CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Building Heights' Middle School Shorts program engages Cleveland Heights-University Heights students in grades six through eight to write and produce original short films. Now in its fourth year, founder Jen Holland says this program began as a natural fit.
"This is not just about learning about film or writing, it's more or less about public speaking, being able to get out of your shell," Holland explained. "We realized that the kids love being in front of the camera, and so they create these stories and we would film them and produce them, but we would teach them how to do it. We really want them to own their own story."
This ownership of the story is felt by each young person who participates. Most importantly, it speaks to their passions.
"It was the only program that actually offered what I wanted to do with my future. I want to be an actor," said Roxboro Middle School seventh-grader Ken'Naysia Green.
"I love writing and making scripts," Monticello Middle School sixth-grader Charlotte Walker added. "A lot of writing the story has been thinking about how it could have worked on the camera."
Comprised of a team of PTA members with guest artists from the local and national film community, this robust program seeks to give participants a quality film and life skills for the future.
"A program like this really teaches kids how to be artists," screenwriting teacher Nat Dinga said. "They're learning how to figure out what their initial story is, and then the idea of rewriting and getting it to where it needs to be so they can go out and film it."
The program also teaches collaboration, explained Principal Instructor Cliff Sweeney.
"Teamwork is key," Sweeney said. "Being able to be an active listener, we have a full structured program that we can get the best results out of."
On Sunday, Cedar Lee Theaters is hosting a showcase of the students' films for the entire community to see. And with future panel discussions, a partnership with the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and more sponsorships on the way the Shorts program is set to make waves for years to come.
"Through film arts, creativity is like front and center, so they have an opportunity to own their own story and we see it how they grow," Holland said. "They go from being shy to actually being public speakers."
To learn more about the Middle School Shorts program, visit here.