1. Art and Diseño

new york city
los angeles
vermont
2015 SUMMER CAMPS
dance
l
filmmaking
l
screenwriting
l
music
l
acting
l
photography
SOCAPA
2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Families,
Each year we receive wonderful letters from parents and students about the positive, even lifechanging experience they had with us during the summer. Sometimes the letter comes a few
years after they attended our programs - once they’ve started university - and they are reflecting
on that “moment” they realized what they wanted to do with their lives. These letters mean so
much to us. We share them with prospective families as best we can to shed a little insight about
our programs. But these are personal stories, right? How do we (and you) know that what we
are doing really hits the mark across the board?
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This spring we received a letter from the Director of Admissions at FSU, one of the top film
schools in the country. Of the 30 students they accepted into their program from 450 applicants,
three of them had attended SOCAPA. He thanked us for our work, which he had come to recognize over the previous 10 years of being involved in arts education at the university level. This
sparked an online survey which quickly confirmed that an overwhelming number of our alumni
are going on to attend the top visual and performing art schools in the nation - Yale School of
Drama, USC, NYU, RISD, SCAD, Parsons, UCLA, LMU, SVA, LMU, U of Arts, Emerson, the
list goes on - to pursue their dreams studying Film, Acting, Dance, Photography and Music. This
fall, for example, we had 21 alumni enter the freshman class at NYU and another 20 moved into
their sophomore year there. What a wonderful testament to the quality of our students, what they
accomplish and gain during their time with us, and the hard work and dedication of our staff.
As our students come into our programs with more experience, more curiosity and more ambition, we strive to provide them the most current and relevant experience in the arts possible.
While we continue to nurture thoughtful self-expression and create a safe and exciting place to
explore one’s artistic voice, we recognize that it is a competitive world out there and that young
people (and their parents!) want and need their summer experiences to work toward their college
acceptances.
Our three-week programs are very much designed with this in mind. Students in our three-week
programs are walking away prepared for their college applications. They have their portfolio
ready in order to showcase their work. They have reviewed and thought about what their art, and
their future in their art, means to them. They have had a vision and have followed through and
created something. They have presented their work to a group of peers. They have reflected.
All this while still having “the best summer” of their life, as they regularly write, and we observe. Who knew learning could be so fun?! When it’s what you want to do, where your heart
is, it isn’t work at all. It is just being.
We hope you will be with us this summer!
Jamie Yerkes, Founder and Director of Summer Programs
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY 10003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Faculty..............................Page 4
Campuses.........................Page 6
Filmmaking......................Page 8
Screenwriting...................Page 10
Cinematography...............Page 11
Music................................Page 12
Acting...............................Page 13
Photography.....................Page 14
Dance...............................Page 18
Schedule...........................Page 20
Supervision.......................Page 22
F.A.Q................................Page 23
Application Info...............Page 24
Tuition..............................Page 24
Housing & Meals.............Page 24
Dates.................................Page 25
Application.......................Page 26
The intensity of creative expression and artistic development on our campuses is testimony to the hard work
of the students and staff. But we’re only young once,
Founding Faculty
ABOUT
socapa.org
S
OCAPA was founded by a small collective of
New York artists in Greenwich Village in 2001
and has quickly become one of the premier visual and performing arts programs for young people in
the world. Our students travel from across the United
States and all corners of the globe to participate in our
Summer Intensives. Whether a novice or an advanced
student, each is dedicated to working hard and gaining
the most that they can for the length of the program.
Our teachers are leaders in their field and love teaching at SOCAPA. Many of our founding faculty are
with us today! They are dedicated to their craft and to
passing on their knowledge to the next generation of
artists. Our support staff care deeply about the safety,
education, and social experience of the students.
They work tirelessly to ensure that each student has
a rewarding experience at SOCAPA. This combined
effort allows for our students to have one of the most
fulfilling experiences of their lives.
right? So with all this hard work comes the best of
summer – a time for friendship and fun. With scheduled activities every night and on the weekends that
take advantage of the wonderful locations where we
host our programs, our students gain a sense of independence through adventure and new friends – truly a
perfect balance of hard work and play. Please join us
this summer!
Our founding faculty are still running their respective departments.
JAMIE YERKES (Film Program Director): MFA Film, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts
Has worked in the film industry as a cinematographer, an editor, and a writer/director. First
short film was an Official Sundance Selection in 1996 and has won awards at festivals worldwide. First feature, “Spin the Bottle,” was released by TLA Releasing in 2001. Taught for over
five years as a Professor of Film at Long Island University. Originally from Vermont.
MICHAEL KAPLAN (Acting Program Director): BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts
Also trained at Yale Drama School, American Conservatory Theatre, and UCLA. Multiple
stage credits in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Television credits include Seinfeld,
Saved By The Bell and Law & Order. Artist-in-Residence and Visiting Lecturer at Cornell
University from 2008 to 2011. Currently a Professor of Theatre Arts at Ithaca College.
AUSHI OSKARSDOTTIR (Dance Program Director ): BA, UC Berkeley
Studied and performed at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Assistant Director of Dance
Fusion Company. Faculty member of Jazz Dance Fest in Costa Rica. Taught at San Francisco
Dance Center, Stanford University and abroad. Has worked with Pixar, Santana, Deborah Cox,
MC Hammer, Macy’s, Apple, and Oracle, among others. Originally from Reykjavik, Iceland.
TOM LEGOFF (Photography Program Director): BFA, San Francisco Art Institute
Freelance portrait and event photographer in New York City. Photographs politicians, musicians,
actors and directors, including President Barack and Michelle Obama, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Robert Altman, Nick Nolte, Spike Lee, Diana Krall, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jean-Luc
Godard, Christina Ricci, and Ang Lee. Has photographs in the permanent collection of the
American Museum of Moving Images. Originally from Michigan. [tomlegoff.com]
BEN ARTHUR (Music Program Director): BFA, University of Virginia
Singer-songwriter who has released six albums. Performed on national television and the internationally syndicated radio program Acoustic Café. Has shared the stage with Dave Matthews, Tori
Amos, Bruce Hornsby, Shawn Colvin, Toots and the Maytals, and Sophie B. Hawkins. Featured
on NPR’s “Song of the Day” with On a Sunday. Hosts and co-produces the video series Dubway
Days. Originally from Virginia. [benarthur.com]
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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FACULTY
dance
Visit socapa.org for a full listing of faculty.
JAMILIA HALL (Hip-Hop & African: NYC & LA): BFA Dance, Long Island University
Salutatorian Class of 2004, LIU-C.W. Post. Credits include American Music Awards and
SYTYCD, Mase and Friends “Welcome Back” concert, Vissi Dance Theater, and The Underground
Dance Project. Appeared in videos of artists including Shakira, Joan Jett, J’zebehl and Elephant
Man, and toured the UK and USA with DecaDance Theatre. Originally from Miami, FL.
ANGELA CRAIN (Hip-Hop & Jazz: VT & NYC ): BFA, New York University
Toured throughout the US and Europe and has performed in NBA Allstars broadcast, commercials
for Macy’s and Nike, a Reebok industrial, music video for Sony music artist, and Jacob’s Pillow
dance festival. As a teaching artist, has worked with children and adults in community organizations, public schools, and private studios. Originally from New Orleans, LA.
ASHLEY RICH (Program Director, Los Angeles): Alvin Ailey School, New York City
Finalist on the eighth season of the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Taught at Juilliard
alongside the world renowned choreographer Milton Myers. Featured in several music videos
including Zion I’s “Geek to the Beat,” and John West’s “Loved You Tonight.” Founder/Director of
Rich Dance Project, a youth dance company based out of New York City.
MAIYSHA CADE (Hip-Hop & Jazz: VT & NYC): Boston Ballet School of Performing Arts
Teacher and choreographer with various NYC youth organizations such as Wingspan Arts and the
Possibility Project. Professional dancer represented by the BLOC Dance Agency. Performed commercially for NIKE, MTV, LG Electronics, and Ryan Leslie. Danced for Radio Disney, the Boston
Celtics and the hip-hop group, Phunk Phenomenon. Originally from Boston, MA.
photography
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SELENA SALFEN (Program Director, Vermont): MFA Photography, School of Visual Arts
Clients include Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, Macy’s, The Onion, Interscope Records and
Draft FCB. Selected for various exhibitions, including shows at the Camera Club of New York and
SOHO Photography Gallery. Taught photography at SUNY, Westchester Center for the Arts and the
International Center of Photography. Originally from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. [selenasalfen.com]
DAVID GARDINER GARCIA (D&D, NYC): MFA Photography, Long Island University
New York based photographer with an eye, talent and passion for sports and sports photography.
Currently staff photographer for New York Road Runners. Raced triathlons professionally and is
now an avid cyclist and swimmer. Originally from Costa Rica. [davidgardinerphoto.com]
JONATHAN LANTZ (Adv. Digital, NYC & Vermont): BA Photography, CPIT New Zealand
Jonathan went to photography school in New Zealand where he concentrated on outdoor lighting
and studio photography. Jonathan is now a freelance photographer based out of Brooklyn, NY. He
specializes in photographing character portraits that bring out the subject’s personality in a fun way.
In addition to teaching at SOCAPA, he has also taught college level photography. Originally from
Arkansas. [jlantzphoto.com]
filmmaking
NICK ORDWAY (Adv. Filmmaking, NYC): MFA Film, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Before entering the world of film, Nick studied literature and theatre at Princeton University and
taught English at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. His films have played at Lincoln Center. Assistant Director on the 2011 Academy Award-winning short “God of Love.” He is currently developing
a dark romantic comedy. Originally from Westport, CT.
JENNIFER GERBER (Writing & Directing, LA & NYC): MFA Film, Columbia University
Served as Senior Producer for Manning Productions and as Director/Writer/Editor for Sagebrush
Productions. Award Winning Director: Regional Finalist for the Student Academy Awards, Princess Grace Honorarium, two-time Columbia College Chicago Big Screen Finalist, and winner of
two Telly awards. Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas. [jengerber.com]
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY • 10003
SOCAPA 2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
JACOB OKADA (Program Director, Vermont): BFA Film, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
LA based writer, director, editor and cinematographer. His short film, “Curtis,” received an honorable mention at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Shot and co-produced the feature documentary, “Off and Running,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for a
2011 Emmy Award. Freelances as a film editor with credits for PBS and many emerging filmmakers. Taught film production at Long Island University. [jacobokada.com]
socapa.org
filmmaking (continued)
JAVIER LOARTE (Writing/Directing, NYC): MFA Film Candidate, Columbia University
Awarded with a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his MFA in Film Directing and Screenwriting
at Columbia University. His award-winning short films have been screened in more than 150 Film
Festivals and Contemporary Art Museums including Telluride Film Festival, Montreal World Film
Festival and Pompidou Centre in Paris. Originally from Madrid, Spain. [javierloarte.com]
acting
LINDSAY BEAMISH (Program Director, LA): MFA Dramatic Arts, UC Davis
Professional actress in Los Angeles and NYC for over twenty years. Recently in the film, “The
Greatest,” starring Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon, which premiered at Sundance. Other
credits include John Cameron Mitchell’s “Shortbus” (Premiere - Cannes Film Festival, Gotham
Award for Best Cast), “Forgetting the Girl,” CSI, Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under, “Jimmy and
Judy” (with Edward Furlong), and “Miranda July’s Nest of Tens.” Originally from LA, CA.
MARY BETH DICKERSON (Reels, NYC): MFA Film, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia
SOCAPA Graduate in 2003. Has background in screenwriting, filmmaking and acting. Her work
has taken her all over the globe to locations including Germany, Romania, Singapore, Cambodia, Nepal and Malaysia. Continues to study improv theater and sketch comedy writing through
the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center. Originally from Lakeland, FL.
CASEY MCCLELLAN (Technique, NYC & LA): MFA Acting, Ohio State
Award-winning actor, director, and theatre educator with an MFA from the Professional Actor
Training Program at Ohio State. Head of the Voice Department at New York City’s Professional
Performing Arts School, where he teaches acting and voice. His work has been seen at Joe’s Pub,
The Public Theater, the Cherry Lane Theatre, (le) Poisson Rouge, the Monomoy Theatre, Soho
Playhouse, and the Slipper Room, to name a few. [caseymcclellan.com]
ALEX FAST (Acting Technique, NYC): BFA Acting, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
SOCAPA Graduate in 2005. Also studied theater at the Atlantic Theater Company, the Experimental Theater Wing and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Co-founder of the Aggrocrag
theater company, a troupe focused on creating original, ensemble-based work. Originally from
Clarkesville, MD.
music
KELLEY MCRAE (Singer/Songwriter, NYC): BFA, Southern Methodist University
In the last two and a half years, Kelley has played over 300 shows coast-to-coast and traveled
over 75,000 miles in her VW van. Kelley’s brand of heartfelt Americana has found impressive
fans: Paste Magazine gave her four stars, and WNYC’s “Soundcheck” named her performance
one of the year’s best. Has performed at such venues as The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, The Red
Clay Theatre in Atlanta, and The Living Room in NYC. [kelleymcrae.com]
GRETA GERTLER (Songwriting, House Band, NYC): BA Music, University of Sydney
Pianist, singer & songwriter originally from Sydney, Australia, where she is a multi-platinumselling hit songwriter, having co-penned the hit, Blow Up the Pokies (performed by The Whitlams), which was cited as one of the country’s Top 20 Best Songs of All Time (The Australian).
Twice featured on NPR’s “Song of the Day.” Awarded an Australia Council for the Arts Grant to
tour in support of her album “Edible Restaurant.” [theuniversalthump.com]
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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CAMPUSES
NE W Y O RK C ITY
Pace & New York University Campuses
High School (ages 13-15) & Pre-College (ages 16-19)
S
OCAPA New York City is centered around two neighboring campuses, one in downtown Manhattan at our
Pace University campus in the South Street Seaport area, and the other in downtown Brooklyn at New York
University’s Metrotech Campus. Most classes are held in Manhattan at our 140 William Street Performing Arts
Center, a brand new, seven-story, 47,200 square-foot building dedicated solely to training in the performing arts.
The building houses studio classroom space, two black box performance spaces, four dance studios (including one
large performance hall), a soundstage, screening rooms, digital design labs, a music recording studio and other
multi-purpose training spaces.
Additional classes, screenings and final showcases are held at New York University’s Metrotech Campus or at
the nearby Kumble Performing Arts Center. Our Brooklyn facilities include the Pfizer Auditorium (300 seats), the
Kumble Theater (350 seats), dance studios, screening rooms, a black box theater, digital design labs, a photography studio, two photography darkrooms and our main cafeteria.
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SOCAPA New York City utilizes two residence halls: New York University’s Othmer Residence Hall on Metrotech Commons in downtown Brooklyn and Pace’s 182 Broadway Residence Hall in the heart of lower Manhattan. Pre-college students (ages 16-19) and Advanced students (ages 15-19) enrolled in three-week programs
during Sessions 3 & 4 or the one-week program during Session 5 live in the Manhattan dorms. All other students
live in New York University’s Othmer Residence Hall.
P a ce U ni ver s ity, 182 B ro adwa y Resid ence Ha ll:
SOCAPA’s Pace University campus is ideally located in the heart of downtown Manhattan, the thriving, artistic
and educational hub of the city. Our residence hall, classrooms, studios, theaters and cafeteria are all within a few
blocks of one another in the vibrant neighborhood between South Street Seaport, Wall Street, and Broadway. Students are walking distance to Pier 17, Battery Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Little Italy, Tribeca, and Soho.
The newly renovated residence hall, located at 182 Broadway, features two bedroom suites which house six students, three per room. Rooms are furnished with extra-long twin beds, desks, dressers, and a mini-fridge. Amenities include broadband WiFi and central air conditioning. B
Ne w Yo r k U n iv er s ity, O th m er Resid ence Ha ll:
SOCAPA’s New York University campus is located at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge on Metrotech Commons in
downtown Brooklyn. Students stay in NYU’s modern Othmer Residence Hall and eat most of their meals at the
campus cafeteria. Depending on their program and assigned class section, students may have class in Manhattan at our 140 William Street Performing Arts Center, the nearby Kumble Performing Arts Center, or right on the
NYU Campus. Students are walking distance from the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Heights and the Promenade, and a short subway ride to Washington Square Park, Times Square, the Theater District, Central Park, Bleecker Street, and one of the most diverse concentrations of cafés, restaurants, and artistic
venues anywhere in the world.
The modern residence hall features two bedroom suites which house four students, two per room. Each suite has a
private bathroom, shower and sink. Amenities include rooms that are fully wired for laptops, broadband WiFi, and
central air conditioning. The dormitory also has study rooms, student lounges with TVs, a computer room with
internet access, 24-hour security, laundry facilities, and great views of Manhattan.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY • 10003
SOCAPA 2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
Occidental Colleg e
S
OCAPA’s Summer Programs in Los Angeles are hosted
at Occidental College, one of the oldest and most beautiful college campuses in the West. Situated across Griffith
Park from Studio City and Universal Studios Hollywood,
Occidental’s Eagle Rock neighborhood has a cozy, suburban feel while being close to all the action. “A small town
in the big city, Eagle Rock is a multicultural neighborhood
with upscale restaurants, coffee shops, and art galleries.”
(LA Times)
socapa.org
L O S A N G E L E S , C A High School (ages 13-15) & Pre-College (ages 16-18)
Students in the Los Angeles program enjoy the advantages of being in the heart of the filmmaking capital of the
world. Chosen as home base by the film industry because of its nonstop sunshine and beautiful scenery, Hollywood
has become synonymous with entertainment. Not only is Los Angeles the center of the world’s film industry, but it
also plays a central role in television, dance, music, fashion and art. Trips are planned to the Walk of Fame, Universal Studios (one of the most renowned Hollywood studios), the pier, boardwalk and amusement park in Santa
Monica and Venice Beach. Visiting filmmakers and actors from the industry drop by at least once per session to
screen and talk about their work.
Students in the overnight program stay in the Oxy dormitories and partake in the “all you care to eat” meal plan. The
residence hall is a traditional dormitory with shared bathrooms, and is equipped with high-speed internet, air-conditioning, laundry facilities, and a computer lab. Students congregate in the common area and live on single-sex floors,
each supervised by Resident Assistants.
BU R L I N G TO N , VT High School (ages 13-15), Pre-College (ages 16-17)
Champlain College
P
erched in Burlington’s historic Hill Section, SOCAPA’s Vermont Programs are hosted at Champlain College,
overlooking the breathtaking Lake Champlain and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains. A short walk down
the hill and students are immersed in a vibrant arts scene: the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the lively
Church Street Marketplace, lined with shops, art galleries, sidewalk cafes, coffeehouses, ethnic eateries, street performers and an indoor mall for rainy days. A little further down the hill is the waterfront’s Battery Park which hosts
weekly outdoor rock concerts, and North Beach, which is perfect for swimming, kayaking and sunbathing.
The classroom and tech facilities at Champlain College are among the best we’ve seen in the nation. Facilities include two 30-station Mac Pro Editing labs loaded with Adobe and Apple Pro software, state-of-the-art photography
facilities including a large gang darkroom with twelve enlargers, a beautiful sprung floor dance studio, and the 200
seat Alumni Auditorium for movie nights, meetings and the final showcase. Students in the overnight program stay
in the Champlain College residence houses – restored Victorian-era mansions with large wraparound porches and
hi-speed wireless internet. Residential students eat most of their meals in the campus dining hall, but weekly outdoor barbecues and dinners-on-the-town are planned as well. The Student Life Center houses a gymnasium, a fitness
center and a student lounge with a fireplace, game room and big-screen TV.
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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FILMMAKING
New York City • Los Angeles • Vermont
S
OCAPA mixes the best of elite film programs and exciting summer camps. Nowhere else will you find this
level of filmmaking intensity combined with this much fun. Each SOCAPA student writes, directs and edits his/
her own films (one per week of attendance in our introductory programs; two additional films in our three-week
advanced programs). In addition, each student experiences the roles of sound technician, assistant camera, and
cinematographer while crewing on the films of classmates.
F I L M M A K IN G C U RRIC UL U M & S C H E D UL E
Films: 1) The Lumière, 2) The Porter, 3) The Kubrick
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The first two days of the week are spent learning the fundamentals of filmmaking with separate classes in screenwriting, directing technique, producing, cinematography and sound recording. By midweek, students are “in
production” making their first films in small crews of three to four filmmakers along with several actors from the
Acting Program. Each crew is supervised by an accomplished production instructor who helps guide the director and crew to ensure a safe and successful day of shooting. Once the films are “in the can,” the week ends with
post-production classes in editing and sound design. Students edit their films and are critiqued in class by their instructors. That night, all the movies are screened in the theater at the weekly Friday night showcase for the entire
camp. EQUIPMENT
SOCAPA offers the immediate opportunity to learn the most recent digital technologies. Students shoot using
state-of-the-art 24P High Definition video cameras with synchronous sound. All students edit on Premiere Pro or
Final Cut Pro non-linear, digital computer systems. This lets them create an elaborate multi-track sound design for
each of their films, incorporating music, voice-over, sound effects and dialogue. LEARN FROM THE PROS
In addition to the daily morning directing classes and the afternoon specialty classes, SOCAPA film students have
master classes with visiting lecturers from the New York or Hollywood film world. Accomplished industry professionals give lectures on Producing, Acting for Film & TV, Cinematography, and Directing.
Film Festivals and agents like short films to be just that - short. Festivals, which like to showcase as much talent as possible,
prefer shorter films because they can program more of them into a given time slot, thus exposing their audiences to more stories by more filmmakers. Agents like shorter films because they can watch more of them in a given day and thus expose themselves to more talent per second than by watching longer films. Agents would even prefer two good eight-minute films by the
same director than one good twenty-minute film because in two separate films, a director can show a broader range of styles.
Thus, it is our steadfast belief that our students should keep their films under ten minutes in length. The idea is this: if you
can show that you can write creatively, cover scenes visually, and elicit strong performances from actors in an eight-minute
short film, then you can do it in a twenty-minute film or even a feature-length film. Short films are more economical to make
and are more likely to be watched by agents, festival programmers, and even your friends and family.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY 10003
SOCAPA 2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
socapa.org
ADVA N C E D F I L MMA K ING
Films: 4) The Hitchcock, 5) The Kurosawa
SOCAPA’s Advanced Filmmaking intensive is geared towards students with prior narrative film or video experience. The programs
are competitive and require applicants to submit at least one completed film or video project and a short film treatment (story idea)
for review during our selection process. Students accepted into
the Advanced Filmmaking intensive will focus on making longer,
more polished films that they can afterwards submit to agents and
film festivals worldwide.
CURRICULUM
Students in this three-week intensive (offered in New York Sessions 3 and 4, LA Session 2, and Vermont Session
1 only) write, direct and edit two 4-6 minute films in the three-week program, as well as crew for their classmates.
In addition to advanced classes in directing, cinematography, sound, and digital editing, a strong emphasis will be
placed on workshopping story ideas and scripts in writing class and working with actors in directing class. Students
will receive extensive one-on-one advisements from our seasoned staff of instructors/filmmakers – all of whom
have experience at festivals and with agents.
ADVA N C E D P R O JE C TS [Ver mont Only]
Film: 6) The Herzog
Advanced Film Students use High Definition
24P Tapeless Digital Cameras!
You’ve asked for it! Our Advanced Projects program has been designed for our dedicated alumni who have taken
our two and three-week filmmaking intensives as well as our three-week Advanced Filmmaking intensive and who
still want more. Students in the Advanced Projects intensive have a strong foundation in narrative filmmaking –
having previously written, directed and produced more than three films of their own. They have edited extensively
with Final Cut Pro, have made films using the double system (recording image and sound separately), and have
synced their own sound. Students who have not taken our programs but who have this experience are welcome and
encouraged to apply!
CURRICULUM
With a focus on advanced writing and producing, the Advanced Projects program instructors work with a small
group of students to guide their filmmaking ambitions to reality. Lessons in advanced directing technique and
advanced producing are the cornerstone of the course, but many of the lessons and guest speakers will be chosen
according to the students’ project ideas and expressed learning goals. Sculpted after the Senior Thesis courses at
leading collegiate film schools, the Advanced Projects program serves as a bridge between studying filmmaking
and being an independent filmmaker.
Final Project: The Advanced Projects intensive provides our advanced students with the opportunity to develop a
longer independent project with the guidance of our knowledgeable and accomplished instructors. Supported by
their crew, students will take their film concept from paper to screen, with advanced opportunities to cast professional
actors and to secure locations and props for their films. After the production phase, students will have ample time to
edit, shoot more, re-work, and build their film before the final showcase. Visit
socapa.org for full descriptions of individual film projects.
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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SCREENWRITING
New York City Only
S
OCAPA offers one, two and three week intensives in screenwriting at our New York City campus. Students
will have the option of developing two short screenplays (4-8 pages each), one longer screenplay (10-12
pages), or the first act of a feature-length screenplay. The course is designed to serve as a precursor to our filmmaking workshops, though students certainly may take only the screenwriting intensive. Students may choose to
produce and direct the screenplays that they write in this course during a SOCAPA filmmaking session later in
the summer or the following year.
“A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end... but not necessarily in that order.”
-Jean-Luc Godard
SCR E E N W RIT IN G C U RRIC UL UM
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In the mornings, students have their main writing theory class. Through a close analysis of award-winning shorts
and clips from feature films, students break down the key ingredients of a successful screenplay. A strong emphasis is placed on the classic Hollywood three-act structure and the rules of visual storytelling which, once
mastered, are of course meant to be broken. Topics include idea and theme generation, character development/
analysis, producibility, proper formatting, screenwriting software, genre study and marketing strategies.
After lunch, students have supervised writing lab and one-on-one writing advisements. Successful screenwriting
is rewriting – writing lab is when SOCAPA screenwriting students buckle down and make their ideas come to
life on the page. At the end of each lab, students come together again for their “writers colony workshop.” They
pitch their ideas, do script readings, critique each other’s work and solve narrative problems with the help of their
instructor and their classmates. This creative workshop is invaluable – students learn from one another and form
a community of young artists who support each other while nurturing collaborative friendships that continue long
after the summer comes to an end.
SHO RT V E RS U S F E AT U RE - L EN GTH S C RE EN PL AYS
There is a tendency among many of our students to want to write a feature-length script right out of the gate. This
is only natural because feature-length films are what they know. Movie theaters and film channels show featurelength movies (generally considered any film over eighty minutes in length) almost exclusively. But in the film
industry, the short film remains an essential career-building tool. It serves as a calling card, showcasing the talent
of the writer/director and garnering the attention necessary to break into the business. Feature films cost, on average, in the multi-millions to make, whereas a short film can be done on a shoestring budget.
SOCAPA encourages our screenwriting students to set realistic goals by not putting the cart in front of the horse.
All the great novelists and feature film directors started out by working in the short story format. SOCAPA
strongly believes that our students should first experiment with and master the short film before moving on to feature-length screenplays. That said, if a student is intent on an idea for a feature, the course will help them develop
a full-length story treatment and the first act of a screenplay.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY 10003
CINEMATOGRAPHY
socapa.org
New York City Only
F
rom working with the latest DSLR’s, to shooting RAW on the Black Magic, or capturing footage at 4K on the
Red Epic, the SOCAPA Cinematography Intensive puts professional tools in the hands of student filmmakers!
Digital cinematography is the new standard for Hollywood blockbusters. Movies like Avatar, Oh Brother Where
Art Thou?, and The Hobbit have paved the way for a new breed of cinematographers and camera assistants. These
professionals - trained in menus, codex, external recorders, monitors, and waveforms - mix digital technology with
the classic techniques of focus pulling, exposure, and aesthetics.
SOCAPA’s Cinematography Intensive focuses on instilling advanced camera and lighting techniques, while enabling students to build a diverse and compelling cinematography reel. A reel is a selection of the best moments of
a cinematographer’s portfolio edited together in a compelling way that showcases their ability to compose shots and
direct lighting in a diverse set of circumstances. No cinematographer is complete without a cinematography reel.
CINE M ATO GR A P H Y C U RRIC UL U M
In class exercises, taught by professional cinematographers, are the cornerstone of building artistic and technical skills in the Cinematography Intensive. The first week of the program will be comprised of morning classes in
aesthetics, continuity, and lighting theory - the foundations of a cinematographer’s vision. Each afternoon, students
will complete hands-on exercises using advanced camera and lighting equipment. Students will learn how to operate the elements of a professional camera package, pull focus, execute complex camera moves, and design compelling lighting patterns to achieve a particular look or feel.
In the second and third week, students are encouraged to employ their artistic and technical skills on real shoots
with their peers. From Dance Videos to Acting Reels to Music Videos, students in the Cinematography Program
will have the opportunity to develop a diverse portfolio of work as a real cinematographer. Students will continue to
meet regularly to discuss experiences and expand upon the theory and technique learned during the first week. The
program culminates in learning post-production RAW workflow, color grading, and reel creation.
P R O J E CT S & Y O UR RE E L
At the end of the three weeks, in addition to developing a
large professional network comprised of peers and instructors,
students will walk away from the program with a portfolio of
completed media on their hard drive and a cinematography reel
hosted on SOCAPA’s online portfolio page so that students can
immediately show their work to colleges, potential clients and
directors.
THIS COURSE IS GOOD FOR:
Return SOCAPA students who have completed our three-week
film program(s) and/or students with extensive technical filmmaking experience. Sample work is required for students who
have not taken previous SOCAPA courses.
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MUSIC
New York City • Los Angeles
S
OCAPA’s Music Program provides development in music performance through the Singer/Songwriter intensives with the vocalist or house band option. Students experience playing at the professional level, from
song conception - writing and workshopping the lyrics and music - to music video production and everything in
between. Students write/arrange, perform, and record their own music. Studio writing and playing time is complemented by experiencing live performances, meeting accomplished musicians, and more, all in the heart of New
York City or Los Angeles, home to Beck, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Eagles, No Doubt, the Black Eyed Peas,
Tom Waits, Weezer, the Beach Boys, Van Halen . . . the list goes on and on.
M U SI C C U RRIC UL U M
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Students in the Music Program take classes in music history, theory, business, and recording in the morning. In the afternoon, they receive private and group instruction, as well as
attend master classes and workshops in a variety of topics such as: improvisation, starting
your band, stage presence, and more. Attendees write/arrange at least one song per week
of attendance and record at least one originally written/arranged song during the program.
Students in the three-week program will also shoot a music video for one of their songs and
have a studio headshot session with the Photography Program. Field trips to see live music
and local hallmarks of the music industry are planned as well.
SINGER/SONGWRITER INTENSIVE
The Singer/Songwriter Intensive provides development in the discipline of popular music.
Instruction consists of group workshops and individual coaching in melody, harmony, arranging, lyric writing, and stage presence. Each Singer/Songwriter works to refine at least
one original song per week of attendance and chooses one to record during a two week
program and two to record during the three week program. Each student will have the opportunity to record a song in a state-of-the-art studio and will gain experience using industry standard recording software (Logic, Pro Tools). In addition, students in the three week
program will also perform for the filming of a music video in collaboration with the Film
Program.
VOCALIST or HOUSE BAND OPTION
While most students sing and accompany themselves on their original songs, students who do not play an instrument or who do not sing but who are interested in writing song lyrics and music can apply. All students in the
music program will attend the same classes and produce the same outcomes (recordings, videos, etc). However,
the singers will not only write their own original songs, but also perform with other students in the class as appropriate. Likewise, students who would like to focus on playing and not singing can apply and become part of
the House Band, which will play with the other students on their original songs during recording sessions and live
performances. The House Band collaborates individually with the many singer/songwriters to refine, record and
perform several original songs. Band members gain experience arranging and performing in different genres of
music. House Band students join the Singer/Songwriters for most classes and spend each day songwriting /arranging and rehearsing. House Band students will also gain experience recording in a professional studio as a “session
musician.” Session dates are limited depending on enrollment and needed instrumentation.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY • 10003
Visit socapa.org/musiccamps
for more on SOCAPA Music
ACTING
socapa.org
New York City • Los Angeles • Vermont
S
OCAPA’s Acting Program is closely tied to our Filmmaking Programs. When the filmmaking students go out
to make their assigned films each week, they utilize the talent in the Acting Program. This provides our acting
students with immediate on-camera experience and allows them to walk away from the program with an online
portfolio of films in which they have performed. Our filmmaking students are shooting on state-of-the-art highdefinition cameras with sync-sound and are cutting on nonlinear digital systems, so your reel will look slick and
professional!
“I have to act to live.”
— Sir Lawrence Olivier
A CT I NG CU R RIC U L U M
Classes are designed to prepare our students for being on camera as quickly as possible. Many acting schools will
spend weeks, months, even years on theater games and exercises before they give their students actual scenes to
work on. At SOCAPA, we instead choose to prepare you immediately for the films you will be performing in during the program and the auditions you will be going to once you graduate. Casting directors will give you scenes
at auditions and filmmakers will give you scenes in their films; our focus, then, is on scene preparation. This is not
to say that we will not teach you exercises and tools to draw upon, but rather that these exercises and tools will
always be taught within the context of preparing for a scene. Please visit our website to learn about our Advanced
Acting intensives offered in New York City.
T EC HNI Q U E
SOCAPA embraces two major, closely-related Acting Techniques which we use to help our students “live truthfully” under imaginary circumstances: the Meisner technique, which involves fully immersing oneself in the moment
of a character and experiencing all sensations as the character would, and the Method technique, in which one uses
their own experiences as springboards into the emotional life of the character.
T H R E E - WE E K CU LMINATION SC E NE & PORT F OLIO
In addition to performing in the many student films, each three-week SOCAPA acting student will be directed
by one of their instructors in a scene of their choosing. This culmination scene will be professionally filmed and
edited by a SOCAPA directing instructor and will be shown at the Showcase Festival at the end of the three-week
program. The culmination scenes will be uploaded to each actor’s portfolio web page along with the many student
films. In this way, each acting student will leave the program with an online portfolio featuring their headshot, a
short bio and a showcase of all their summer work.
M O NO L O G U E S & H E A DSH OTS
An actor without a monologue is like a photographer without a camera or a dancer without feet. At auditions,
casting directors will often ask actors to perform a monologue of the actor’s choosing. A prepared actor will have
an arsenal to choose from. With this in mind, SOCAPA has each acting student select a monologue from our
library of favorites. Monologues are memorized, rehearsed and are performed live during the second week of
the program. In addition, acting students in our two and three week programs are scheduled a block of time in the
studio to have their headshots done by the Photography Program (see samples on pages 15 & 17).
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
13
PHOTOGRAPHY
New York City • Los Angeles • Vermont
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OCAPA offers one, two and three-week summer programs in traditional 35mm darkroom and/or digital photography with a strong emphasis on aesthetics and portfolio development. Students take classes in studio and portrait photography, photojournalism, documentary, fine art photography, Photoshop, Lightroom, and web publishing.
When applying to the program, students must choose one of our three intensive workshops: our Digital Photography
Workshop, our 35mm Darkroom & Digital Photography Workshop, or our Advanced Photography Workshop. In
addition to creating their own web portfolios, students in our three-week programs leave with a professionally bound
portfolio of 8x10 prints, perfect for college admissions and job interviews, or to share with friends and family.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY INTENSIVE, “The Art of Faces & Places”
Beginner to Intermediate: Offered at all of our campuses
SOCAPA’s Digital Photography Programs focus on digital SLR cameras, Photoshop and Lightroom. Students are introduced to an array of digital photographic techniques used in the studio, on location and in post-production. The “Faces”
component of the program emphasizes the art of capturing the human condition on camera. Students learn what makes a
good photograph by studying the aesthetics of master photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Sally Mann, Walker Evans,
Diane Arbus and Robert Frank. Students learn the fundamentals of composition and natural lighting as well as studio portrait
techniques.
The “Places” component of the program reminds students to never forget where they are. Photography, even in the studio,
does not take place in a vacuum. New York City, Los Angeles, and the diverse landscapes of Vermont offer a wealth of
photographic opportunities as well as some of the world’s most exciting collections of visual art. Field trips are planned on
an almost-daily basis. Students spend more time at the parks, boardwalks, streets and museums, learning and practicing pho-
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY 10003
socapa.org
— Sample Actor Headshots taken by SOCAPA Photography Students
tographic techniques than they do in the traditional classroom. Formal classes in the history of photography, aesthetics, photo
theory, Photoshop and studio lighting complement the work they do out in the field. In a final class on web design and publishing, students learn to create an online portfolio of their summer work, which is posted on the SOCAPA server.
THIS COURSE IS GOOD FOR: Students without a lot of formal training who are more interested in photographing the sights
of the city and exploring the museums than they are in learning traditional 35mm darkroom photography. Students should be
passionate about the arts in general and photography specifically and should adore walking and seeing.
35MM DARKROOM & DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY INTENSIVE, “D&D Art Workshop”
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate: Offered in New York City & Burlington, VT
SOCAPA’s “D&D Art Workshops” in New York City and Vermont expose students to both 35mm black & white darkroom photography and color digital photography. Students learn to shoot and develop 35mm film and spend an average of ten hours per week in our gang teaching darkrooms (2 darkrooms with 12 enlargers each). Students also learn
color digital photography, and on most photo safaris (city excursions to Coney Island, East Village, Times Square, etc.)
students will shoot with two different cameras, capturing a mix of both 35mm black & white negative film and color
digital files. Students also learn Photoshop/Lightroom editing techniques and portrait studio photography using strobes,
flashes and seamlesses. During the final week, students are introduced to web publishing and learn to create an online
portfolio of their summer work, which is posted on the SOCAPA server at the end of the program.
Our “D&D Art Workshops” move at a faster pace and are technically more intense than our Digital Only “Art of Faces
— Sample Movie Posters of student films designed by SOCAPA Photography Students featuring SOCAPA Actors. That’s collaboration!
15
and Places” workshops. It is recommended that incoming students have basic photography experience and an understanding of key concepts and terms like depth of field, aperture, shutter speed and f-stops. That said, SOCAPA will
accept beginning students with a passion to learn darkroom photography into the program with an understanding that
the student will read at least one book on basic photography before the program starts, hence the “Advanced Beginner” label. Most introductory photography books are more than adequate but for those seeking a recommendation, we
suggest the aptly named “Basic Book of Photography” by Tom and Michele Grimm.
THIS COURSE IS GOOD FOR: Students who have basic photography experience and are passionate about learning
traditional 35mm film and darkroom techniques in addition to emerging digital technologies.
“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.”
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— Diane Arbus
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY INTENSIVES
Advanced Level: Offered in Vermont (ages 14-18) & New York City (ages 15-19)
SOCAPA’s Advanced Photography Workshops in New York City and Vermont are for our return photography students
and students who have extensive experience with digital and traditional 35mm black and white darkroom photography. Advanced Photography students will have the opportunity to work in medium format and will learn to edit their
images in Photoshop and Lightroom using advanced compositing and selection techniques. Terms and tools, such as
Quick Mask, transform, blending modes and actions will become part of the students’ Photoshop vocabulary. A strong
emphasis will be placed on portfolio development, and each student will be encouraged to create a body of work that
showcases his or her own unique, creative vision through thematic and stylistic choices.
SOCAPA 2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
Advanced Photography students leave the program with a professionally
bound portfolio of 8x10 prints, perfect for college admissions and job interviews, or to share with friends and family.
socapa.org
In addition to learning all the digital techniques listed above, students in the
Advanced Photography intensive will further their knowledge of black and
white developing and printing, refining their abilities to correctly expose film
and make portfolio-quality prints. Students will learn advanced techniques,
such as push-processing and split-filter printing, and will build an understanding of what darkroom chemicals do and how to correctly use them to
create archival prints.
THIS COURSE IS GOOD FOR: Return SOCAPA Photography students
who have intermediate digital and darkroom photography experience and are
passionate about advancing their knowledge of traditional 35mm film and
darkroom techniques in addition to emerging digital technologies.
— A few faces of SOCAPA photographed by students in the Photography program.
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PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
DANCE
New York City • Los Angeles • Vermont
S
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OCAPA’s Summer Dance Program is a Contemporary Jazz and HipHop intensive that also features specialty classes in Breakdancing,
African, Musical Theater, and more. Classes are geared towards learning
cutting-edge choreography at an accelerated pace in preparation for professional-quality dance videos shot by
SOCAPA staff. Students also work in small groups to create their own routines that are featured in a live theater
performance. There is a placement and assessment class on the first day of the session; students are evaluated by
the SOCAPA Dance faculty and assigned to a group based on skill, performance, enrollment, and the dancer’s
preferred focus (Contemporary Jazz or Hip-Hop). While all classes are taught at their respective level, instructors
work hard to cater to each student’s individual needs. There are no auditions required prior to arrival at SOCAPA,
so it is imperative that dancers understand what is expected of them at the time of enrollment.
D A NCE C U RRIC UL U M
Technique is taught through the development of the choreography to be performed for the dance video. Students in
the one and two-week sessions master one dance piece for their video shoot and perform for a live audience at the
end of the program. Three-week students have the opportunity to do a second video with a smaller group, ensuring
more camera time for each dancer and featuring their names in the credits (great for auditions and reels). Students
who are interested in the artistic process have the opportunity to become involved in choreography and costuming.
Three-weekers also have an additional live performance for friends and family on the last day of the third week.
Although most classes are geared towards learning choreography for the videos and live performances, others
concentrate on improving technique, body conditioning, and improvisation, as well as
developing style, stage presence, and confidence. In addition to regularly scheduled
classes, there are special guest instructors, make-up and costuming sessions, audition
and theater etiquette classes and dance-related field trips. In addition, three-week dancers are scheduled a headshot session with SOCAPA Photography students.
To round out the curriculum and provide students with a creative outlet, SOCAPA
Dance students are assigned a choreography project and work in small groups to
prepare a short, original piece. There is allotted time to work on the project outside of
class and faculty guidance when needed. Dancers perform the class choreography, as
well as their original work, on stage for a live audience in conjunction with the Acting
Program’s scene presentations. In this way, students gain invaluable experience in both
commercial and concert styles of dance and performance.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY 10003
socapa.org
EXP E R I E NCE A N D LE V E L S
— SOCAPA Dancers on location for a video shoot.
SOCAPA offers Intermediate to Advanced dance intensives for teens. All applicants should have at least two to
three years of consistent training. Students should dance a minimum of three hours per week and ideally have
experience in a variety of disciplines. Students should be familiar with basic dance terminology, be able to demonstrate Jazz technique and/or be comfortable with fundamental Hip-Hop movement principles such as isolations and
groove. Most importantly, students should be eager and prepared to dance between 5-6 hours a day and be open to
learning new styles while pushing themselves physically and mentally.
In the Registration Details section of your online application, you will be asked which style you prefer to have more
classes in: Hip-Hop, Contemporary Jazz, or Both Equally. All students receive instruction in both styles but will focus on one style for the class choreography piece(s) to be filmed. Which style this will be depends on a number of
factors such as enrollment, student experience/level, and indicated preference. We cannot pre-determine the levels
of our students, nor can students register for a specific level. Grouping of students is determined on the first day of
the program. Students are encouraged to state their preferred style when they enroll, and we will do our best to accommodate your preference. Classes are taught to the highest level in the class, while each student is supported and
challenged. Our seasoned staff are adept at creating choreography that will showcase each student’s abilities while
challenging the group as a whole.
SCH E D U L E
SOCAPA’s summer intensives are just that – intense. Students are in class from 9am until 4:30pm, with some
additional evening workshops and rehearsal time. The assessment class on the first day of the program includes a
thorough warm up, across-the-floor progressions focusing on technique, and short Jazz and Hip-Hop combinations
performed in small groups. Students are then divided into their respective levels and groups, depending on enrollment, for the remainder of the session. Morning classes focus on technique and learning the choreography for that
week’s project. In addition to more choreography, afternoon classes are also reserved for guest artists, specialty
classes and student choreography. Each evening, there is an organized activity, such as a live dance performance,
the SOCAPA talent show, movie night, city exploration, and more.
For the aspiring young dancer, SOCAPA is by far the best choice! We’ve had former students go on to study dance
at prestigious universities, perform on Broadway, appear in professional music videos, and tour with major artists.
SOCAPA offers small classes and an accomplished teaching staff comprised of industry professionals with recent
and ongoing experience as performers, educators and choreographers.
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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GENERAL SCHEDULE
S
tudents arrive at SOCAPA on the opening Sunday of the
session. (See Travel to Camp on our website and page 27
for more details.) After registration and unpacking, students
have dinner and their first program meetings, meet for orientation, and get settled in the dormitories. Day students should
plan to attend from 4-8pm for registration and orientation.
SOCAPA students are in class, rehearsals, production labs and
on film shoots and field trips Monday through Friday from 9am
until 5pm. At the end of each week, the whole camp convenes
for the Friday night showcase, where they see their work and
that of their peers from the week. The collaborative and supportive creative environment is one to marvel!
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
SOCAPA offers an array of evening and weekend activities,
which both provides an opportunity for students to enjoy their
host city and allows for student friendships to develop. In addition, many of these activities support the students’ learning in
their discipline. Whether it be a barbecue on campus, dinner on
the town, a cool-off swim, a theater/musical performance, a film
screening, or the super fun non-talent show, students get the
best of the city and have fun with their friends. See our site for
examples of campus-specific activities that we’ve enjoyed.
MASTER CLASSES
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At least once per session, SOCAPA invites an industry professional from the New York or Hollywood film or performing
arts scene to come to campus and lead a master class for all
students, regardless of focus. Some past guests include Academy Award winning actress, Melissa Leo (“The Fighter,”
“Frozen River”), the Blue Man Group, the cast of “Fuerza
Bruta,” producers Dan Janvey and Matt Parker (“Beasts of the
Southern Wild”), Writer/Director John Hamburg (“I Love You
Man,” “Along Came Polly,” “Zoolander,” “Meet the Fockers”),
filmmaker Lee Hirsch (“Bully”), actor Luis Guzman (“Traffic,” “Boogie Nights,” “Anger Management”), actor Brendan
Sexton III (“Empire Records,” “Welcome to the Dollhouse”),
filmmaker Peter Sollett (“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,”
“Raising Victor Vargas”), screenwriter Andrew Marlowe (“Air
Force One,” “End of Days,” “Hollow Man”), director Morgan
J. Freeman (“Hurricane Streets”), comedian Matt Walsh (“The
Daily Show,” “Bad Santa,” Upright Citizens Brigade), and the
cast of “Hair” and “Spring Awakening” on Broadway.
SHOWCASE FESTIVAL
On the final Friday afternoon of the session, SOCAPA holds its
“Showcase Festival” followed by a reception for friends and
family. All the acting reels, photography slideshows, dance
videos and student films are shown on the giant silver screen. In
addition to the projected work, there are live dance and music
performances, actor scenes, and a photography exhibit. We
encourage you to invite your fellow collaborators, friends and
family.
Filmmaker Andrew Jenks (MTV’s “World of Jenks,” “It’s About a
Girl” “Andrew Jenks, Room 335”) after a SOCAPA Master Class.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY • 10003
SOCAPA 2015 SUMMER INTENSIVES
SUNDAY
1-4p: Students arrive on campus
4-8p: Dinner and program meetings orientation, including campus tour
MONDAY
7:45a: All: Breakfast
8:45a: All: Meet for attendance in lobby; walk to class with staff
9a-12p: Film: Filmmaking #1
Acting: Technique #1
Photo: History of Photography
Dance: Placement/Assessment Class
Music: Theory and History I
12-1p:Lunch
1-3p: Film: Camera Tech #1
Acting: Technique #1
Photo: Digital Camera Tech
Dance: Assessment: Short Combos
Music: Writing and Arranging
3-5p: Film: Screenwriting #1
Acting: Scene Study
Photo: Field Shoot
Dance: Student Choreography and Cool Down
Music: Rehearsal and Individual Lessons
6:30p:All: Meet for SOCAPA Dinner on the Town!
NYC - Little Italy; LA - Hollywood;
VT- Church Street
10p: Dorm Check-in
TUESDAY
7:45a: All: Breakfast
8:45a: All: Meet for attendance in lobby; walk to class with staff
9a-12p: Film: Filmmaking #2
Acting: Technique #2
Photo: Street Photography and Composition
Dance: Choreography #1
Music: Business and Recording #1
12-1p:Lunch
1-3p: Film: Camera Tech #2
Acting: Improvisation and Technique
Photo: Street Photography (Trips to Coney Island, Venice Beach, Church St)
Dance: Choreography #1
Music: Getting Started- Forming your Band
3-5p: Film: Screenwriting #2
Acting: Audition Technique
Photo: Street Photography Assignment
Dance: Student Choreography and Cool Down
Music: Rehearsal and Individual Lessons
5:45p:All: Dinner
6:45p All: Meet for walking tour of neighborhood and group photo
10p Dorm Check-in
socapa.org
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Each day’s classes are different, and you can see a full three-week sample schedule for each program on our website. Please visit us online for video tours and sample work as these truly give an idea of what students enjoy while
at SOCAPA. Here is a look at the first three days of class …
WEDNESDAY
7:45a: All: Breakfast
8:45a: All: Meet for attendance in lobby; walk to class with staff
9a-12p: Film: Shoot Lumiere Films
Acting: Act in Lumiere Films
Photo: Intro to Lightroom
Dance: Guest Teacher Master Class
Music: Theory and History II
12-1p:Lunch
1-3p: Film: Shoot Lumiere Films
Acting: Act in Lumiere Films
Photo: Digital Lab
Dance: Choreography #1
Music: Master Class:
Performing Live vs Recording
3-5p: Film: Screenwriting #1
Acting: Scene Study
Photo: Field Shoot
Dance: Student Choreography Assignment
Music: Rehearsal and Individual Lessons
5:45p:All: Dinner
6:30p:All: Evening Meeting and Activity
Live Concert; Festival downtown; Swim at Lake (varies depending on location!)
10p Dorm Check-in
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
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AGE GROUPS & SUPERVISION
T
he number one priority at the School of Creative and Performing Arts is the safety
and well-being of our students. SOCAPA has a full staff of qualified supervisors
on-duty at all times during the program. All of our counselors and teaching assistants
are at least twenty-one years of age and have strong leadership skills and experience.
Most have degrees in either visual or performing arts from prestigious universities,
and many have been through Resident Assistant training programs.
On evenings and weekends when students are not in class or on shoots, SOCAPA
provides a full schedule of activities until 10pm. All students, regardless of supervision level, must check in on their floor by 10:30pm. Our supervisors make rounds and
conduct sporadic room checks after lights-out at 11pm, and resident staff are on-duty
through the night. Students are not allowed in the dormitory rooms of members of the
opposite sex.
SU P E R V IS IO N L E V E LS
There are two levels of supervision, which correspond to the different age groups of
our students: High School and Pre-College. These levels apply to evening and weekend activities and other times when students are not in class. While the Pre-College
level is the default for 16 year-old students, parents of 16 year-olds may choose to
have their child in the more restrictive High School level.
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PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM (Ages 16-19):
Students 16 years or older qualify for the Pre-College Program. After the first week of
mandatory evening activities, pre-college students are given some evenings off, allowing
them longer blocks of free time that they can structure to meet their individual interests
and needs. Students may sign out using the Buddy System during their free time. Students in the Pre-College Program are mature and take personal and group responsibility
seriously and are able to handle increased freedom.
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM (Ages 13-15):
The High School Program provides highly structured evening and weekend activities throughout the entire program. During limited amounts of free time, generally an
hour and a half between class and the evening activity, students may sign out to explore
the surrounding area, get supplies, or scout photo and film locations using the Buddy
System. In addition, the Buddy System allows students to have some independence during class time and structured evening/weekend activities by allowing them to explore
limited surrounding areas while still being with the larger group.
How The Buddy System Works:
Pre-College and High School students can go off
campus during free time by signing out in the office and providing destination, purpose and contact
information. Each student must be accompanied
by another SOCAPA student. Each buddy group
must have a cell phone with them and they must
stay together at all times. Upon return, students
sign back in with the staff.
Please contact our main office if you have any
questions about these supervision levels. We encourage you to discuss the option as a family and
agree on conduct guidelines prior to arrival.
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832 • NEW YORK, NY • 10003
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why choose SOCAPA when there are other programs out there?
Here at SOCAPA we constantly strive to be the best at what we do. As you compare programs, please ask yourself some
of the following questions:
Can I watch samples online of the students’ work that is produced during the summer programs? If you can, please
compare them to what we do at SOCAPA. Make sure you are comparing work done by students in your age group enrolled in a similar short-term summer program and not work done by adults in a one to four year program.
socapa.org
Q:
A:
Do I get access to an online portfolio of all my summer work and that of my classmates? At SOCAPA we go to great
lengths to make sure each student’s summer work is available to watch and/or download online. This way not only do you
have all of your work available online, but you can also access all the student work from your session, so if you performed
in or crewed on a friend’s project, you have that too. SOCAPA’s Online Student Video Player (similar to YouTube) allows
you to share your portfolio with friends, family, festival committees, college admissions, casting directors, agents, and
potential employers.
FILMMAKING: Do I get to write, direct and edit my own films or do we just make group projects? At SOCAPA
you make one film of your own per week of attendance.
ACTING: Do I leave the program with an online portfolio of all my on-camera acting, including a professionally
written scene which is photographed and edited by one of my instructors (Three-week program only)? Do I get
headshots? Do I prepare a monologue for use as an audition piece? You do at SOCAPA.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Do I have the option of 35mm and Digital Photography? Do I learn Studio Photography,
including lighting? Do I get to work with a camp full of actors, dancers, musicians, and filmmakers and build up
my entertainment portfolio? Do I get to publish my own online photography portfolio of my best summer photographs? You do at SOCAPA.
DANCE: Do I leave the program with dance videos featuring my dance performances? Do I get headshots? Do
I get an opportunity to present my own choreography? Do I get a chance to see professional dance groups and
Broadway shows? You do at SOCAPA.
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Q:
A:
How big is the camp? How many kids are in a class?
Q:
A:
Do you accept international students?
Q:
A:
Can my child attend as a day student or does she have to
stay in the dormitories?
We accept local day students as well as sleep-away (boarding)
students. That is why Tuition and Room & Board are separate
charges. However, eighty to ninety percent of our students stay
in the dorms.
Q:
Can I bring my cell phone? Will I have internet access?
A:
We allow students to bring cell phones to the program but we
require that they are turned off during all classes and program
activities. There are computer rooms available at all locations
and there is high-speed internet in all of our dorm rooms if you
bring your laptop.
Last year, we had approximately one hundred and fifty students per session in New York City, and closer to seventy
students per session in Los Angeles and Vermont. We keep our core class sizes small so each student gets individualized
attention. Class sizes range from ten to eighteen students per section. The entire camp convenes after dinner for our daily
production meeting followed by the evening activity.
Yes! Last year, over twenty-five percent of our student body
came from outside the United States. A Tourist Visa and
English proficiency is all that is required to attend the camp. A
Student Visa is not necessary.
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
Please detach here
APPLICATION
HOW TO APPLY
The fastest and most reliable way to apply to SOCAPA is to fill out our online application at socapa.org. You may also
fill out the attached paper application and mail it to our New York office but mailed applications can take up to two
weeks longer for us to process than those received online. All applications must be accompanied by a recent school
transcript or report card showing the applicant’s grades/courses from at least one marking period within the last calendar year. This does not need to be an official transcript; a photocopy or fax is fine. A $500 nonrefundable registration
deposit payable to SOCAPA, INC and the signed campus-specific Signature Form (available on our website) are also
required in order to secure your place in the program. If there is no space or you are not accepted to the program, your
deposit will be returned.
TUITION
Please refer to the charts below to determine tuition costs as they vary depending on the program and session dates.
The tuition for the Photography and Filmmaking programs includes equipment and stock fees but photographers do
need to bring their own SLR and/or DSLR camera or they can rent one from SOCAPA. Please note that Room and
Board is not included in the Tuition fee. See below for Room and Board fees at each campus.
One-Week Camps
Acting, Dance, Music & Screenwriting: $995 • Film & Photo: $1195
Two-Week Camps
Acting, Dance & Music: $2195
•
Film: $2695, Screenwriting: $1995
Photo: Digital Only: $2495, Digital & Darkroom: $2695
Three-Week Camps
Dance & Screenwriting: $2995
•
Acting & Music: $3095
Photo: Digital Only: $3595, Digital & Darkroom: $3745
Film: Film III, Adv. Film IV, Adv. Projects, Cinematorgraphy: $3895
*Two-Week Tuition is $100 Less & Three-Week Tuition is $200 Less for All Programs at our Vermont Campus
24
HOUSING AND MEAL PLANS SOCAPA offers a Room & Board option at all of our campuses. Students stay right on campus in the host university’s
residence halls which have lounges, computer rooms, and laundry facilities. Resident students eat most of their meals at
the campus cafeteria. Once per session, we take the whole group off campus and out for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Our Room & Board Fee includes double or triple occupancy housing, night and weekend activities (including
transportation, tickets and supervision) and three meals per day, Monday through Friday, except at our Manhattan 182
Broadway dormitory (see below). On weekends, depending on the campus, students may be responsible for purchasing
some or all of their meals. Please refer to the campus-specific information below. Visit socapa.org for budgeting recommendations.
New York City, 182 Broadway Residence Hall [ Room Only: $715/wk ] [ Room & Board: $810/wk ]
• Pre-college students (ages 16-19) enrolled in three-week programs during Sessions 3 & 4
• Advanced students (ages 15-19) during Sessions 3 & 4, All Session 5 students (ages 15-19)
Optional meal plan includes breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria, Monday through Friday. Students are responsible for
purchasing their own dinners and weekend meals. We recommend $140/wk to cover dinners and weekend meals.
New York City, NYU Othmer Residence Hall [ Room & Board: $745/wk ]
• All Session 1 & 2 students
• All High School students (ages 13-15) during Sessions 3 & 4.
• All students attending one or two week programs during Sessions 3 & 4
Meal plan includes a welcome dinner on the town and three meals a day in our cafeteria, Monday through Friday. Students are responsible for their own weekend meals.
Los Angeles, California Campus [ Room & Board: $695/wk ]
Burlington, Vermont Campus [ Room & Board: $595/wk ]
Meal plans for our Vermont and Los Angeles campuses include a welcome dinner on the town and three meals a day in our
campus cafeteria, Monday through Friday. Each weekend, students will be responsible for purchasing three of their own
meals depending on our off-campus excursion schedule, but typically lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
CAMPUSES • DATES • PROGRAMS
Please Check or Highlight Program(s) below.
SESSION ONE: 1-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 7 - Jun 13, 2015 ]
Ages 14-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music
SESSION TWO: 2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 14 - Jun 27, 2015 ]
Ages 14-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Music q Screenwriting
SESSION THREE: 2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 28 - Jul 11, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15, 16-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Music q Screenwriting
SESSION THREE: 3-WEEK CAMP
socapa.org
NE W Y ORK CI T Y [Pace & N ew York Un iv er s ity]
[ Jun 28 - Jul 18, 2015 ] Ages 13-15, 16-19
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Music q Screenwriting q Adv Photo
q Adv Film q Adv Acting q Cinematography
SESSION THREE: 1-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 12 - Jul 18, 2015 ]
Ages 14-18
q Dance q Digital Photo q Music q Screenwriting
SESSION FOUR: 2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 19 - Aug 1, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15, 16-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Music
SESSION FOUR: 3-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 19 - Aug 8, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15, 16-19
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Music q Adv Photo
q Adv Film q Adv Acting q Cinematography
Please detach here
SESSION FOUR: 1-WEEK CAMP
[ Aug 2 - Aug 8, 2015 ]
Ages 14-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music
SESSION FIVE: 1-WEEK CAMP
[ Aug 9 - Aug 15, 2015 ]
Ages 15-19
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music
L O S A NGE L E S, C ALIF ORN IA [Occi denta l C ollege]
SESSION ONE: 2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 21 - Jul 4, 2015 ] Ages 13-15 or 16-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music
SESSION TWO: 3-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 5 - Jul 25, 2015 ] Ages 13-15 or 16-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music q Adv Filmmaking
SESSION THREE: 2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 26 - Aug 8, 2015 ] Ages 13-15 or 16-18
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q Music
B U R LI NGT ON, V ERMON T: [C hampl ai n C ollege]
SESSION ONE:
2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 21 - Jul 4, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15 or 16-17
q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo
SESSION ONE:
3-WEEK CAMP
[ Jun 21 - Jul 11, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15 or 16-17 q Filmmaking q Adv Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo
SESSION TWO:
2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 12 - Jul 25, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15 or 16-17 q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo q Adv Photo q Adv Projects Film (3wk course)
SESSION THREE:
1-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15 or 16-17 q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo
SESSION THREE:
2-WEEK CAMP
[ Jul 26 - Aug 8, 2015 ]
Ages 13-15 or 16-17 q Filmmaking q Acting q Dance q Digital Photo q D&D Photo
ADDITIONAL FEES & DISCOUNTS:
• DAMAGE DEPOSIT: All programs require a valid credit card on file for a damage deposit hold of $250 to cover any
incidental charges like lost room keys, damaged equipment or excessive cleaning fees.
• MULTI-SESSION/SIBLING DISCOUNT: Receive 5% off each tuition fee for two or more sessions or siblings under one account.
25
SOCAPA SUMMER
2015 APPLICATION
A P P L I C A N T IN F O :
Last Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Home Phone:
Student’s E-mail Address:
U.S. Citizen:
T-shirt Size:
q Male q Female
First Name:
Zip Code:
Country:
Student’s Cell Phone:
How did you hear about us?
q Yes q No
q Ladies q Unisex
Date of Birth:
Please circle:
Age you will be on program start date:
SMALL
MED
LARGE
X-LARGE
Please briefly describe your experience, if any, in your chosen Program (e.g. years involved, classes taken, level):
What do you hope to get out of your SOCAPA experience?
Please name one of your favorite artists working in Film, Theater, Dance, Photography or Music. Why do you admire this person?
School that you are currently attending:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Country:
BI L L I NG I N F O :
26
Last Name: Relationship to Applicant:
Address:
City:
First Name:
State:
Zip Code:
Country:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Work Phone:
Best Billing E-mail Address (a unique email address is required for registration; must be different than student’s) :
R OO M & B O A RD A N D O T HE R O PTI O N S :
q I would like SOCAPA to provide me with Room & Board at the following location:
q NYC Manhattan Room Only [$715/Week] q NYC Manhattan Room & Board [$810/Week]
q NYC Brooklyn [$745/Week] q Los Angeles [$695/Week] q Vermont [$595/Week]
q I will be attending SOCAPA as a Day Student and therefore I do not need Room & Board.
q I would like to rent linens for $49 (sheets, blanket, pillow) in NYC or Vermont (linens are included at our LA campus).
q I do not require linens (check this option if you will bring your own or you will be in Los Angeles where linens are included).
F I NA L STEP S :
Please check that all requested information is complete. Make sure to circle your preferred program, age group, campus
and session dates on the reverse side of this page. All applications must be accompanied by a recent school transcript or report
card showing the applicant’s grades/courses from at least one marking period within the last calendar year. This does not need to
be an official transcript; a photocopy is fine. A $500 nonrefundable registration deposit payable to SOCAPA, INC and the signed
campus-specific Signature Form (printed from the Download Center at socapa.org) are also required in order to secure your place
in the program. We encourage early application as space is competitive and limited. If there is no space or you are not accepted to
the program, your deposit will be returned.
Please Return Application, Registration Deposit, Signature Form and Report Card to:
SOCAPA ADMISSIONS
228 Park Avenue South #92832 • New York, NY • 10003
Scan and email to: [email protected] or fax to: (646) 536-8725
Toll Free: (800) 718-2787 Local: (646) 828-3558
APPL I C ATI O N I N FO
(continued from page 24)
TRAVEL TO CAMP
Students who are being dropped off at campus can arrive between 1 - 4pm. Parents are invited to help students get settled, go
out to get supplies, and take a look around campus, but should plan to leave by 4:30, when Program Meetings start.
DAY STUDENTS should plan to arrive on campus at 4pm and stay until about 8pm on the opening Sunday.
socapa.org
Our staff does airport transfers on the first and last days of each session (dates indicated on the application and the website).
Please schedule your arriving and departing flights between 11am and 3pm. Times outside 11am-3pm may incur additional
transfer fees and/or may require transfer by a third party car service or taxi. Airports we service are JFK, LGA and EWR in
New York, LAX and BUR (Burbank) in Los Angeles, and BTV (Burlington) for Vermont. For domestic flights, we will greet
you at the exit to baggage claim when you arrive. We will greet international arrivals at the exit from customs. We will drop
you at your airline’s check-in counter when you leave; unfortunately, we cannot escort you beyond security. There is a fee per
airport transfer of $29 for Burlington, $89 for EWR and $65 for JFK, LGA, LAX, and BUR.
ADMISSIONS POLICY AND DEADLINE
SOCAPA operates under a rolling admissions policy, meaning that our admissions office reviews and decides on applications as they are received until there are no openings left in the session/program. Applicants are generally notified of their
admissions status within two weeks from the time our office receives a complete application, report card, signed Signature
Form and the $500 registration deposit. In past years, we have closed some programs as early as January and yet, due to last
minute cancellations, we have had openings in other programs up to two weeks before the start date. We highly recommend
early application as space is competitive and limited.
ENROLLMENT & ADDITIONAL FORMS
After we receive your application, deposit, Signature Form, and recent school report card/transcript, we will contact you by
email and postal mail within two weeks to confirm your enrollment with an acceptance letter, invoice, campus information
pack, Medical Release form and information about your online account. The information packet contains important information about the program and activities, arrival and departure, staying at SOCAPA, what to bring, and student responsibilities.
Health and Travel information is requested through your online account. Final payment and forms are due April 1. If you
have any questions about the forms and information above, please contact us. Final admittance to the program is contingent
upon SOCAPA’s receipt and review of all forms and information. Students will not be admitted unless a complete
Health History form, Medical Release form, and Proof of Medical Insurance is received no later than two weeks prior to
program start date, with no return of fees.
PAYMENT POLICY: DEPOSIT, TUITION, CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
A non-refundable, $500 deposit is required to secure a spot in all of SOCAPA’s Summer Programs. The final tuition balance
is due no later than April 1. If we have not received payment by this date, SOCAPA reserves the right to cancel unpaid applicants with no return of fees. Prior to March 1, all tuition, except the $500 deposit, is fully refundable. For cancellations between March 1 and April 1, we will refund 50% of the tuition and fees. After April 1, there are no refunds, except in the form
of camp credit. For this reason, SOCAPA highly recommends that students secure travel insurance to cover trip cancellation,
interruption and/or medical emergency. For more information on travel insurance, please contact your insurance broker or
visit: Assurance Solutions (protectmytrip.net). SOCAPA reserves the right to cancel any program before its start date. In the
unlikely event that cancellation should occur, you have the option of a complete refund or transfer to another program. Registrant waives any and all damages that may otherwise arise out of any program cancellation and agrees to accept as liquidated
damages said registration fees. We highly discourage making non-refundable or non-changeable travel arrangements to and
from our programs.
OUR WEBSITE — SOCAPA.ORG
We are limited as to how much information we can fit in our brochure. Our website has a wealth of additional information.
You can read letters from former students and their parents, get e-mail references, see sample day-by-day schedules, watch
sample student films, acting reels, dance videos and choreography, see pictures from last summer, get answers to frequently
asked questions, read our policies page or faculty bios page, and apply and make payments right online. Please visit us at:
socapa.org
PHONE (800) 718-2787 • FAX (646) 536-8725
27
SOC A PA A DM ISSIONS
2 2 8 PA R K AV E N U E SOU T H #92832
N E W Y O R K, NY 10003
SCHOOL OF CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS
228 PARK AVENUE SOUTH #92832; NEW YORK, NY 10003
TOLL FREE: (800) 718-2787 LOCAL: (646) 828-3558
FAX: (646) 536-8725 EMAIL: [email protected]
s o c apa. o r g