Special Programs

Summer High School <br> Filmmakers Workshop

What can you do in four weeks? Develop your cinematic directing and editing skills to produce a short film.

Learn about creative cinematic approaches to visual storytelling. Through hands-on instruction using Tisch’s professional digital cameras and editing workstations, you can see your ideas come alive on screen.

Program Overview

The curriculum for the Summer Filmmakers Workshop for High School Students, offered through the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, is similar to that of the undergraduate degree program. It combines intensive professional training with a comprehensive understanding of the techniques and theories behind the art of cinematic visual storytelling production. Prior experience in film or video is not required.

Note: The students in the Summer Filmmakers Workshop will be in classes and workshops Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., including academic classes, professional training, and production/post production time. Students may also need to do some of the creative homework (writing or editing) in the evenings and weekends as they work individually or collaborate with peers on assigned projects.

“The opportunities it gave me to grow as an artist, student, and person, through the workshops, speakers, projects, and one-on-one mentorship from some of the world’s greatest professors in the arts made this incomparable to any experience I’ve ever had.”
-Tyler Rabinowitz

Student Films
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Photo by Dylan Kenseth

Photo by Bi`Once Doyle

Photo by Bi`Once Doyle

Photo by Bi`Once Doyle

Core Curriculum

You will enroll in the following 4-unit course.

Filmmakers Workshop

FMTV-UT 1111

This workshop introduces students to the theory and techniques of developing and producing short visual stories made on digital video cameras and edited digitally on computer workstations with Adobe Premiere. Students may enter the program with little or no experience in film or video, so early exercises familiarize them with technology while introducing documentary, experimental, and narrative approaches. Working in crews, students develop their writing, directing, and editing skills as they produce short movie projects including a final 3-4 minute film. Special emphasis is placed on storytelling through visual language.

SUMMER FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Classes take place Monday - Friday. Students may use the weekends to work on assignments, editing, and independent work.

This sample schedule is based on previous summers to give prospective students an understanding of the highly structured and rigorous training offered in the Tisch Summer High School Filmmakers Workshop. This sample schedule is an overview of one of the four weeks in the program. Students accepted and confirmed for the program will be given their actual schedule on orientation day.

Monday
Morning - Lecture 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Introduction To Film Language and Visual Storytelling

Afternoon - Lab 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Camera Technical Seminar
Group Production - Exercise 1: The Frame 

Tuesday
Morning - Lecture 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Storyboards/Shot lists/ Narrative Structure

Afternoon - Lab 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Post Production Exercise: Picture editing with Adobe Premiere

Wednesday
Morning - Lecture 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Screening Exercise 1: The Frame exercise
Editing the relationship; Juxtaposition, Action-Reaction, Match Cut, Parallel Action

Afternoon - Lab 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Group Production - Exercise 2: The Cut

Thursday
Morning - Lecture 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Mise en Scene and Music

Afternoon - Lab 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. 
Post Production Exercise: editing sound with Adobe Premiere

Friday
Morning - Lecture 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Screening Exercise 2: The Cut Exercise for feedback
Mise en Scene and Music

Afternoon - Lab 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Group work - Crews prepare for Exercise 3: Mise en Scene to Music

Photo by Dylan Kenseth

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Program Dates

Summer 2026

Sunday, July 5, 2026 - Saturday, August 1, 2026

Additional important dates are available on the Tisch Admissions Calendar.

Tuition and Fees

Summer 2026

Breakdown of costs:

  • Tuition for 4 units (credits): $8,008

Additional Fees Include:

  • Program Fee (activities facilitated by Residential Life & Housing): $200

  • Housing for 4 weeks: TBA

  • 10 meals* a week for 4 weeks: $824

*As this is a residential program, students are automatically enrolled in the 10 meals a week plan for the length of the program. Students have the option of increasing their meal plan if they wish.

Program-specific fees:

  • Film Narrative Lab and Insurance Fee: $690

Please review the Tisch Special Programs cancellation policy.

Housing

Students accepted to the Tisch Summer High School program live in NYU housing. Per NYU policy, students must be at least 15 to reside in housing for this program. 

Scholarships

Tisch has a limited number of full scholarships for high school students to attend the Tisch summer programs. Scholarships are given to students who demonstrate the most financial need.

Review the Tisch Summer High School Scholarships page for more information.

Apply

ADMISSIONS

The summer 2026 application is closed.

Open to high school juniors (rising seniors) only.

  • Online application fee: $75

Please read through the Summer High School Application Requirements page before starting your application.