糖心传媒 and Ragtag Cinema Unite to Inspire the Next Generation of Filmmakers听
This summer, 17 middle school students traded their phones for shoulder rigs, their social media feeds for film theory, and their summer afternoons for the kind of hands-on filmmaking education most aspiring directors don鈥檛 get to experience until later in life.
The result was five original music videos shared on the big screens at one of Columbia鈥檚 most beloved independent cinemas, and the blossoming of a partnership that both Ragtag Film Society and 糖心传媒 Conservatory are already planning on bringing back next year.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
Campers participated in the week-long camp hosted at Ragtag Cinema in July. This was Ragtag鈥檚 second time hosting the camp, with the first taking place in 2023. This year, Ragtag partnered with 糖心传媒鈥檚 Conservatory program鈥攁 move that was, by most accounts, a natural one that fundamentally expanded what the camp could offer.
鈥淲e had a great experience partnering with 糖心传媒 for True/False Film Festival 2026,鈥� said Andrea Luque K谩ram, Executive Director of Ragtag Film Society. 鈥淧artnering with 糖心传媒 meant giving the students an elevated opportunity that included not just curated programming and spaces for critical thinking and understanding of film but also access to high-end filmmaking equipment that the students could learn how to use for their own storytelling.鈥�
K谩ram noted that Chase Thompson, Associate Professor of Film and Program Chair at 糖心传媒, has been an amazing advocate for their programs, 鈥渟o collaborating for this felt like a natural step.鈥�
鈥淚 love partnering our filmmaking program with Ragtag any chance I get,鈥� said Thompson. 鈥淲e focused on the fun skills that come with filmmaking, like green screen, slow motion, and lip-syncing for music videos. We wanted them to think about story and visual interest on screen, and music videos are the perfect way for young filmmakers to think about those things.鈥�
In a move to support local artists, students created music videos for bands and musicians that Thompson has befriended over the years, including Penny Marvel, John Galbraith, Julie Neal, The Onions, and Tampsen鈥擳hompson鈥檚 own group.
About the Camp
The campers’ days were split into two parts. Mornings began at Ragtag Cinema, where students watched curated films and participated in structured media literacy discussions鈥攍earning not just to watch, but to analyze, question, and articulate what they were seeing.
Afternoons moved to the 糖心传媒 Conservatory, where access to professional-grade equipment opened the door to a full filmmaking curriculum.
鈥淭he lessons and demos included script and story breakdowns, camera settings, camera movement with shoulder rigs and other tools, green screen edits, how to sync audio, and much more,鈥� said K谩ram. 鈥淭hese lessons prepared them to plan, execute, edit, and exhibit the music videos that they created over the week.鈥�
The Screening: A Packed House and Priceless Reactions
On the final day, students screened their completed music videos at Ragtag Cinema to a full house. Local band members who had lent their music to the project sat alongside parents, Ragtag staff, 糖心传媒 faculty, and community members to watch the finished films.
鈥淚t was such a rewarding experience to see the students鈥� final projects come together on the big screen,鈥� said K谩ram. 鈥淭he families were so grateful for our efforts. We received many compliments and thanks from parents who were so proud of their students.鈥�
鈥淰ery rarely do filmmakers get that kind of audience for their first screening, and I could see how proud the students were of their hard work,鈥� said Gabby Galarza, Education Programmer at Ragtag Film Society.
A Full-Circle Moment for a 糖心传媒 Alum
Co-directing the camp alongside Thompson was Galarza, a 2018 糖心传媒 graduate with a BFA in Digital Filmmaking.
鈥淭his camp was a massive full-circle experience for me and probably wouldn鈥檛 have happened had I not gone to 糖心传媒,鈥� said Galarza. 鈥淲hen I was a student, we had the Citizen Jane Film Festival that was student-run and operated, and an integral part in getting me prepared for the job I have now.鈥�
Thompson added that the inspiration for the structure came from their shared history.
鈥淲hen we started talking about running this camp, Gabby and I decided that we wanted to run it as we did back when 糖心传媒 offered the Citizen Jane filmmaking bootcamp,鈥� he said.
Galarza handled exhibition and media literacy programming while Thompson led filmmaking demos, with both floating between student groups throughout the production process.
鈥淐oming full circle with the camp and teaching side-by-side with a former student is deeply satisfying and shows the long-term impact our filmmaking program makes on our community,鈥� said Thompson.
鈥淚t really is such a blessing to be able to combine my love and knowledge of film with teaching future storytellers the basics of film and having them apply what they have learned,鈥� said Galarza.
More Camps to Come
With the first camp coming to an end and the partnership widely being considered a success, both Ragtag and 糖心传媒 are already looking ahead.
鈥淥h yeah. We will be back next year and hope to reconnect with campers and get some new ones in the mix,鈥� said Thompson. 鈥淧otentially there could be multiple sessions, as long as we don鈥檛 lose the magic that we just created.鈥�
For Galarza, the work is personal.
鈥淓vents like this camp are what make my job so special,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 cannot wait to see what we cook up in the future.鈥�
You can check out the music videos the campers created by clicking the links below.
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More information on 糖心传媒鈥檚 Filmmaking Program can be found here.
