2026 SUMMER CAMPS
Located in Catonsville, Maryland, The Backlot - Film School & Studio is the home to our 2026 Summer Camps and a professional production space that is fun, welcoming, and inclusive to all. Our goal is to showcase, strengthen, and mentor our campers’ unique voices, whether on the page, behind the camera, across the sound mix, or in each cut of the final edit.
Our 2026 Summer Camps provide unique, hands-on, personalized experiences for all our students, regardless of background, interests, or projects. Campers take advantage of our unique production spaces, equipment, computer labs, studio, and sound stages to bring their dreams to life!
As part of a team, led by experienced teachers and expert industry guests, our campers will learn to:
PITCH IDEAS
CRAFT SCRIPTS
STORYBOARD
SHOOT CAMERAS
LIGHT & DRESS SETS
DIRECT ACTORS
CRAFT VISUAL EFFECTS
MIX SOUND
EDIT FOOTAGE
and so much more!
Please take a look at our exciting Summer Camp offerings for this year, which provide opportunities to work with a production team on a short film or to pursue your personal passions as a content creator on platforms like YouTube!
Our 2026 Summer Camps
As part of our 2-Week Filmmaking Summer Camps, you will join a team of like-minded collaborators, guided by an expert instructor and special guests from the film industry, to create a short narrative film that could be worthy of teen film festivals around the world. Over the course of this 2-week camp, you will learn how to write a screenplay, navigate the pre-production process, film with a dedicated team, and edit using industry-standard software. By the end of the course, you will feel confident in your ability to use cameras, light a scene, and record high-quality sound. You will gain hands-on experience with our professional production equipment and editing computers, ready to go with Adobe Creative Suite and other software. You will also have the opportunity to work with actors on location to shoot their final films. So, regardless of your interest in the film production process, you will play an essential role in making a movie!
Each 2-Week Filmmaking Summer Camp concludes with a premiere of your work in a supportive, collaborative environment, as a part of our showcase on the final night. If you've ever wanted to take your first real step into the world of filmmaking, meet fellow collaborators, and receive personalized feedback and guidance from an experienced professional, this is the camp for you!
Camp Session Dates/Costs:
Session 1: $1500, June 22nd - July 1st (Weekdays)
Session 2: $1600, August 10th - 21st (Weekdays)
Camp Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM Daily
Before and after care is available (see FAQ/Policies page for more details) from 8 AM - 10 AM and 4 PM - 6 PM daily.
Location:
The Backlot - Film School and Studio
2 Winters Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
These camps are designed for high school-aged campers, 13 to 18.
Campers can sign up for both Sessions if they’d like and can expect to make different films through a similar process each time. Prospective campers should also consider our 1-Week Creator/YouTube Summer Camps in addition to the Filmmaking Camps.
For answers to additional questions and details about our various policies, including our Cancellation Policy, before and aftercare options, and more, please read our Summer Camps FAQ/Policies page. You will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree to the policies outlined on that page during checkout.
Session 1: June 22nd - July 1st (Weekdays)
Session 2: August 10th - 21st (Weekdays)
As part of our 1-Week Creator/YouTube Summer Camps, you will receive a hands-on introduction to the digital video creative process, guided by an expert instructor and special guests. This one-week camp is designed to help you explore your creative impulses, taking your ideas from conception to production and sharing them with the world. Whether you want to start your own YouTube channel, sketch comedy, workout videos, or film and video game reviews, the sky’s the limit, and this camp will kickstart your journey as a content creator!
During this 1-week camp, you will learn to generate and develop a concept and script, plan your next steps, bring your idea to life, and share it successfully with an online audience. By the end of the week, you will have a completed project that directly reflects your creative vision!
You will gain hands-on experience using our camera, lighting, green screen, and sound kits, as well as access to a recording studio and editing computers equipped with Adobe Creative Suite and other software. Whether you are looking for a collaborative environment to workshop an idea, launch a series, or express your artistic side, this class is the perfect starting point for your journey.
The Creator/YouTube Summer Camps conclude with a premiere of your work in a supportive, collaborative environment, as a part of our summer showcase.If you’ve ever wanted to take your first step into the world of content creation, meet fellow collaborators, and receive personalized feedback and guidance from an experienced professional, this is the camp for you!
Camp Session Dates:
Session 1: July 13th - 17th
Session 2: July 20th - 24th
Camp Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM Daily
Before and after care is available (see FAQ/Policies page for more details) from 8 AM - 10 AM and 4 PM - 6 PM daily.
Location:
The Backlot - Film School and Studio
2 Winters Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
Cost: $800
These camps are designed for high school-aged campers, 13 to 18.
Campers can sign up for both Sessions and can expect to create different videos using a similar process each time. Prospective campers should also consider our 2-Week Filmmaking Summer Camps in addition to the Creator Camps.
For answers to additional questions and details about our various policies, including our Cancellation Policy, before and aftercare options, and more, please read our Summer Camps FAQ/Policies page. You will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree to the policies outlined on that page during checkout.
Session 1: July 13th - 17th (Weekdays)
Session 2: July 20th - 24th (Weekdays)