings of the cameras, students take sound classes and learn the best strategies for recording high quality production audio using handheld audio recorders, a variety of microphones, and production slates.
Get ready to mark those scenes and sync that audio!
Questions about our Film Programs?
Tell us a bit about your student and what you're looking for. Our team can help you choose the right program, campus, dates, and session length.
(802) 251-7378
admissions@socapa.org