Introduction to Filmmaking (ages 12-14)
Summer School for Children and Young People
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Overview
This week long in-person summer school will introduce students to the basics of filmmaking. On this week long summer course, students will be set a series of film challenges, which will test both their practical and creative filmmaking skills. At the end of the week students will select a project(s) to edit, and can finish the course with a number of short films and scenes.
The film challenges will be used to explore different ways for filmmaker to tell stories, while also allowing the students hands on experience with all the equipment that is used when making a short film.
With each film challenge the students will have a few hours to devise and shoot the task, which will then be shared with the class, with the students receiving feedback on both their practical filmmaking techniques and their creative choices. These challenges may include things like:
- Creating a stop motion film – with their own built sets and characters
- Shooting a long, single take, tracking shot
- Creating a short film shot entirely in Point of View
- Explored how to create a ‘genre’ film
On the final session the students will be able to select a task(s) and edit the footage together. All footage that the students have worked on can be taken away and edited at home.
By the end of the course you will:
- Have worked collaboratively to create several short film projects
- Have had hands on experience of the professional filmmaking equipment used here at the RCS
- Have explored how to use filmmaking skills in a variety of different contexts
- Have access to all footage shot over the week
- Have edited a short scene
This course is open to anyone with a passion or interest in filmmaking, from those who have shot various experimental films at home on their phones, to those who attend film clubs, to those who have never picked up a camera before.
If you have any questions in advance of booking, please contact us at summerschools@rcs.ac.uk
You might also be interested in: Acting for Camera (ages 12-14)
The important details
Age:
12 - 14
Cost:
£275
Dates:
30 June - 4 July 2025
Time:
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
Venue:
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB
Course Information
There are no entry requirements for this course and no previous filmmaking experience is necessary.
Students should come to the course expecting to work hard, be challenged and enjoy contributing to the creative process.
If students would like to be able to take their footage away with them at the end of the final day, then a hard drive or pen drive that is Mac formatted should be brought in.
Finished films will sent out to students via a private Vimeo page and will be downloadable.
All course information will be sent via email approximately two weeks before the course start date.
This course runs Monday, 30 June – Friday, 4 July 2025, 10am – 4pm.
Duncan Sanders graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) with First Class Honours in Digital Film and Television. During his time at the Conservatoire he was lucky enough to meet and work with artists as diverse as Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park, Ghandi) James McAvoy (X-Men Days of Future Past, Atonement) and Seamus McGarvey (Avengers Assemble, Godzilla)
Since graduation, Duncan has worked as a workshop facilitator and film maker, collaborating with companies such as the Lyceum Theatre, Fresh Creations, Short Courses and the Junior Conservatoire of Film, where he has been a Filmmaking tutor and lecturer for the better part of ten years. Duncan also lecturers on both the Acting and Musical Theatre degree programmes at the RCS.
Since 2016 Duncan has held the post of Short Courses Coordinator, where he has been responsible for devising and delivering courses covering the practical, technical and theory side of film making. Duncan has also written several credit modules as part of Short Courses and the Junior Conservatoire film offering.
In 2021 Duncan attained a Masters in Education from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Summer Accommodation
We are pleased to welcome students from across the world to our Summer Schools. Our course fees do not include accommodation or food, and these should be organised by the student. Our campus is located in Glasgow city centre, and you can find the addresses below.
We recommend Base Glasgow, as purpose-built accommodation for Conservatoire students, with Rehearsal Rooms, Practice spaces and Dance Studios. Base Glasgow is perfectly suited for our summer school students; both safe and secure, with 24/7 staff presence and only 3 mins walk from our main Renfrew Street building, keeping travel costs to a minimum.
Classic En-Suite rooms come with a 3/4 bed, en-suite bathroom, ample storage, mirror, study desk and chair. The shared area includes a spacious lounge and kitchen area.
Please note that Short Courses staff are not affiliated with BASE or on site outwith the summer school teaching hours, and therefore cannot take responsibility for students outside of these hours.
For more information about booking accommodation at BASE Glasgow you can contact them directly via website BASE – Student Accommodation in Glasgow or email baseglasgow@herestudents.com.
Alternatively, there are plenty of hotels, hostels, and b’n’b options available. We are located close to transport links should you wish to stay outside the city centre. If you are travelling to Glasgow for a course, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers course fees, travel, accommodation, and cancellations due to COVID-19 – as RCS will not refund in this circumstance. You can view the Cancellations and Refund policy for full information.
For students under 18 years old, we strongly advise travelling with a responsible adult should any emergency situations arise during class. Students are only monitored by staff during class times.
Renfrew Street Campus: 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB
Wallace Studios Campus: 210 Garscube Road, Glasgow, G4 9RR
Further Information
We want to ensure as many children, young people and adult learners as possible can access the performing and production arts education that is offered through Short Courses at RCS. Financial support options available for Short Courses include:
Agnes Allan Bursary
Agnes Allan was a teacher, passionate about inclusion, and this bursary scheme exists to offer support to students to participate in the performing or production arts.
The Agnes Allan Bursary provides some support to students who may require financial assistance to take part in a short course in dance, drama, music, production or screen.
Anyone who wishes to take part in our Short Courses and faces a financial barrier can apply for bursary support to help meet the cost of tuition fees.
James McAvoy Drama Scholarships
BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy is committed to nurturing the creative potential of young Scots who experience barriers to access and participate in drama at RCS Short Courses.
James is a graduate of the BA Acting programme at RCS and Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama. The Glasgow-born actor has funded the new James McAvoy Drama Scholarships to enable young people to experience the world-class drama training at RCS as he did.
The scholarship aims to support applicants who would otherwise find meeting the cost of tuition fees at RCS a barrier to accessing pre-Higher Education drama training at the Royal Conservatoire.
You can find more information about these funds on our Financial Support page.
We run various promotional offers for our Short Courses and Summer Schools. You can view our current offers on our Promotional Offers page.
You should contact us at shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk to request your discount code before booking a course.
Please note, only one promotional offer can be applied per course and should be used at the time of booking as we are unable to apply a discounts retrospectively.
Please see our Short Course FAQs for more information about all aspects of choosing, booking and attending your course.
Please see our Short Courses – Terms and Conditions for more information about your contract with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Cancellation and Refund policies.
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Short Courses
shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk
Summer Schools
summerschools@rcs.ac.uk
Credit-Rated
credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk
Bursary and Scholarship
bursaryscholarship@rcs.ac.uk
