About Take 1
Take 1: Teen Filmmaking Lab is an instructional and collaborative program for any high schoolers in the Milwaukee area to come together and learn more about filmmaking. Over the course of the semester, students will learn about each stage of the filmmaking process from start to finish–everything from coming up with that very first idea, to writing, to production skills like cinematography, sound design, directing actors, costumes, and more, to editing your film and getting it out for the world to see.
The group is instructed by two practicing filmmakers in Milwaukee that cover a wide range of experience in both fiction and documentary work. Along the way, students will have the chance to work with equipment in hands-on workshops and activities and will be joined by visiting filmmaker guests from Milwaukee (and sometimes from across the country!) to share their experiences and advice.
While diving into the building blocks of the process, students are tasked with creating their own short films that will be screened as part of a showcase in Milwaukee’s historic Oriental Theatre at the end of the semester. The group meets once a week on Monday evenings for 16 weeks.
Applications open for the Fall semester in July and for the Spring semester in January, so keep your eyes peeled if you or someone you know would like to be a part of this enthusiastic group of young filmmakers in Milwaukee!
Take a look at a trailer for our most recent cohort from Fall 2023
If you have questions about the program, please email our instructors Ian Cessna (youthfilmian@mkefilm.org) or Marquise Mays (marquise@mkefilm.org) to find out more!