After-School Courses
Registration is open.
The JBFC offers innovative after-school courses in media, documentary and fiction film production, screenwriting, cinema studies, animation, and so much more.
Scholarships are available for participants with financial need. Scholarships are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to apply now.
Camp and Course Policies at the Lab
Frame by Frame: The Art of Animation
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 6th–8th | One Day/Week | March 6–March 27, 2026
$200
Animation is so much more than cartoons. It’s an art form that can tell any story, in any style. Through a variety of styles, The Art of Animation delves into animation as both an artistic medium and a storytelling device. Students will analyze visual styles, narrative structures, and the evolution of animation in American cinema, from the groundbreaking visuals of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to the unique use of stepped animation in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
More Information
Filmcraft 101 (Middle School)
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades 5th–8th | One Day/Week | March 11–May 27, 2026
$750
Dive into the world of filmmaking with a course that’s as hands-on as it is fun. In Filmcraft 101 (Middle School), students will get to play with cutting-edge cameras and editing software, master cool camera tricks and lighting magic, and unravel the secrets of great visual storytelling.
More Information
World Building and Character Development
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | March 3–May 12, 2026
$700
Get ready to learn the essentials of world building, storytelling, character design, and more! In World Building and Character Development, create and develop character concepts, discuss and experiment with writing techniques to build plotlines and lore, and explore original worlds made by you and your fellow storytellers. Newcomers and experienced writers are all welcome to journey into new worlds and bring the fantastical to life.
More Information
What a Twist!
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | March 11–May 20, 2026
$700
How do you write a script that follows the rules of storytelling but still surprises people? Too often, novice writers are so desperate to buck convention that they eschew all notions of formula or plot. But the truth is, like any artist, a screenwriter has to first master the basics of their craft (act structure etc.) before turning them on their head. In this screenwriting course, we’ll take a look at how films that are more “traditional” and films that are more “experimental” all follow certain genre conventions. Then, we’ll learn how to upend or adapt tropes in creative and personal ways, to make a story that feels unexpected.
More Information
Filmcraft 101 (High School)
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | March 12–May 28, 2026
$750
Dive into the world of filmmaking with a course that’s as hands-on as it is fun. In Filmcraft 101 (High School), students will get to play with cutting-edge cameras and editing software, master cool camera tricks and lighting magic, and unravel the secrets of great visual storytelling.
More Information
Filmcraft Studio
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | March 10–May 26, 2026
$750
Ready to take your filmmaking further? Filmcraft Studio is the next step for students who have completed Filmcraft 101 (High School) and want to keep creating, experimenting, and refining their craft. Designed as a repeatable studio experience, this course invites returning filmmakers to develop new projects each semester while deepening their technical skills and creative voice.
More Information
Frame by Frame: Cinema's Cult Classics
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | April 13–June 8, 2026
$425
Get ready to dive into some of the most beloved unconventional films ever made. In Cinema’s Cult Classics, we’ll explore movies that have gained dedicated followings over time, dissecting their cultural significance, unconventional storytelling, and the reasons they continue to resonate with audiences long after their initial release. From the comic book style editing of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, to the feminist edge of Sucker Punch, to the dissection of identify in The Breakfast Club, we’ll uncover what makes a film a “cult classic” while building introductory cinema studies knowledge. That’s so fetch.
More Information
Frame by Frame: Only Human
Registration is open.
After-School Course | Grades: 9th–12th | One Day/Week | April 17–June 5, 2026
$425
In this deeply personal exploration of modern cinema, Only Human invites students to discover how filmmakers capture the messy, beautiful complexity of being alive. Is it the story, the music, the acting, or the moment itself? Through eight unforgettable films, we’ll dive into what it truly means to feel in cinema. Spanning genres from coming-of-age and musicals to romance and even superhero epics, the course examines how filmmakers use performance, music, color, and narrative to connect with us on an emotional level. From the quiet resilience of Fruitvale Station to the dreamlike longing of La La Land and Past Lives, each film asks us to see ourselves, and others, with empathy and honesty.
More Information
