Moving Pictures

WONDERWORKS and the JACK J. VALENTI SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON present the 20TH ANNUAL SUMMER FILMMAKING WORKSHOP, an introduction to production, editing, screenwriting, twentieth and twenty-first century cinema and criticism.

16 June - 18 July 2025 | 9AM - 4PM, M-F | University of Houston

Today, I demand that a film express either the joy of making cinema or the agony of making cinema. I am not at all interested in anything in between; I am not interested in all those films that do not pulse.

Francois Truffaut, “What Do Critics Dream About?” 1975

Moving Pictures can’t promise you a Hollywood ending, but it can help get you ready for your close-ups, tracking shots, story conferences, sound mixes, and final wraps. You’ll acquire an understanding of lighting, cinematography, production design, continuity, dramatic structure, location scouting, editing and a host of other concepts and skills essential to filmmaking.

In addition to classroom instruction adapted from the UH introductory film curriculum, you’ll collaborate with other students in scripting, acting, filming and editing short narrative “features,” using video and digital technology. You’ll also become a more knowledgeable moviegoer—each day concludes with the screening of a narrative or documentary film of special interest, introduced and discussed by members of the UH and Rice faculties or curators from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. All student productions are shown “out of competition” for an audience of parents and friends on the final afternoon of the workshop.

The workshop presupposes no prior background in filmmaking—just an active interest. Even so, the instruction and projects are sufficiently challenging to engage students who may already have some experience in filmmaking.

Moving Pictures is open to high school students of special promise and ability who will be entering grades 10, 11, or 12 next fall or who will have just graduated from high school this spring. Admission is competitive – Wonderworks requires at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average plus a high level of achievement in relevant core subjects and commensurate scores on relevant sections of the PSAT/SAT or ACT.

Tuition and fees (including supplies and equipment but not parking) are $1500. Scholarships are available in the form of full-tuition waivers, but only for students demonstrating true financial need. Admissions are determined on a need-blind basis. No student will be prevented from participating in the program because of inability to pay tuition.

The program is held at the University of Houston Central Campus, Monday – Friday, except 19 June and 4 July. Moving Pictures is meant to be enjoyable, but is also challenging and requires focused effort and commitment.

Please apply online starting 1 January. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 1 June. Early applications are encouraged and will receive early decisions. Late applications will be considered only if space remains available.

If you have questions or need additional information, please e-mail info@wonderworkshouston.org.