Frame by Frame: Only Human
(Spring 2026)
Registration is open.
Grades: 9th–12th
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Dates: April 17–June 5, 2026
Session Length: 8 Classes. One Day/Week, Fridays
Cost: $425
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
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. Through pre-screening lectures and open post-film discussions, students will learn and apply core cinema studies concepts to better understand how visual storytelling moves us. 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. Across every frame, Only Human celebrates the search for belonging, forgiveness, and the courage to be seen for who we truly are.
Students will view eight films: Good Will Hunting, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Blue Bayou, Past Lives, Fruitvale Station, Sing Street, La La Land, and The Peanut Butter Falcon.
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:
4/17 – Good Will Hunting (R) – 1997
4/24 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R) – 2004
5/1 – Blue Bayou (R) – 2021
5/8 – Past Lives (PG-13) – 2023
5/15 – Fruitvale Station (R) – 2013
5/22 – Sing Street (PG-13) – 2016
5/29 – La La Land (PG-13) – 2016
6/5 – The Peanut Butter Falcon (PG-13) – 2019
Instructor
Detroit Hamell, M.A.
Detroit Hamell earned a master’s degree in Cinema Studies from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and his Bachelor’s Degree in Film Studies from Pace University in Manhattan. He is currently earning a second master’s degree in Adolescent Education from Pace University, with certification in English Language Arts and Theater Arts. He plans to pursue a doctorate in Cinema Studies. His journey with cinema began at the Jacob Burns Media Arts Lab in 4th grade, where he cultivated his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Since 2018, he has worked as a teaching assistant at the Media Arts Lab, inspiring young students to explore the fundamentals and joys of filmmaking. Detroit’s work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, 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, a collection of which was honored by 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.
