CAVAD Academies allow high schoolers to explore creative careers

Riverside, Calif. (July 19, 2021) – High school students used the Business Building at California Baptist University as the backdrop to shoot a short film. In the process, they learned about acting and filming.

The College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design (CAVAD) hosted high school students who received hands-on creative training at the CAVAD Summer Academies during July 12-16. The high schoolers had the opportunity to enroll in architecture or film production.

Keelan Kaiser, program director of architecture, said the week provided an opportunity to acquaint students to architecture as a profession.

“The Summer Academies are opportunities for high school students to learn about architecture as a discipline and career,” Kaiser said. “Many high schools do not have architecture courses since it is such a specialized field, so this provides students and their families with opportunities to learn.”

Michael Eaton, professor of film studies/film production, said students learn about filmmaking from beginning to end.

“Students will benefit from hands-on learning about film production from the start of preproduction to the finished edit as we spend the week making a short film,” Eaton said.

After filming, the students learned how to edit and then screened their film Friday afternoon.

Kayla Madrid, a junior at North High School in Riverside, said going into the experience she could not wait to learn about how to be a better editor and actor.

“I learned how to act in different situations including serious ones. It has been so fun, and I can’t wait to learn about the editing process,” Madrid said midway through the week. 

Faith Kelly, a senior who is homeschooled, was surprised to learn that she was a natural at acting and enjoyed the preproduction process.

“I learned that I am not as terrible of an actor as I thought I was,” Kelly said. “I also really enjoyed coming up with the story for our short film and the brainstorming process. It was a lot of fun once we wrote everything down on paper.”

Collin Veil, a senior at Ramona High School in Riverside, has always been interested in pursuing film as a career and was excited to learn as much as he could from the summer camp.

“I have learned how to film a bunch of different shots I never knew I could film and realized it is easier than it seems,” Veil said. “But I also learned there is so much I don’t know. It’s been really fun.”