Frame by Frame: Only Human (Part 2)
(Fall 2026)
Registration is open.
Grades: 9th–12th
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Dates: September 18–October 23, 2026
Session Length: 6 Classes. One Day/Week, Fridays
Cost: $300
Camp and Course Policies at the Lab
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.
Frame by Frame: Only Human (Part 2)
What does it mean to be a human being? In this deeply personal continuation of Only Human, students will explore how filmmakers portray the emotional highs and lows of growing up, chasing dreams, forming relationships, and understanding ourselves. Through six films, students will experience different perspectives focusing on identity, family, and connection. Through pre-screening lectures and post-film discussions, students will learn how elements like performance, music, cinematography, and storytelling shape our emotional experience of a film. Together, we’ll explore questions like: What defines us? How do our relationships shape who we become? And why do certain films stay with us long after they end?
Students will view six films: Palo Alto, Daddio, Fremont, Booksmart, Dìdi, and Honey Boy.
Parents and guardians, please note the rating of each film below to determine if this course will be appropriate for your child before registering.
Course Dates:
September 18 – Palo Alto (R) – 2013
September 25 – Daddio (R) – 2024
October 2 – Fremont (Not Rated) – 2023
October 9 – Booksmart (R) – 2019
October 16 – Dìdi (R) – 2024
October 23 – Honey Boy (R) – 2019
Instructor
Detroit Hamell, MA, MS
Detroit Hamell earned a Master of Arts in Cinema Studies from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a Master of Science in Adolescent Education from the Pace University School of Education, where he received certification in English Language Arts and Theater Arts and was honored with the 2026 Outstanding Student of the Year Award. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from Pace University in Manhattan and plans to continue his scholarly work by pursuing a doctorate in Cinema Studies.
Detroit’s journey with cinema began at the Jacob Burns Media Arts Lab as a fourth grader, where he first discovered his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Since 2018, he has worked as an educator at the Media Arts Lab, helping young filmmakers develop both their technical skills and creative voices. His work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Jacob Burns New Lens Award, Best Director and Best Picture at NYLIFF, and Best Director at the Revolution Me Film Festival. He is also a published poet whose work was recognized with the Sarah Willis Award.
CampDoc
We are excited to partner with CampDoc, a third party program we will be using to collect and consolidate student registration information in order to streamline the registration process, and enhance the parent and guardian experience while your child is participating in our program(s). CampDoc will give parents and guardians full access to their own participant portal which they can log into at any time to view course details and information, and previously submitted documents.
Once a course has been purchased on the JBFC website, an email from CampDoc will follow within a few days with instructions on how to create a CampDoc account (if you do not have one already) and submit additional required registration information, such as an updated immunization record, a list of allergies, names of individuals who are authorized to pick your child up, doctor and insurance information, etc., and the deadlines by which this information must be received. We look forward to seeing your child this year.
