Sound Camp and Film Intensive Teach the Next Generation of Filmmakers to Find Their Creative Voice Friday, July 10, 2026
High school students learned the basics of creating sound effects for film and made their own short films at Point Park University's 2026 Sound Camp and Film Intensive.
"I had the time of my life at Sound Camp. We made sounds and put our own spin on sound effects in existing movie scenes," said Johnny Moschitta, a recent graduate of Pine-Richland High School who is pursuing a B.F.A. in film production at Point Park this fall. "If you want to learn about sound effects and sound editing, this is a great starting point."
The Pre-College Programs were led by faculty with industry experience, including:
- Sound Camp with Chris Gonzalez '16, sound mixer and storyteller
- Film Intensive with Associate Professor Kelly Donnellan, M.F.A., award-winning editor and director
At Sound Camp, students were introduced to the fundamentals of sound, audio recording and sound design for film.
"When it comes to movies, 85% of the experience is through sound and I love helping students discover storytelling through a sonic lens in music and then applying those skills in recreating a scene from a movie," Gonzalez said.
During the one-week Sound Camp, students gained hands-on experience using Mac edit labs with Avid Pro Tools and worked in the Dolby Atmos Mix Room and Foley/ADR Studios.
"The most exciting part of camp was getting to work in the Foley Studios because I've always been interested in how sound is developed and how to use the software," said Abby Hevener from Stroudsburg High School. "Sound Camp was a very welcoming environment. The teachers were there to support us with whatever we needed."
Sound Camp also worked in tandem with the Film Intensive, which is an introduction to the basic principles and practices of cinema production. Students learned how to write, edit and produce their own short films and served in key crew positions on their classmates' projects.
"One of my favorite moments from camp was watching the collaboration unfold. Film Intensive students spent two weeks working together in production teams, rotating through crew positions and helping each other bring their creative visions to life. Then, for the first time, they partnered with our Sound Camp to create custom Foley and sound design in Pro Tools," said Donnellan. "Seeing our filmmakers and sound designers bounce ideas off one another and discover how much sound could elevate a story was incredibly exciting. It reminded everyone that great films aren't made by one person: they're made by talented people working together."
For Zachary Gasto from North Hills High School, the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals at Film Intensive was invaluable.
"Not only did I get to write a film, but I got to work on it with people who have similar goals. This collaboration taught me so many new things about how to make a great film."
Sophie Purvis from Peters Township High School agreed.
"I learned how to use a camera and Adobe Premiere, which was really cool," she said. "As one of the youngest ones in the Film Intensive, it was nice to lean on the upperclassmen for advice. It's good to know I can stay in contact with new friends for future projects."
Added Donnellan: "I look forward to teaching the Film Intensive every year because working with students as young as 14 is incredibly inspiring. They’re eager to learn, adept with the tools and I could be teaching the next Curry Barker (Obsession) or the next "A24 sensation." It’s a glimpse into the future of filmmaking, and that’s what makes it so rewarding for me."
2027 Pre-College Offerings
Point Park's Office of Pre-College Programs is committed to shaping innovative educational experiences for youth and high school students through Summer Camps and Intensives and dual enrollment. Learn more about 2027 program offerings as they are announced.