Digital Filmmaking from the East to the West Coast

High school students from around the world participate in the NYU Tisch online workshops in digital filmmaking and screenwriting. Students build a portfolio of work for their college applications, earn college credit, and get to learn from distinguished Tisch faculty.

This summer's workshops just wrapped up but not before Tisch Special Programs was able to catch up with two students from the Online High School Filmmakers Workshop: Mia and Asha. They each have a passion for creating stories and collaborating – and got to do just that from their hometowns (and while doing a bit of travel) without setting foot in a classroom. Here’s more from our students!

As I was born in New York but moved to Singapore, we often go back home for summer and winter. During the workshop, I was traveling around Europe as we had already planned our summer trip before I got accepted to NYU. So, I was traveling Europe and then ended my summer trip along with the NYU workshop back home in New York. I think that the fact that I was traveling gave me access to such a wide range of locations and allowed me to incorporate that into my work and create unique films that I wouldn't usually be able to make.

What excites you about filmmaking?
What excites me the most about filmmaking is that I have full creative freedom. It allows me to create my own SOMETHING and share what I was currently interested in at the time. And in the future I get to look back at them and remember what I was feeling and thinking and it is almost like you leave a little piece of yourself in every film you make.. To quote Martin Scorsese "Your job is to get your audience to care about your obsessions" and I love that creating films enables me to do that.

Why did you want to be a part of the Online High School Filmmakers Workshop?
I wanted to be a part of the online high school filmmakers workshop because I have always had a passion for filmmaking and directing and this was an incredible opportunity that would allow me to expand my knowledge and learn and grow as a filmmaker. It would teach me new skills and new techniques as well as creative ways to collaborate with people across the globe. 

What are you learning in the workshop?
I think that one of the most important things I have learned in this workshop is that you can always use what you have. I was travelling a lot this summer during the online class and moving around to new locations which had both advantages and disadvantages for filming. It has taught me that instead of trying to do something you can't do, use what you have and make something amazing out of that.

What has been your favorite part of the workshop?
I think that my favorite part about this workshop is the fact that it is an online class which allows you to collaborate with other people, who are in completely different locations and time zones, in ways you would never be able to if you were on a campus. It is such an amazing way to create a film and it really challenges you to create something you would have never thought to create.

What excites you about filmmaking?
The thrill of creating new worlds with only a camera and a script is something that really intrigues me!

Why did you want to be a part of the Online High School Filmmakers Workshop? 
I wanted to be a part of the Online High School Filmmakers Workshop because I wanted to learn more about filmmaking. My main strength was in screenwriting, and not so much in camera work. After taking this course, I have gained the knowledge necessary to film outside of this class, and film with more confidence than I had before it.

What are you learning in the workshop? 
In this workshop, I have learned different aspects of filmmaking, such as different camera angles, how to work a camera, camera/film vocabulary, how to edit, how pre-production goes, and how to collaborate and film with other filmmakers who aren’t in your location! 

What has been your favorite part of the workshop? 
The projects where I was able to film and collaborate with my other classmates were my favorite parts of the program. It gave me an opportunity to learn and create with new people, which I’m grateful for!

The Tisch Online High School Filmmakers and Screenwriters Workshops are offered every summer and fall. The workshops are open to all domestic and international high school students. The application is open for the fall 2024 workshops and the deadline is September 10, 2024. Learn more about admissions requirements and apply.