SAAC alumni take the lead at summer camps
Special to the NewsTimes
SAAC’s Summer Camps June 25-29 will be led by SAAC Camp alumni David and John Fort, and Josie Denson.
Movie Camp 2 “Short Films Start to Finish” with the Fort brothers will be held from 1-5 p.m. Denson, who will be joined by her mother Amy Allen, will lead “All the Way Off Broadway” in Glee Camp from 8 a.m-noon. Glee will meet in the morning only.
Movie Camp 2 “Short Films Start to Finish” is a student-focused, hands-on camp where students will be guided through the process of film making from pre-production, including storyboarding and writing, to post production editing. Students will get to use filmmaking equipment such as a DSLR, drone, green screen and professional editing software. At the end of the week, campers will have a five to seven minute short film.
David and John Fort have been interested in film and moving making since they were able to hold a camera. One of their earliest movies was a stop motion Lego movie made using their Star Wars Legos when they were in their early elementary years.
“We just used the camera to scroll through the photos to make a frame by frame stop motion movie,” David Fort said.
During their early junior high years, they created a series called Johnny Talk Productions.
This creative energy was encouraged and guided by SAAC Movie Camp teacher Mike Means.
“I love the fact that they took the class, helped with the class, and now they are teaching the class; it’s like passing the torch,” Means said. “Also, these guys know new technologies and are teaching me.”
In addition to growing up taking SAAC photography, movie and other classes, David Fort is minoring in film at Drexel University where he is a political science major. He also completed an IB class in film while in high school at George School in Newton, Pennsylvania, where John Fort is currently a senior.
“It’s our passion,” John Fort said. “If we weren’t filming a movie, we are acting out and pretending to be in a movie.”
Glee Camp, “All the Way Off Broadway”, is a lively, active camp where students will learn to sing and learn choreography and stage presence while performing Broadway numbers such as “Naughty” from Matilda, “Who Loves You?” from Jersey Boys, “Magic to Do” from Pippin, and “21 Guns” from American Idiot. Students will gain pride in building the dynamic showcase Friday in the Callaway Theater at 6 p.m.
Josie Denson, SAAC Camp alumna, has been seen on the SAAC stage recently in “Sunset Boulevard,” where she was part of the ensemble cast as well as of the choreography, and “Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.” performing the role of Golde. Audiences can see Denson on the stage in the SAAC summer musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” which will be performed July 12-15 and 18-22.
Denson comes from a musical family. Her mother, Amy Allen, who will be assisting and playing piano, is a musician; her recent album “Someday is Today” is available on iTunes and was named as “New and Noteworthy” at its release. Allen said she was “very grateful to the SHARE Foundation grant for student scholarships that enables the SAAC to reach further into the heart of the community to nurture more children’s and teens’ talent.”
“Thanks to the SHARE grant and the generosity of donors to the SAAC scholarships, more children have the chance to be a SAAC alumni,” Denson said.
Denson grew up attending classes and camps at the SAAC. She studied stage craft, including costuming with Darrin Riley, lighting with Colleen Means, art with the Jorge and Maria Villegas, ballet with Melissa Spears and Stephanie Lowrey, and others. Denson has been an intern for the Glee class for the past three years.
“I am excited about adding the choreography this year, because it adds oomph and more opportunity for expression,” Denson said. “It will be an exciting and dynamic SAAC Showcase.”
The SAAC Summer camps are sponsored by First Financial Bank. For more information or to register, call the office at 870-862-5474 or visit the SAAC website at saac-arts. org. SAAC is located at 110 E. Fifth St., El Dorado.