This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection.
Story by Cam Tracy
From July 27 to 31, Swampscott High School’s Media Arts Teacher JoE Douillette held his annual film and TV club summer program for students entering grades seven through nine. The camp introduces students to the equipment, technology, and creative processes used in digital media, giving them a head start if they plan to pursue media arts in high school.
Each year, Douillette and the student counselors decide whether the camp will focus on the art of digital filmmaking or the teamwork and coordination required to produce a live television broadcast. This year’s camp focused on digital filmmaking.
This year’s counseling staff consisted of future college sophomore and Swampscott High School alum Jamie DeFilippi as well as the high school’s rising senior Joseph Blood and rising juniors Zoë Bannister, Noah Wierl, and Camden Tracy.
Throughout the week, the eight campers were introduced to each major stage of the filmmaking process, with every day focusing on a different aspect of production.
Monday was dedicated to conceptualization and screenwriting, as students developed story ideas and learned the fundamentals of writing a screenplay.
On Tuesday, campers participated in cinematography and sound engineering workshops, where they learned how to operate professional cameras and microphones. They also began pre-production by creating storyboards, organizing equipment, and planning their shoots.
Wednesday marked the beginning of production, with students putting their ideas into action on set. Campers rotated through roles such as actors, camera operators, directors, and crew members while also taking part in a lighting workshop to better understand how lighting affects a scene.
Thursday shifted into post-production, as students moved into the editing room to assemble and refine the final versions of their films, adding the finishing touches before their premieres.
The camp concludes on Friday with a unique final project. Rather than simply screening the completed films, campers will produce and livestream the event on the Swampscott High School Media Arts YouTube channel.
Parents will attend as a live studio audience inside the school, where the films are scheduled to premiere at 12:30 p.m.
With guidance from Douillette and the student counselors, the campers will be responsible for preparing the livestream, operating the broadcast, and managing the set, giving them firsthand experience in both filmmaking and live television production.
