JAM FILM AND MEDIA LABS

Intermediate Screenwriting

• 10 sessions January 21 – April 11,2025 (no class on March 11)
• Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• For: Adults (16+)
• 4 – 8 Participants
• Class fee or with tuition waver/reduction by request

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).

About the Instructor, Samantha Davidson-Green

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 Film School where she and fell in love with the collaborative process of filmmaking. Her short films played at festivals and took home some awards, including Best Student film at Tribeca for her thesis film “Dead End Job” and Best Director at Tupelo Film Festival for her short doc “Mr. Jimmy’s Birthday Challenge,” which still plays on PBS stations (through VT Public’s “Made Here” series). Meanwhile, two of her scripts were picked up by Gotham Film’s “Emerging Narrative” program. She got to direct her first indie feature “Thrasher Road,” in 2016, currently available on Amazon, TubiTV, etc. She has enjoyed teaching all aspects of filmmaking and directing at Dartmouth and CCV, but screenwriting is her favorite part of the process – when the story is born. For more about Samantha Davidson-Green, visit sdavidsongreen.com.

JAM Scriptwriters’ Group

• Ongoing
• Every Other Monday 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (see events calendar)
• For: Adults (16+)
• Free and open to the public

Gather bi-weekly with a dedicated group of talented local writers for an informal peer review circle.

About Group Moderator, Cedar O’Dowd

Cedar O’Dowd is a screenwriter, filmmaker and aspiring animator. They completed their undergraduate degree in Film and Media studies at Colorado College before moving to the Upper Valley. They are a 2023 “Made Here” grant recipient and their short films have played at WRIF Emerging Filmmakers, Green Mountain Film Festival, VTIFF TRANSlations Seattle Trans Film Festival, and online as part of Ultra Dogme’s “Now Serving.” You can watch their most recent short here or find out more about what they’re up to on instagram @slamboni.driver

Intermediate Editing

• 8 sessions February 18 – April 1,2025 
• Tuesdays 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
• For: Adults (16+)
• 4 – 8 Participants
• Class fee or with tuition waver/reduction by request

So you’ve been editing your videos on iMovie or a similar program and you want to take your production value to the next level? This class is for you! Students will learn the language of editing – why editors make certain cuts – and get familiar with Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or Davinci Resolve. Specific skills students will gain include: media management, assembling a timeline, using key commands, adding effects and transitions, and more. Some prior experience is recommended (not required).

About the Instructors, Jordyn Fitch and Mike Cannon

Jordyn Fitch (JAM Community Engagement Producer) grew up in Florida and attended Dartmouth College where they pursued a Film and Media Studies major. They are the Production Manager at Junction Arts & Media. They live in Lebanon, NH with their lovely wife and slightly wilting plants. They are beyond thrilled to put it to use educating, empowering, and entertaining the Upper Valley community through media arts.

Mike Cannon has been an active creative member in several local visual-arts, music, and media groups including Here in the Valley (HiTV), EatVermont (instagram), Rocket in Vermont (instagram), and JAM. He has a background in music, sculpture, art and design (2D, 3D), and MAKING of all kinds, yet finds the medium of story-telling through video creation to be the most unifying and socially activating. From an undergrad arts education beginning in 1999, Mike has “sailed” through a Naval enlistment, Drexel College of Engineering, and most recently a Design & Media studies degree at CCV. Excited by the recent accessibility of low-cost, universally available media technology, Mike is dedicated to helping others skillfully tell stories and share their experiences in a compelling way that effectively ties them to the larger community of creators shaping our world through grassroots media involvement.

Animation

• 6 sessions February 18 – April 1,2025 
• Tuesdays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• For: Adults (16+)
• 4 – 7 Participants
• Class fee or with tuition waver/reduction by request

This class will teach the basics of animation and help to foster students’ artistic voices. Participants will work to create a short, animated final project of their choosing such as a narrated experimental piece or a music video. We will try out classic animation exercises and work in a few different softwares to overcome the blocks many people have from starting animated projects. Any and all experience levels are welcome.

About the Instructor, Noah Mauchly

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.

Short Format Cinematography Intensive

• One week intensive March 11 – March 15, 2025
• Wednesday – Friday 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM + Saturday/Sunday full days (times tbd)
• For: Adults (16+)
• 3-6 Participants
• Class fee or with tuition waver/reduction by request

This course will guide participants through creating a 1-minute film as a group over the course of a week. Participants will develop skills around camera operation, directing, lighting, acting, audio engineering, and writing with a focus on achieving that “cinematic look.”

About the Instructor, Chico Eastridge

Chico is technical director and senior producer at JAM and an art school drop out and admittedly has a lot to learn. Despite himself, he has occasionally managed to make some moving images that are pretty nice to look at. Here are a few of them.