Where the kids call the shots!

A Film School for Creative Kids

Working in small groups with experienced professionals and educators, students learn the basics of filmmaking, screenwriting and acting for the camera in a fun-filled, supportive environment.

Our Programs

Summer Camp Sessions

(7-12 years)

Location: Laurel Canyon

Acting for the Camera Camp:

Monday, June 17 - Thursday June 20

Legomasters Jr. Film Camp:

Monday, June 24 - Thursday, June 27

Chef’s Table Jr. Film Camp:

Monday July 8 - Thursday July 11

Legomasters Jr. Film Camp:

Monday July 22 - Thursday July 25

Acting for the Camera Camp:

Tuesday August 6 - Friday August 9

Cost: $550

Acting for the Camera

(7-12 years)

Location: Laurel Canyon

This after-school program is designed to be fun, while helping students develop confidence and strong speaking skills. Students work on- camera each week with instructors, view and discuss playback, learn memorization and audition techniques, improvisational skills and how to work with other actors.

Mondays, May 13 - June 24

3:00pm-5:00pm

Cost: $525

Customized Instruction

Canyon Kids Film Lab also offers one-on-one mentoring in acting, filmmaking and screenwriting, as well as consultation for auditioning, film editing and film festival submissions.

If you prefer to organize your own group of students for a project-based camp or after school course, please contact us.

Program Director:

Kathleen Man Gyllenhaal

Kathleen fell in love with movies at a young age and started making videos when she was in high school. She was a film professor at UC-Boulder and Vassar College, where she taught Directing, Editing, Screenwriting, Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking. She loves working with kids and her goal is to help them express themselves in an empowering way through media. Kathleen is a member of the WGA-West and has several award-winning documentaries to her name. She continues to work on her projects while teaching the next generation of filmmakers.

Instructor:

Devyn Ward

Devyn is a teaching artist, actor, and comedian based in Los Angeles. Originally from Denver, Devyn attended the University of Northern Colorado where she earned a double degree in Theatre Arts (Acting) and K-12 Theatre Education. Devyn moved to LA in 2019 and has taught at the Youth Academy for Dramatic Arts (YADA) for the last five years. She has been committed to educating young creative minds in acting, dancing, and vocals for the past 7 years and gets so much joy from watching children’s confidence and self-worth grow!

Instructor:

Joy Regullano

Joy is a writer/actor/comedian who wrote on the animated shows MONSTERS AT WORK and KUNG FU PANDA: DRAGON KNIGHT. Her TV acting credits include BARRY, LINCOLN LAWYER, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, MODERN FAMILY, SPEECHLESS, and SUPERNATURAL. She has performed improv and sketch around Los Angeles at UCB and Second City Hollywood. She was a Sesame Street writing fellow and she was recently nominated for an Emmy for writing on Sesame Street’s WORD OF THE DAY series!

Instructor:

Belle Guillory

Belle Guillory is a Los Angeles based screenwriter and actress. She is a 2021 Stowe Story Labs Programs and Fellowships Quarterfinalist. Her short film GOD BE WITH US premiered at the 2023 LA Comedy Film Festival and screened at the Indie Film Fest. Belle was nominated for the Broadway World Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Robby Award for Best Actress in a Drama for the play, Valley Song. At Warner Bros. Discovery, she worked in social corporate responsibility and behind-the-scenes on Westworld S4 and Candy Cane Lane as an assistant to Tracee Ellis Ross.

Instructor:

Kamara Pettway

A Los Angeles native, Kamara is a producer with a passion for film, especially drama and horror. Kamara graduated from The New York Film Academy with an MFA in Producing. She is currently working as an Executive Assistant at Upstream Pictures. Her goal is to portray more people of color, especially African Americans, in film/television in a non-stereotypical way.

Instructor:

Michelle Bankhead

Michelle was born and raised in Los Angeles. Growing up, she was always drawn to the performing arts. She began exploring acting in high school and that’s when her passion was ignited. Since then, Michelle has been working in the industry towards becoming a dedicated and hardworking actress. Michelle has been attending the Playhouse West acting school for almost two years. In 2022, she starred in her first lead role for a short called THANK YOU SADE. She is now also branching into writing and producing.

CAMP FORMS

Please download and submit completed forms prior to the start of instruction. All forms can be emailed to info@canyonkidsfilmlab.com.

• Medical Form
  

• Info & Waiver Form
  

• Payment Form