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When my 16 y-o daughter decided that she’d work with cinema - as I, a screenwriter, do - we thought it’d be a good idea for her to have a taste of how it is actually done. We’d researched a lot of options before finding out about Socapa. Their program and curriculum seemed amazing, and the staff was really helpful and nice with all our queries and doubts. I expected she’d have a good experience on their Core Filmmaking 3 week camp in NY. I was wrong: it was much, much better. I could attest that not only by her enthusiasm and happiness while there and when she came back, but also by the unbelievable amount of knowledge she managed to grasp with the help of the instructors and the collaboration of her peers - as all students work in each other movies, in different capacities, and also have the chance to create and direct their own shorts. Writing, cinematography, editing, directing, she’s been exposed to a great deal of core principles and, above all, hands-on experience. Also, the school really goes all out to make all students feel welcome and safe and happy there - even for an international student then in her first experience staying away from her country by her own. She’s coming back this year for the Advanced program, now in VT, and I’m positive that, after such an amazing and complete experience of what’s really like to make movies - magic, fascinating and extremely demanding work - she’s gonna be up to the task of building her future telling her stories on screens, big and small. I couldn’t recommend Socapa’s programs more. If I could, this would be a six-out-of-five star review.
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SOCAPA summer camp reviews
Sometimes it's better to hear it from someone else. Read what real students and parents say about our summer camps and pre-college programs, in their own words.
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Showing 29 reviews for Film in New York City
Clear filtersMy experience at SOCAPA was extremely transformative. I went there in 2023 and learned so much from the teachers and my colleagues. The classes and shooting days not only clarified doubts but also introduced us to new techniques and perspectives, offering essential hands-on practice. During the program, I gained experience with different editing platforms and learned to operate sound equipment effectively. This combination of theory and practice enhanced my technical skills and increased my desire to become a filmmaker. SOCAPA was more than just a learning experience; it was a journey where I met incredible people that I’ll take for the rest of my life and also gained so much knowledge. The passion shared by everyone there made it unforgettable.
Daughter attended the two week filmmaking camp in Manhattan. The films that she created were fabulous! She made great friends, loves NYC, and would recommend the camp to anyone who loves filmmaking. The process from enrollment, to check-in, and departure all went very smoothly. Thanks SOCAPA!
My daughter attended this amazing film camp in NYC last summer and absolutely loved it! At first, she was apprehensive about being away for 3 weeks, considering she had never been away from home for longer than 2 nights, but her concerns quickly subsided. By the end, she wasn't ready to come home and would have stayed longer. The environment was very collaborative, and the students' films were highly creative. I enthusiastically recommend this camp to any budding writer or filmmaker.
I love SOCAPA! I've spent one summer on the Manhattan campus and I plan on returning! The teachers & staff are all so friendly, kind & fun! I got to learn SOOO much about film while also making great new memories! 10/10! Definitely recommend.
I love SOCAPA! I've spent one summer on the Manhattan campus and I plan on returning! The teachers & staff are all so friendly, kind & fun! I got to learn SOOO much about film while also making great new memories! 10/10! Definitely recommend.
I love SOCAPA! I've spent one summer on the Manhattan campus and I plan on returning! The teachers & staff are all so friendly, kind & fun! I got to learn SOOO much about film while also making great new memories! 10/10! Definitely recommend.
Our daughter went to her first SOCAPA camp in NYC as a film student in the summer of 2022 as a fifteen year old, and she's headed back again in 2023 because it was such an AMAZING experience!!!! We live in Utah and don't have a lot of opportunities for teens and the film scene and this really gave her not only a great experience with film, but also new friends and memories for a lifetime. We were so pleased with how it was organized, her security while staying in NYC, and that she loved it so much she wants to go back - thank you, SOCAPA!!!
My son Evan attended the one week Core Acting Camp in Manhattan last summer, and it was quite literally life-changing. Growing up in rural Nebraska, and involved in community and school theater since an early age, Evan wanted an experience to stretch to new levels and found it in SOCAPA. He learned so much, had great new experiences and made friends that he has continued to be in touch with all of this year. As a parent, I had natural trepidations about his experience so far away from home and the folks at SOCAPA were great about putting me in touch with parents and participants from previous years to find out more about the program and allay any concerns that I had. Staff was unfailingly responsive and helpful before, during, and after this experience. Evan plans to return this summer for a longer and more advanced camp experience.
I'm going to keep this short and sweet . SOCAPA is a life changing experience that will make you a better artist, along side a better person . I went to SOCAPA 3 times and each time was better than the last .The connections I made in the acting world were crucial in my development as an actor and the friends I made will be with me for life . SOCAPA's versitle curriculum will prepare you for the real world and will also make you never want to leave the program. Even though the experience I gained as an actor was incredible, the other social aspect SOCAPA offers is truly what made me fall in love. From seeing Broadway shows, to adventuring, and even doing bonding activities with your roommates made the experience different and better than any other summer program. The counselors and teachers are phenomenal, and the classes are fun and interesting. It truly prepares you for the real world and I will value SOCAPA until the day I die. I have nothing but love for SOCAPA, and it is a must if you are an artist looking to expirience the world of your craft and become a better human in general.
Last year, our son, a high schooler, attended SOCAPA film program in New York. He came back enchanted, having written directed and edited three short movies. One per week. Each with a different and smart cinematographic prompt. Teachers were caring and competent. Our son made many friends, not only within the film department but also with the acting one and others. We highly recommend SOCAPA. Our son will return this year on the film program level 2.
Last summer, I had one of the best experiences of my life when I attended SOCAPA for six weeks (three in the filmmaking program and three in the advanced filmmaking program). It truly was an amazing summer and an unforgettable learning experience. I was interested in film for a while, but I had no real experience before I went to SOCAPA, and the program made me realize that film is something I am truly passionate about and that I want to continue doing for the rest of my life. I was nervous but excited about going away from Colombia to New York for six whole weeks, but I never felt uncomfortable while in the program because everybody was extremely nice and helpful. The teachers and TAs were constantly helping you improve and giving you feedback on your work, and they made learning fun and enriching. I also got to meet students from all over the world that are interested in film the way I am, and this created an excellent environment. I want to thank SOCAPA for an amazing, and definitely the most productive, summer of my life!
SOCAPA is a superb program for young creatives who are eager to hone their mediums into future occupations in film, dance, acting, photography, music, or screenwriting. As a past participant in their film program, I can honestly say that I felt immersed and supported throughout my experience as a student with SOCAPA's broad network of teachers and fellow artists.
Our son is interested in filmmaking and screenwriting and aspires to someday direct.
He thoroughly enjoyed his experience last summer at Socapa LA and found it beneficial on many levels.
It was an engaging setting for him and validated his interest in the entertainment industry.
I believe this to be a great environment to further develop skillsets and help a young person determine if they do wish to pursue this path.
I sent my teenager (16 years old) to SOCAPA, Manhattan Campus, for the Filmmaking program during the summer of 2021. The program was well organized and very educational. The atmosphere was very welcoming and my child felt secure and safe. My teen learned so much from this experience and will be back during summer 2022. I definitely recommend this program to others looking for a great summer filmmaking program in New York.
My Daughter Anna dream is to be a writer, director & filmmaker. Finding experiences and training is this area is very challenging. We felt blessed to have been recommended to SOCAPA and attended the 1 week Core Filmmaking Camp in Manhattan in the late summer of 2019 after her sophomore year. It was a fantastic experience for her. The program was very well organized, the teaching was top notch and it was the best of the 4 camps she had attended up until then. She particularly like how they were treated as serious young adults who wanted to really learn filmmaking and not children staying busy during the summer with a "camp" . For this reason I feel like their programs are really closer to an academy experience - staying in dorms, serious teaching , etc. than a camp. It is the only program she wants to attend again - The whole program and the NYC experience was amazing , and excellent value, well supervised. She was all signed up for a 2 week session in 2020 but due to COVID was canceled. This year we are so excited they are back and offering in person sessions. She's over the top excited to go back this summer prior to starting college - she will be attending and we will be investing in a 4 week program. She can not wait!
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My daughter attended SOCAPA's 1 week photography bootcamp this past summer in NYC. She LOVED it. She wanted to go to camp but was not interested in a woodsy environment. She's always been very creative so when I found this camp she jumped at the chance to go. She had never done photography but was able to rent a camera to see if it was something that she would like to explore more. Needless to say, Julia will be getting a camera for Christmas and we just signed her up for a 3 week photography session next summer. She can't wait!! The teachers and all the staff were amazing! I was concerned about her being comfortable in such a big city but I clearly had nothing to worry about. Julia was perfectly safe and supervised at all times. She's excited to learn even more about photography and meet more kids from around the world that share her same interests.
School of Creative & Performing Arts (SOCAPA)
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I just did the last session and let me say I'm so glad I did it. It's such an amazing program and I got a lot out of it. I met these amazing people who were also Interested in the same thing I was. It wasn't very hard to get along with everyone. But it's not just friends I made. It's what I got to learn in such an short amount of time. We got amazing instructors, and they were able to teach me so much. I honestly don't think I would have gotten as far with my film if it wasn't from the people surround me as well the the instructor along side with the RAs. I would honestly love to do the 2-3 weeks next year! It's a program you wouldn't want to miss. I would 11/10 recommend it.
My son has been attending SOCAPA since the summer before his 9th grade year and he will be attending again this year going into his senior year. He has gained incredible skills, met life-long friends, and loved every minute of the independence and education he has received.
My son took one of the filmmaking classes and not only learned a tremendous amount about the end-to-end filmmaking process, but also had a great time with the other students. Additionally, I can not say enough positive things about the staff! They were exceptionally attentive to needs of both the students and the parents. My son will be returning to the camp again next year. I can not recommend SOCPA's programs highly enough.
SOCAPA Brooklyn's film program gave me a conceptual foundation I needed. Through incredible staff, friends and educators who I have stayed in contact with since, I have continued to grow as a filmmaker. The piece I made at SOCAPA (and couldn't have made without) has been to Vidcon, All American High School Film Festival, NFFTY and more, winning several awards along the way. There's no question that it's quite an expensive program, but it helped me decide on my future career and helped me pushed forward as an artist when I didn't know how to get going.
Tomorrow, I'll be getting up at 6 to go shoot a fellow SOCAPA camper's project. The opportunities the camp afforded me have been incredible.
I've been to SOCAPA once last summer but it was honestly one of my best experiences, it taught me so much and I made so many friends that I'm still friends with now!!
Great film camp! My daughter didn’t want to come home!
I highly recommend this camp. I went for the second time this past summer, and I had the best summer of my life. I learned so much about screenwriting and met so many amazing people. 10/10 experience
I've been to SOCAPA 3 summers in a row and I'm greatly looking forward to returning this year as an intern. The atmosphere is friendly and encouraging, and the students and staff are passionate and inspiring!
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My 14-year-old daughter attended SOCAPA and she absolutely loved it! I only heard positive things about her experience. She came home with a new sense of self, new friends and a new energy for her passions.
My son loved the core film making camp and is so excited to attend the advanced program this summer! I highly recommend this camp.
I have learned so much from this camp and it was an unforgettable experience. The friends I made and the places I saw. The videos I made and everything was amazing. I very highly recommend.
I went to SOCAPA for film and I thought it was a great program for those who really have a passion for film. I was able to learn many important things including how to edit using Premiere what the lingo is for directing and how to use a camera. During the camp I made three films from start to finish which was a great learning experience. I started by writing a script, then I directed group of people in making the film, and finally I edited the final part. SOCAPA was a great experience.
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