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Camp Instructors Filmmaking & Camp Instructors Animation

Jacob Burns Film Center
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Job Titles:           Camp Instructor Filmmaking and Camp Instructor Animation - 2025 Summer Camps

Report To:          Director of Education

About Us:

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) gathers audiences, students, and filmmakers to experience the joy of film, and to learn about the craft, ourselves, and each other. As a nonprofit cultural and educational institution located in Pleasantville, NY, the JBFC is dedicated to presenting the best of independent narrative, documentary, and world cinema, promoting visual literacy, and making film a vibrant part of the community.  Learn more about the organization at burnsfilmcenter.org

Position Objectives: 

The Jacob Burns Film Center is seeking Camp Instructors, two for filmmaking and one for stop-motion animation to join our team of educators at its Media Arts Lab Summer Camps. The Camp Instructor is a role that leads a group of 9-10 students through the filmmaking or animation process and oversees two Camp Counselors.

The Camp Instructor is responsible for leading their group and, with the help of their Counselors, facilitating the creative process.  Ultimately, each group of filmmaking campers will produce two short films (3-5 minutes each), and each group of animation campers will produce three short stop-motion animations (1-2 minutes each).  All creations will have a strong emphasis on storytelling, peer feedback, and collaboration.  The Camp Instructor is also responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, fun, collaborative, and empathetic environment.

The Camp Instructor must also manage two Camp Counselors, who will assist the group in a supportive role, by clearly communicating the daily plan, ensuring learning goals and timelines are understood and met, and setting a positive example for camp leadership.  There will be some training hours required prior to the start of Camps and the completion of a First Aid/CPR course.

For more information about each camp section, please click on Filmmaking Camp and Animation Camp.

Responsibilities:

  • Create (with support from the Director of Education) weekly curriculum to teach 4th-12th grade students basic Filmmaking or Stop-Motion Animation.
  • Guide and lead creative media-making projects (storyboarding, filming/animating, editing), and ensure delivery of finished short films or animations at the end of the week.
  • Host your group’s portion of a Friends and Family Screening at the end of each camp session at our theater
  • Coordinate class equipment, space, and material needs, in collaboration with the Camp Coordinator and the Equipment Manager.
  • Oversee the setting up and breaking down of classroom studios by Camp Counselors.
  • Support campers’ creative use of equipment and software.
  • Communicate daily with the Camp Coordinator, specifically regarding camper needs and accommodations.
  • Manage two Camp Counselors, as they support class activities, help identify and attain learning goals, and participate in the production of final group projects.
  • Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and fun environment for campers.

Required Qualifications:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Experience teaching children and young adults.
  • Demonstrated experience in Filmmaking or Stop-Motion Animation production.
  • Strong leadership and communication skills.
  • Experience working as part of a creative team toward project-based goals.

Applicants Should Demonstrate the Following:

  • Leadership and initiative in guiding students through the creative process, with the ability to meet weekly camper project deadlines.
  • Love of film and arts education.
  • Flexibility to lead and work as a member of a creative team.
  • Experience with Adobe Suite (Adobe Premiere) or Dragonframe Animation Software (or similar professional stop-motion software).
  • Experience with professional filmmaking and stop-motion animation equipment.
  • Adeptness at working with different learning styles and personalities.
  • Proficiency at multitasking and spur-of-the-moment problem-solving.
  • Outgoing and energetic personality.

Ideal Applicants Would Have:

  • Mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud and/or Dragonframe Animation Software (or equivalent).
  • Deep technical knowledge of cameras, related equipment, computers, and the technical aspects of a production workflow.
  • Experience working in a day camp or full-day education setting.
  • Experience working in a managerial role in a small-team setting.
  • A passion for creating safe, fun, and educational environments.
  • Love of teaching, film, and animation!

Hours:  Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 3:30pm, 30-minute unpaid lunch break, 32.5 hours/week

Orientation:       Orientation will take place at the JBFC Media Arts Lab and over Zoom, is required, and will include training in:

  • Equipment and Software 
  • General Camp Information and Structure
  • First Aid/CPR

First Aid/CPR Training is mandatory for all camp staff and will be held in the months leading up to camp. Please note that there will be an online portion of the course that needs to be completed before this date. 

Staff will be compensated for this training time.