Lights, camera, and plenty of local action! This past weekend, The Harley School and Horizons at Harley were transformed into a bustling film set as students stepped behind the cameras—and in front of them—to master the art of cinematic storytelling.
The energy on campus was so high it caught the attention of news crews across the entire city. We were thrilled to welcome news crews from Channels 8, 10, and 13, who dropped by to interview our young directors and capture the movie magic in the making.
Learning from the Pros
This unique opportunity was made possible through a generous grant from the Rochester Teen Book Festival. We were honored to host guest filmmaker and author James Kennedy, founder of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival and in from Chicago, for an intensive filmmaking workshop.
Under the guidance of James and a dedicated team of mentors, students didn’t just learn the technical “how-tos”—they dove into the full spectrum of production:
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Technical Mastery: Exploring dynamic camera angles and crisp sound design.
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The Edit: Learning how to piece together a narrative in the cutting room.
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The Ensemble: Stepping into roles as actors and directors.
More Than Just Movies
While the students walked away with new technical skills, the real takeaway was the power of collaboration. Filmmaking is the ultimate ensemble effort. It was inspiring to watch our students communicate, compromise, and problem-solve together to bring their creative visions to life.
A massive thank you to our mentors—James, Gabe, Art, Trish, Beth, Tom, and Jonathan—for spending their weekend inspiring the next generation of storytellers. We can’t wait to see these films on the big screen!
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From Script to Screen: The Creative Process
The workshop moved at a breakneck, professional pace, pushing students to think like seasoned producers. The process began with ideation and storyboarding, where students learned that every great film starts with a blueprint. Under the guidance of James Kennedy and our mentors, they mapped out their narratives frame-by-frame, discovering how a single camera angle—like a dramatic low-angle shot to show power or a tight close-up to reveal emotion—can change an entire story.
Once the plans were set, the campus buzzed with “production fever.” Students rotated through specialized roles, gaining hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment. On the technical side, they tackled sound design, learning that what an audience hears is just as important as what they see. They practiced capturing “clean” audio and understood how ambient noise or a well-placed soundtrack can heighten the tension of a scene. They also picked clips of music and sound effects.
The final hurdle was the editing suite. Here, students saw the true power of post-production as they trimmed clips, adjusted pacing, and layered effects to polish their final cuts. This stage was a masterclass in “the art of the pivot,” as students realized that some of their best moments came from happy accidents on set that were reimagined during the edit. By the time the “Wrap” was called, every student had a deeper appreciation for the complex clockwork that goes into the movies they see on the big screen.
