In the loop

Chicago kids hit film camp
As parents scramble to find summer activities to fill their kids' time, many youngsters find themselves staring down the barrel of papier-mache–filled afternoons. Some kids, however, will experience a new type of program, one that targets today's media-savvy youth.

Sponsored by the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, Young Chicago Critics is a ten-day intensive movie camp for children ages 7 to 14 that aims to teach kids to think about what they see onscreen—be it movies, TV or the Internet.

"Most adults realize that children are absorbing far too much audiovisual media far too uncritically, and they don't have any way to deal with that," says Nicole Dreiske, YCC program director. "The result is that children gain access to media that is sometimes far beyond their ability to comprehend."

Taught by filmmakers, critics and producers, the camp provides full exposure to all aspects of the moviemaking biz. "The first solution is empowerment, and we give kids the tools to evaluate what they're watching, and to decide whether those messages are appropriate and interesting and beneficial for them," Dreiske says. The second mandate of the program is to show kids that there's more to movies than what meets the eye: Talking and thinking about media are powerful tools, as well.

Starting Thursday 23, 100 students from the Chicago area will get a thorough introduction to the critical aspects of filmmaking and will then work in groups to write, direct and perform in their own movies at Facets Multimedia. Parents, friends and the public are invited to join the students for a graduation screening on July 2. As if having made your own movie by age 14 wasn't cool enough, graduates have the opportunity to be selected as members of the Chicago International Children's Film Festival jury, with an opportunity to visit the prestigious Giffoni International Children's Film Festival in Italy. Talk about a resume builder.

Although this year's camp is already full, the activities last year-round: The Facets Future Filmmakers club offers sneak movie previews for talented Chicago film buffs ages 2 to 13; the Chicago International Film Festival holds an annual Future Filmmakers Festival for teenagers; and a new organization called Fresh Films has scoured the nation for ten teens to join a professional crew and produce a short film. Online voting will determine the top movies, and the winning teams will be treated to a Hollywood premiere party. Not a bad way to spend summer vacation.—Joanna Topor

For details on Young Chicago Critics, visit www.cicff.org. See also Facets Future Filmmakers at www.facets.org, Chicago Future Filmmakers at www.chicagofilmfestival.com/futurefilmmakers and Fresh Films at www.bookofstories.com.