More than 100 students are working with college educators and industry titans to learn how to write, produce and edit their own short films.
Kurt Sensenig, a producer and host of TV and web-media, holds a masters degree in journalism from Temple University; he teaches the students how to record clear sound.
Tammy Stedman Tiehel, an Academy-Award winning producer, surprised the students today by sharing her Oscar statue with them.
"It was a lot heavier than I thought it was. It was really cool to see it in person," Katie Sweeny of Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School said.
"You really learn a lot from these accomplished people that come here to speak to the students and I think they enjoy it, too," Central High School junior Michael Arter said.
Entertainment veterans like Marty Zied, agree. The Emmy-award winning, producer of legendary programs like ABC's 20/20, says these teens have great ideas.
"Some of them are totally off the charts, some are hysterically funny, some aren't developed, but even so, they're an enthusiastic, pretty fresh bunch," Zied said.
During the next three months these students will have access to a full range of state of the art video equipment to produce their short films.
Last year, students produced a variety of 30-sec. shorts in three categories, fictional, documentary and experimental.
"Yes, I do [have high hopes]. I want to do a comedy now," Central High School sophomore Jamilah Wall said.
In its second year the festival has doubled in size.
"We've invited 5 additional schools, we had five last year, we got five new ones coming from all over the Philadelphia area, the city and the surrounding suburbs," film festival director Dustin Morrow said.
This festival will culminate with a Hollywood-style premier. Nine students will be awarded scholarships, provided by the Greenfield Foundation.
