CINEMATIC ARTS &
MEDIA PRODUCTION 

What We Are Looking For

Cinematic Arts & Media Production (CAMP) (formerly Literary Media & Communications (LMC)) is the

storytelling department, across a range of platforms, but with a focus on writing as the core. We are

looking for students who are intelligent, respectful, humble, and intellectually curious about the world

and how it works. The prospective student should be confident about their voice and aware of the need

for effective communication. The student must read constantly and have an awareness of current

events. Prospective students must engage with technology and have an awareness of the possibilities of

emerging platforms as a means of storytelling.

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What to Upload/How to Prepare

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FOR THE AUDITION ITSELF:

There are three (3) requirements for the CAMP audition – submission of written materials, video

recording, and photo essay. If selected to proceed, you may be asked to participate in an interview or

workshop.

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WRITTEN PIECES

Portfolios will be submitted electronically through the Microsoft

form: https://forms.office.com/r/6UBWpQXs0b

 

Your portfolio must contain the following:

• Title page with applicant name, address, telephone number, school year 24-25 grade, and a

recent headshot, if available, of the applicant. Though highly recommended and encouraged,

not having a headshot will not negatively impact an applicant’s eligibility and determination.

• Titles for each written piece

• Samples of your best writing, which MUST include two (2) pieces from the following four

categories:

1. At least one original poem

2. An original short story of no more than 300 words

3. An original work of cultural critique/review (movies, books, art, music, culture) A one-page

personal essay on why you write and what motivates you creatively

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Note: We strongly encourage submissions that accurately reflect your creative spirit, even if independent

of schoolwork.

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Choose one of the pieces from your portfolio and write a reflection on your writing process of taking the

piece from a rough draft to a more polished draft. Be sure to include the following:

● Where you revised and why. In other words, identify what could be improved in the current draft and

how you made those improvements. These areas might include pacing, word choice, character depth,

dialogue, descriptive details, organization, mechanics, narrative voice, etc.

● Anything you learned about your strengths and areas of growth as a writer through the revision

process

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MAKE A (VERY) SHORT FILM

Create a short video or compilation of videos of 30 seconds or less. (A single film or individual videos).

Video may be creative, narrative, or experimental. Whatever tools you have are sufficient. Avoid

spending money.

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Beyond creativity, we want your work also to have these elements:

1. Unique camera movement. You must employ a method of camera movement: track, tilt, pan,

etc. You can run with the camera, spin the camera, etc. Any movement is fine if the subject is in

the frame and the camera is moving.

2. Unique lighting. Whether it be a face half in shadow, light passing through leaves, Rembrandt

lighting, silhouette, or whatever piques your interest. We must see you utilize lighting in your

video – outside of standard natural or three-point lighting.

3. Unique composition. Take advantage of an unusual angle, interesting framing, or something

interesting in the foreground or background of a subject - everything in the frame matters to a

filmmaker.

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PHOTO ESSAY

With your own photographic tools – no need to purchase no resources to complete this task, tell a

compelling visual story using photos only. Provide no less than (5) pictures that work together to

capture a moment, explore a narrative, or represent a creative concept as a body of work. Let the

images speak. Do not provide captions.

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OPTIONAL:

A printed or electronic sampling of any creative media work you may have completed or are working

on, such as (but not limited to):

• A blog

• A podcast

• A website

• Any film, documentary, or short footage you have worked on

• Digital or traditional photography

• Physical piece? Take a picture and have that item with you, if feasible, during your audition

interview

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NOTES

Two notes on a key part of the CAMP application:

• For your My School DC application online essay, please be sure to include your personal goals as

an artist and any experiences you may have had that could impact your decision to pursue this

course of study in the essay.

• If possible, please include an “Art/Other” recommendation as one of your three in the MSDC

Application. This could be a letter from someone who has read/viewed and critiqued your work

in any of the above genre or forms. (Note: Your application will not be penalized if you cannot

provide this additional letter.)

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The Audition Process Itself

The CAMP audition has three phases:

1. For the first phase, you must submit your audition portfolio/writing samples electronically by

the deadline (see Part 1 of “What to Upload/How to Prepare”).

2. Participate in an in-person interview which will be scheduled via email. The interview involves a

conversation with faculty about your submitted work and the reading assignment. The audition

interview will also include an in-person writing component.

3. For the final phase, if selected to continue you will take part in a special CAMP workshop held

in-person (or by Zoom as a work around for extenuating circumstances, which will be reviewed,

individually) by invitation, where you will have writing and group review exercises. For those

selected, participation in the audition classwork is mandatory for continued consideration as a

CAMP candidate.

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Have a Successful Audition

• Review/edit the portfolio items you will submit so we see your best work.

• READ. Great writers are constantly reading.

• Be prepared to discuss where you want to go in life, what you hope to accomplish.

• Engage – be an active participant in the audition class exercises.

Please note 504 and IEP accommodation is available. Please contact admissions@ellingtonarts.org with

any questions or concerns.