Not sure where the kids were this summer? Look no further than Freshi Film Camp at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. In three separate camps throughout the month of July, Freshi Films, with the sponsorship of the International Family Film Festival, worked with aspiring young filmmakers from around the country to create live-action short films. These films were created by the student filmmakers, aged 7 to 17, from start to finish and viewed by parents, family, and friends at the weekly film showcase held at the end of camp.
In the space of five days, young filmmakers learned pre-production, production and post-production. They had daily reports to fill out, location permit requests and crew positions they rotated, so they could feel what life is like on a working film set. In addition, the campers were treated to workshops on Voice-Over, Stunts, Make-Up, Music Production, Screenwriting, Acting, Directing, and Producing. Parents were simply amazed at how much these filmmakers accomplished in so short a time, how passionate they became about their film projects, and how exciting the end result was for everyone involved.
The Advanced Camp was an especially exciting adventure, as the participants used professional grade equipment and editing software to produce a nine-minute short film. They also worked together with the staff to create an episode of the Freshi television series, Freshi Reel: How to Make Movies. This was a particularly unique learning opportunity for the everyone involved.
Freshi Film Camp is a "not-to-be-missed" opportunity for any kid with a creative mind. Many of the participants were not experienced in filmmaking when they began, but, by the end of a weeklong camp, they walked away with industry knowledge and new outlets for their own creativity. Campers realized the breadth of careers in the industry had future plans to pursue crew positions in the industry discovering that they aspired to become costumers, actors, directors, editors and film composers.
The 2008 Freshi Film Camp will have three separate weeks of camp starting the first qweek of July and running throughout the month. There will be beginning, intermediate, and advanced camps. Visit our website http://www.freshiflix.com/ to view the films produced at the 2007 Freshi Film Camp and keep posted on the 2008 film camps.
Freshi Film Festival Displays Talent of Kids WorldWide
nThe Freshi Film Festival was an action-packed success at Raleigh Studios on Saturday July 21. Screening films made by young filmmakers from all across the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, as well as from around the country and the world, the Festival brought filmmakers and family together to celebrate their achievements.
A division of the long-standing International Family Film Festival, the Freshi Festival followed the example of its parent, and gave awards in several categories for both film and screenplay entrants. Students from the Noise! music camp sponsored by Musak attended and were treated to a special workshop in music production. All the attendees were blown away by the stunt/stage combat workshop given by the Academy of Theatrical Combat. Passers-by did double takes as wounds and other special effects began to appear on fest goers who visited the demonstration by Make-Up Designory of Burbank. And anyone who enjoys animation had two special treats - a voice over workshop by Tony Gonzales and autographs by animator Julian Chaney, two of the industry's most accomplished animation professionals.
The day was filled with other activities, such as workshops on acting, directing, and additional autograph sessions, as well as a Screenwriters Showcase, where actors performed selected scenes from finalist screenplays. The screenplays were the Finalists in a competition of screenplays written by kids 8-18!
The heartiest of the audience survived the day's excitement to be treated to an explosive full house Awards Ceremony at the end of the day. In addition to the awards that were distributed, there were performances by Mariah Wilson of DREAMGIRLS and Sheyna Gee, a sponsored performer for Daisy Girl guitars.
The Freshi Film Festival was a smash success. It is a day saturated in film fun, competition and excitement. Start working on your film or screenplay for entry in next year's event on July 22, 2008.
Freshi Film Festival Awards

Film Competition
Category - Drama
Winner - The Shed II (Mulholland Middle School, Class Project)
Winner - Drive (Joseph Procopio, Canada)
Finalist - Not the One to Bully (Irving Middle School, Class Project)
Finalist - On the Threshold (Divya Chaya Trust, India)

Category - Comedy
Winner - Lost and Found (Joseph, Susan and Katherine Procopio, Canada)
Finalist - Mr. Mess and Mrs. Clean (Kathlyn Tillman, Movie Club)

Category - Animation
Winner - Ill Street Racing (Tulsa Elementary School, Class Project)
Winner - Sonic Kicky (Stalin Usher, Le Conte Middle School)
Finalist - The Great Fireworks (Hancock Elementary School, Class Project)

Category - Documentary
Winner - The Best of LACER Stars (Perada Meemalayath, Bancroft Middle School)

Screenplay Competition
Category - Drama
Winner - The Golden Goal (Hannah DaGiau, Pennekamp Elementary School)
Finalist - The New Neighbors (Carina Chong, Pennekamp Elementary School)

Category - Comedy
Winner - One Wrong Bus (Lia Marie Sepanek, Pennekamp Elementary School)
Finalist - Skatin' British (Carlyn Greenwald, Pennekamp Elementary School)
Finalist - Crush (Nicole Oster, Pennekamp Elementary School)
Category - Sci-Fi/Adventure
Winner - The Project (Gurkiran Dhaliwal, Pennekamp Elementary School)