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The Program

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This is the fifth collaboration between the Radio-TV major at Chicago Vocational Career Academy and IFP-Chicago.  For six weeks each summer, select students from the CVCA Radio-TV program come together with mentors from IFP-Chicago and produce a short film.
 
All of the work on the production is done by the students.  Each student ends up with at least three different jobs - one in preproduction, one in production and one in postproduction.  Some end up with more than three jobs.
 
The adult mentors work with the students during preproduction to augment the training the students receive during the school year from their teacher, Roger Badesch, who is the program supervisor.  IFP-Chicago producer John Mossman works with Badesch as co-supervisor and producer.  IFP-Chicago also has three on-site interns.

As mentioned before, the students do EVERYTHING!  The script is a product of a class assignment.  Each student must write 11 scripts during their junior year for productions they will complete their senior year.  Among the scripts to be written are a comedy, drama, music video and documentary.  The drama and comedy scripts are reviewed by IFP-Chicago which then selects the script.
 
Students review the required positions for the production and then are interviewed by the mentors for the jobs the students would like to do.  By the third day of the program, students are actively involved in their specific job responsibilities working hand in hand with volunteer mentors - professionals from the film and TV industry.  See our other page with the student staff listing.  And check out the mentors who volunteer their time.

After meeting with the mentors, students break off into groups and write, shoot and edit a 'mini-movie', using what they've learned from their class and the mentors.  Then it's time for auditions, location scouting, wardrobe, set design, storyboarding, rehearsals and so much more to prepare for the week long shoot.
 
The shoot week finds the students running from one location to another, setting up lights, running audio, designing sets, checking makeup and wardrobe and filming.  And, while all this is going on, a documentarian is filming everything for the documentary on the making of the film.
 
After the shoot week, students enter post-production and start editing the film, composing the soundtrack and adding sound effects, designing the credits, compiling the DVD menus, researching film festivals, writing press releases, blogging and a whole bunch of other stuff.
 
Finally, the six weeks are over too quickly.  The students watch the finished film, the documentary, the bloopers short and make last minute changes.  A few weeks after the program ends, crew, cast, staff and families gather for a world premiere of the productions.  The films are posted online and entered into film competitions.
 
All in all, one of the most successful programs of its kind in America.  More than 30 awards and festivals including 4 Chicago TV Academy student 'Emmy' awards, 2 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences student 'Emmy' awards and official selections of the Heart of England International Film Festival, Hollywood Black Film Festival, Young Cuts International Film Festival (Toronto), Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival and many, many more.
 
Visit the CVCA Radio-TV and IFP-Chicago sites.  Click on the links below.