Future Director Camp
Held inside an actual TV studio in Palo Alto, the Future Director Camp offers kids a fully immersive Mandarin learning experience while fostering innovation, confidence, and public speaking skills, preparing them to thrive in the AI era!
Dates: July 28 to August 1, 2025
Time: 9am to 3pm (Extended Care to 5pm)
Ages: 3th to 6th Grade
Language: Mandarin (Proficiency Requirements)
Location: Midpen Media Center (900 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303)
Tuition: $600
Future Director Camp: Humanity & Creativity in the AI Era
🤖 How do we preserve humanity in the age of AI? Can AI learn what it means to be human? Future Director Camp immerses children in creative filmmaking, allowing them to explore the relationship between humans and AI while learning Mandarin naturally through storytelling!
📢 Full Mandarin Immersion – Learning Through Play! In this camp, kids will write scripts (using AI too), assign roles, rehearse lines, and film short films — all in Mandarin! Through real-world filmmaking experiences at an actual TV studio, they will improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a fun and engaging way.
🎬 Sparknify brings the “Human vs. AI” concept from the startup world into the classroom, inspiring kids to think critically about how AI and humans coexist. This class is derived from the Sparknify Human vs. AI Film Festival, happening on May 17, 2025, at Plug and Play Tech Center —open to the public — where students and parents are welcome to attend!
A Little Advice for Parents
At Sparknify, we believe that learning through play is the most effective approach, especially for children learning Chinese abroad. Through immersive, game-based experiences, kids naturally build confidence and language skills. Here, they don’t just learn Chinese—they also develop storytelling and directing abilities through creative filmmaking, making the learning process fun, engaging, and rewarding! 🎬✨
Super Fun
Camp Highlights: Creative Filmmaking & Chinese Learning
🎬 Immersive Chinese Learning – Kids will explore filmmaking techniques while naturally acquiring Chinese vocabulary and sentence structures. Through role assignments, script reading, rehearsals, and filming, they’ll experience every stage of movie production while enhancing their language skills in an engaging way.
🎭 Expert-Led Training – Professional directors, actors, and special effects artists will teach acting skills, filmmaking methods, and special effects techniques. Kids will learn the fundamentals of acting and discover the magic behind cinematic effects.
🤖 AI-Powered Creativity – Students will integrate AI-generated video technology with traditional filmmaking to create unique and imaginative productions. From zombies to vampires, outer space to deep-earth adventures, kids will explore how AI learns human emotions and think about the future of humanity and technology!
✨ Film in a Real TV Studio – In a professional production environment, kids will experience directing, acting, and editing, boosting their creative confidence!
Program Schedule:
🎭 Role Assignment & Script Reading – Kids will take on roles, guided by instructors to read scripts while learning Chinese vocabulary and sentence structures in a natural, engaging way.
🎬 Rehearsal & Acting – Through scene practice, students will develop acting skills while improving their Chinese listening and speaking abilities.
💄 Makeup & Costume Design – Working with instructors, kids will design character makeup and costumes, expanding their Chinese vocabulary through hands-on experience.
🎥 On-Site Filming – Using a professional TV studio, kids will shoot their films in real production settings, creating visually stunning content while learning camera and film-related Chinese terms.
🎞 Post-Production & Screening – Under expert guidance, students will edit their films, add soundtracks, and watch their final productions in a TV studio screening room!
✨ Future Director Showcase Day – Parents are invited to the presentation on the last day of the camp to vote on whether each film was made with AI or traditional filmmaking, just like the Sparknify Human vs. AI Film Festival!
📢 Program Fees Depend on Enrollment – Space is limited — register early as tuition will be adjusted dynamically based on availability. Let’s inspire the next generation of storytellers! 🚀
Mandarin Proficiency Requirements
We welcome children with basic Mandarin communication skills to join the Future Director Camp! While complete fluency is not required, participants should be able to understand and express basic ideas in Mandarin to engage in camp activities. Our immersive environment encourages natural language learning, allowing students to improve their Mandarin skills while having fun with filmmaking. Our instructors will adjust accordingly to the skill level of your child. If your child can follow simple instructions and communicate at a basic level in Mandarin, they will have a great experience at camp!
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