Digital Media Academy

For Mother and Two Teen Children, Digital Media Academy’s Summer Program is a Win-Win-Win

Searching for the ideal teen summer camp is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Today’s parents and teens are choosier, and the choices have multiplied — from tech camps to sports camps to theme camps — making it harder than ever to find just the right option. “It’s tough for parents to figure out which programs will be worthwhile,” says Robyn Tepper, “especially when you want something that will engage your kids, be fun and educational at the same time.”

Tepper faced that challenge herself when looking for a summer program for her daughter Raelyn, 16 at the time, and son Dylan, 13. To add to the complexity, Tepper wanted a program that would mix indoor with outdoor activity and that would appeal equally to both her teen children. “My kids are 3 years apart, with different interests, so what were the chances I’d find something that would work for both of them?”

The chances, it turned out, were excellent — once Tepper learned about Digital Media Academy’s Extreme Sports Video Production class. The class gives teens a chance to shoot their own videos at extreme sports events, and teaches them to edit their footage into films using Final Cut Pro software. By the end of the course each student produces a full-fledged extreme sports movie.

That sounded like a winning combination for both Raelyn Tepper, a gymnast with a budding interest in filmmaking, and her brother Dylan, who enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and technology. Not only was the subject matter a perfect fit for the two teens, but the course also fulfilled a technology requirement at their high school. The fact that the course was offered on the Stanford University campus was an additional plus.

The class exceeded expectations on all fronts. Says Raelyn, “I learned so much — all about camera techniques for extreme sports, which can be really challenging, and how to use Final Cut Pro.” She was equally enthusiastic about the instructor: “Not only was he an amazing teacher, but he also had a degree in filmmaking with years of professional experience. I had a lot of questions, and he was always willing to help.” Raelyn got so much out of that first Digital Media Academy (DMA) course that she decided to return the following summer for two more: Extreme Sports Video Production II and Final Cut Pro II–Advanced Editing Techniques.

Those experiences contributed to Raelyn’s eventual decision to pursue a career in film. After graduating from high school, she applied to the prestigious film and media arts program at Chapman University in Los Angeles — and was accepted partly on the strength of a film she produced at DMA. “It was about extreme athletes and how they overcome fear,” she says.

For Dylan, too, his time at DMA was memorable. “My favorite experience was the day when we got to go out and film guys doing back flips on BMX bikes. I loved learning how to shoot the action and create actual films.” It’s a talent that Dylan has continued to develop as a hobby and in high school projects. “His filmmaking abilities have made him popular in group assignments,” laughs Robyn Tepper. “All the kids want to be in his group. Those skills have been real source of motivation and a confidence-builder, which is great for a teen.”

Overall, the family could hardly be more pleased with DMA. “It was really fun, I learned a ton, and I’m using all those skills in my studies at film school,” says Raelyn. “It was a wonderful experience.” Dylan agrees: “I’ve recommended it to friends and would tell anyone interested in filmmaking or other digital media topics that it’s a great thing to do.” Says Robyn Tepper, “It’s a great way to open up a new world to your kids, to open their eyes to possibilities. If I had more kids, we’d do even more classes.”