Norup Students Hold Film Camp Fundraiser

A group of filmmakers gathered this week in Huntington Woods to shoot scenes in one of the neighborhood's lush back yards.

But, these were no ordinary filmmakers. They were participants in a film camp run by students Grace Stewart, 12, and Adena Collens, 13, who are raising money for a 2013 spring break trip to Costa Rica.

"I suggested to Grace – because she's always making movies – that she could charge a litte more than babysitting and do 'babysitter with a camera' and she said 'no, it should be a camp,' " mom Jane Stewart explained.

The camp is open to kids entering grades four, five and six with a limit of eight participants per session. The first session wraps up Friday, but another is scheduled July 23-27.

Campers will learn how to write a script, design costumes, storyboard their ideas, direct, edit and more.

"It's going so well it's almost frustrating because it's a struggle to get the kids out of my house," Grace Stewart said of the first camp session. "Most of my day camp experiences have not been fun or creative enough for me to feel like I fit in. So, I wanted something kids would enjoy."

The campers had the opportunity to map their films out on paper – known as storyboarding – before directing each scene, with special attention to camera angles and the actors' body language.

They practiced calling out "quiet on the set" and "action" as they took turns directing a scene in which they each got to throw a cream pie in Grace or Adena's face.

"It was fun because you just walk up and you're like, 'what do I do?' And you just slam the pie in their face," camper Nina Cascardo, 10, said. "They had fun and we had fun, but I feel bad because (Adena) got pie in her face."

A good-natured Adena reflected on how taking a pie to the face feels.

"The pie burns," she said after toweling off. "It stings. How could anything so good be so bad?"

When asked how she enjoyed the experience, Grace responded with "no me gusta," Spanish for "I don't like."

Those language skills will be put to use during the extracurricular trip to Costa Rica that was open to last year's sixth-, seventh- and eight-graders at Norup and will cost each student $1,800, Grace's mom said.

"There are kids out doing garage sales and mowing lawns and pulling weeds," to raise money for the trip, Jane Stewart said.

Representatives from Norup could not be reached for comment due to the 's summer break, Communications Supervisor Jessica Stilger said.

But, Jane Stewart said the trip will bring the school's international baccalaureate curriculum to life by providing a cultural, environmental and language experience for the students.

"It's a very safe country, so it's a good way to start off with international travel and understanding," she said.

"I'm just excited for everything," Grace Stewart said of the trip. "I love to travel. I love airplanes. My parents think I'm crazy. I just love going places. We're doing zip lining and white water rafting, which I'm super excited for."

That enthusiasm bubbles over into Grace's love of filmmaking.

"I've always loved YouTube videos and being on YouTube. I got my own YouTube channel and hid it from my mom," she said. "I edited videos and people thought it was done professionally by my mom because she used to be a producer (at advertising agency J. Walter Thompson)."

Grace – who uses professional software Final Cut Pro to edit her films – added that her dad makes commercials for marketing communications firm Campbell Ewald.

"I have a weird obsession with filming everything and then editing it all together. It's just a hobby of an attention-starved first child," explained Grace, who said her 10-year-old brother Duncan gets all the attention.

Perhaps having a little brother prepared her for running the summer film camp.

"The first thing you need to teach the kids is to quiet down," Grace said. "You can't teach camera angles when kids are jumping on the trampoline and screaming."

Movie-making camp

When: 1-3:30 p.m., July 23-July 27, with an optional movie premiere at 8 p.m. Aug. 3.

Why go: Learn how to create and edit movies. Everyone who participates in the movie premiere will receive a DVD of their film.

Cost: $85, which includes supplies, snacks and DVDs.

What else: Limited to kids entering grades four, five and six. Limit of eight participants, with two counselors per session. An adult will be on site daily.

Contact: E-mail jart41@mac.com to reserve a spot.