Film apprenticeship aims to teach storytelling

When Urban Avenues created Fish Camp Films, it aimed to teach high school students, specifically in Woodlawn, how to be storytellers.

A nonprofit designed to foster ideas and art initiatives around the Birmingham area, Urban Avenues was started by Mt Laurel residents John and Laura Lankford in 2013. 

Fish Camp Films started in April 2015 as an apprenticeship approach to teaching filmmaking in Birmingham. They rent a studio in Woodlawn shared with three filmmakers, and 15 students who move through each rotation of apprentices get to see firsthand how they work.

They held a camp last year that sent eight students out with video cameras and 35mm cameras to learn everything from scratch. Students filmed parts of the city, then spent time interviewing entrepreneurs in the city to hear what it takes to build a business.

Kayla Gladney, a producer for Fish Camp Films, learned about the program in film school at UAB in a class taught by one of the sector leads of Fish Camp Films. She got involved teaching students, and when a job opened up after graduation, Gladney accepted the position. 

“They wanted a young recent college graduate to take their place and keep the program going,” she said. “The students inspired me to be more creative. It was rewarding for me as well.”

The program recently started back and will have six sessions this semester. 

Shawn Mack, a senior at Woodlawn High School, has worked at both Five Loaves and Fish Camp Films and said both ventures have given her great opportunities. 

“At Five Loaves, I got to meet different chefs and learn essential skills I need for culinary school,” she said. “Fish Camp Films has inspired me to purchase a camera, and I’ve already learned really good skills to help me in the long run. I found a passion I didn’t even know I had.”

Mack said she has known she wanted to work in the culinary industry ever since she was 5. After graduation, her plan is to attend culinary school. Her advice for other students is to be open to new things.

“You can find something about yourself you don’t know,” she said. “That’s what happened to me, and it has worked very well. I encourage everyone to give things you haven’t thought about a chance.”