JAM is now offering film and media courses to support in-depth learning in diverse areas of digital storytelling and media creation. Intended for adults (16+), courses are designed by JAM staff members eager to share their passions and practices with the community. JAM values accessibility for all; tuition assistance or waiver is available upon request. Spring courses run from March 17 – April 15. See below for details.
Screenwriting
5 Sessions, March 17 – April 14
The primary goal of this course is to help participants complete a screenwriting project for film or television. Specific skills students will gain include: command of screenwriting form; ability to analyze story structure in feature film, short film, and TV (episode/series); strategies for developing characters; writing practices for completing and revising work. Homework will include weekly writing, reading peers’ pages, and optional reading assignments (expected 5-10 hours/week). Prior experience with screenwriting is recommended (not required).
- Mondays, 5:30-7:30pm
- For Adults (16+)
- 4 – 8 participants
About the Instructor
Samantha Davidson Green is a writer and director who enjoys storytelling on screen and stage (when she’s not leading JAM and raising her three boys). Samantha earned her MFA in Film Directing (2005) from UCLA Graduate School of Film, TV and Digital Media where she and fell in love with the collaborative process of filmmaking. Her short films took home some festival awards, including Best Student film at Tribeca for “Dead End Job” and Best Director at Tupelo Film Festival for short doc “Mr. Jimmy’s Birthday Challenge.” Two of her scripts were selected by Gotham Film’s “Emerging Narrative” program, and she directed her first indie feature Thrasher Road in 2016 (now streaming on Amazon, TubiTV, etc). She has taught filmmaking and directing at Dartmouth and CCV, but screenwriting – where the story begins – is her favorite part of the process. Learn more at sdavidsongreen.com.
Animated Short Film Production
5 Sessions, March 18 – April 15
Have you always wanted to make an animated short film but didn’t know where to start? Worried that you don’t have the right software, time, or money? With this course, you’ll learn the essentials of short filmmaking with an emphasis on tapping into your creative voice, to help you bring to life the stories you’ve always wanted to tell, regardless of your resources and budget. No experience necessary!
- Mondays, 5:30-7:30pm
- For Adults (16+)
- 4 – 7 Participants
About the Instructor
Noah Mauchly graduated in 2020 from the Kingston School of Art with a degree in Animation and Illustration. His animated short films have played in festivals across North America and Europe. People can see his YouTube channel Noah Sportsman, where he posts most of his animated shorts and videos or find him on instagram @idontnoahmockley for all the other bits and bobs.
Podcast Production
4 Sessions, March 19 – April 9
Learn the basics of podcast production, from how to get the most out of your recording and editing software, to how to host with panache, to what kind of clean up goes into making the most engaging, professional sounding podcast you can!
- Tuesdays , 5:30-7:00pm
- For Adults (16+)
- 3-6 participants
About the Instructor
Kelsie Hogue (She/Him) aka Sir Babygirl is a professional vocalist, songwriter and producer based in The Upper Valley. Her debut album “Crush on Me” via Father/Daughter Records was released in 2019 and she’s been carving her own path in the music industry ever since. After a year of touring her record internationally, COVID hit and she hunkered down to write and produce her second record. Five years and many twists and turns later, she’s putting the finishing touches on it with her co-producer, engineer and bandmate Larz Brogan independent of label or management. In the meantime, she works at JAM doing audio work and whatever shenanigans they ask her to do, and is passionate about empowering other working class musicians to lean into music production and take more control of their sound and bank account.
Drone Cinematography
4 Sessions, March 21 – April 11
This course invites participants to discover the exciting and largely untapped potential of drones across numerous fields. Each session will feature a classroom portion and a field trip where participants will get hands-on experience piloting. You can practice flying your own drone or fly JAM’s DJI Mini. Starting with piloting basics and an overview of the types of drones, then progressing to real-world applications from drone-racing to ecological applications to business and real estate ventures, this program offers a special introduction to First-Person-View (FPV) drone piloting. Participants will leave this course not only with new filmmaking skills but also with a vision of how drones can help address shared community goals. Whether it’s saving frogs and salamanders, contributing to wildlife data, or creating cinematic visuals, this class will open the door to a world of discovery and innovation.
- Saturdays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- For Adults (16+)
- 8 participants
About the Instructor
Ben Fletcher is a passionate drone pilot and creative communicator specializing in one of the newest developments in drone technology: First Person View (FPV) flight. Ben holds a degree in Neuroscience from the University of California Santa Cruz and has worked extensively in environmental education and research. He is the creator of the Hartford Salamander Team project, which organizes free public meetups to guide and train volunteers in amphibian conservation efforts during spring migrations. Ben is a Part 107 Licensed pilot, has worked for JAM as a Government Videographer, for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies as a Project Biologist. He is eager to teach this class and explore the innovative applications of drones in film, science, and beyond with the JAM community. You can view his photography and keep up with his adventures on iNaturalist.