Film

REEL STORIES

Write, direct, and edit your own film in three weeks. No experience needed!

DATE June 1st–June 19th, 2026
COST Free
SKILL LEVEL Future Ready
AGE RANGE 15–19
LOCATION, SCHEDULE Room 201, Monday – Friday

Tell your story to the world: no film experience needed! In REEL Stories, you will write, direct, and edit your own five-minute film that speaks to who you are, what you're interested in, or where you find community. If you have the passion, we'll provide the rest: learn pre-production, shooting, sound design, and editing, and access all the gear you need to bring your vision to life.

REEL Stories is a 3-week-long, all-day bootcamp held Monday through Friday. At the end of the bootcamp, your work will be shown at a community screening, complete with an audience Q&A!

What happens in this class:

  • learn the basics of filmmaking by producing your own 5-minute documentary project
  • bring your concepts to life and stylize your filmmaking
  • learn sound, camera, interview techniques, and editing software
  • work with your peers to support their projects, give and receive feedback, and help with each others' shoots
  • share your completed film at a community screening and Q&A

Note: this class requires an interview with a mentor before registration is final! The interview is for us to learn more about you, your interests, and set some expectations for the program—plus a chance for you to ask questions if you have any.

 

FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS

Our classes are designed for in-person participation. Limited remote attendance may be possible in certain circumstances. Availability depends on the class format and is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Absolutely! Many of our students self-identify as neurodivergent. We keep our classes small so that our students have the best experience possible, and our professional teaching artists can accommodate different kinds of learners and ensure special needs are met.
We keep all our classroom spaces an adult/parent-free zone (excluding staff) to ensure students feel free in their creative expression. If you'd like to see the building and learn more about Spy Hop, you can schedule a tour with our team outside of class time.
Sign up for our email list! We email updates about what's going on at Spy Hop, when new programs are available, and upcoming events.
There are lots of ways you can support Spy Hop: make a donation, attend an event, sign up for our emails, follow us on social media, or spread the word about Spy Hop. However you can give and show up for youth voice, just know that we're grateful you're a part of it all.
We've found that small program sizes give the best opportunity for creative learning and mentorship—because of this, most of our classes have a capacity of ten students.
Most of our in-house programs are for teens ages 13–19 years old. We occasionally offer programs or workshops for young people ages 19-25.
Pre-program check-ins are usually 15 minutes or less. They're an opportunity for students and our professional teaching artists to get to know one another, assess goals, talk through schedules, ask questions and feel ready for the program to start. Students don't need to bring anything but themselves.
Spy Hop has a small parking lot on the North side of our building and is first-come, first-served. You can enter this lot on 900 S between Spy Hop and Vertical Diner. 2-hour parking is available along 900 S. Street parking is available on 200 W and 300 W. Washington Street and Jefferson Street have limited public parking, with big sections of 2-hour only parking. Please pay close attention to signage to avoid a ticket! Paid parking is also available across the street, at Triangles bar. Limited parking passes are available for students: please visit the Lab for more information.
Currently enrolled students can checkout equipment for short-term use on projects. We do not offer equipment rentals to the general public. For more equipment information please see the Lab for more information, and check out our Gear Policy.