HuckleBerry
Center for Creative Learning
Emir Kapetanovic
Emir Kapetanovic is an award-winning film director and educator with 14 years of experience in film production and education. He has created socially engaged films, plays, web series, hip-hop videos, street performances, comedy shows, and stand-up comedy shows that have received national and international acclaim. He has extensive experience leading filmmaking programs and teaching film to children, youth, and college students in both the US and Europe. When working with students, he emphasizes a hands-on approach, collaboration, and the importance of film as a platform for sharing their stories.
Advanced Movie Making
Teacher: Emir Kapetanovic
Ages 12+
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Homework: Yes! Students will sometimes need to work on their scripts, storyboards, ideas for props and costumes, editing, and more!
Fall: “Commercial With a Cause” In this session, students will create their own short commercial-
style video that raises awareness about an issue of public interest. Instead of promoting a
product, the session will challenge students to use persuasive storytelling, visuals, and messaging
to highlight a cause they care about and inspire action or awareness.
Winter: “This is me!” This session will focus on documentary filmmaking. Students will learn the
fundamentals of nonfiction storytelling by diving into their own lives. Through guided activities,
they’ll explore how to conduct meaningful interviews, research personal and family history, and
shape that material into a compelling short documentary. The focus will be on discovering and
expressing identity through film, giving students the tools to tell a unique story that only they can
tell.
Spring: “Real Talk, Real Movie” In this advanced spring session, students will apply everything
they've learned to craft a powerful 3–5 minute film that reflects a story with personal, local, or
global significance. This unit emphasizes advanced directing and performance techniques, as
students collaborate in small production teams to transform their scripts into compelling visual
narratives. With a focus on cinematic storytelling, participants will take part in guided film shoots,
honing their skills both behind and in front of the camera. The session will culminate in post-
production training, where students will edit their work and premiere their final films at our end-of-
semester Film Festival.
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Contact:
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