Blake Cortright is all smiles. And he should be. Because it’s almost unheard of for a 16-year-old to produce a documentary and have it air on PBS television. Blake took the skills he learned from Compass Film Academy’s Summer Film and Acting Camps, and used them to produce The First Encampment. The film is the story of the first Boy Scout camp in America at Silver Bay, New York, in 1910. The documentary will be aired this summer on Blake’s local PBS station, WMHT.

“The atmosphere at Compass was filled with challenge and encouragement,” said Blake’s mother, Connie Cortright. “He learned the importance of story, and he had the chance to work with filmmaker Tom Lowe, who was an inspiration for him.”

Lowe, an award-winning director, screenwriter and novelist, returns this year to the Film and Acting Camps at Compass. He wrote and directed the critically acclaimed PBS documentary, ZORA’S ROOTS. Some of his other PBS films include RIVER INTO THE NEW WORLD, and THE SPONGE DIVERS OF TARPON SPRINGS. He’s also a mystery/thriller novelist whose latest book, THE 24TH LETTER, is receiving excellent reviews.

“I look forward to returning to Compass Film Academy for the Summer Film and Acting Camps. The students have proven to be extraordinarily talented. Josh Courtade and the teaching staff there are some of the best in the filmmaking business,” Lowe said from his home in Florida.

The Summer Film and Acting Camps are opportunities for students to learn by doing. The film and acting students work together alongside seasoned instructors. The young filmmakers produce as a team in an adrenaline-pumping, creative environment. They’ll learn the craft of storytelling through the eye of the camera by understanding the techniques of story structure, script writing, location scouting, composition and editing. Also, they’ll learn how to cast talent and how to work with actors.

The Acting camp features hands-on instruction from Lowe’s daughter, Ashley, who works as an actor in Los Angeles. She received extensive training in New York City and Los Angeles. In the Acting Camp, students will learn on-camera techniques for film and television, how to approach casting, and will actually star in the films produced from the film camp.

Each team of students will produce a short film during the week, and the films will be featured in a premiere for parents and friends Friday afternoon, the last day of the camps. Student will take home a DVD of his or her film, and a solid foundation to build upon in the world of filmmaking and acting. They’ll make new friends and lasting memories.

Blake Cortright said, “I enjoyed the team approach to filmmaking at Compass’s Summer Film Camp. Working with actors who knew how to work on camera was a real blast, too. I made some friends, and the skills I learned helped me produce and get a film on my local PBS television station. ”

The Summer Film and Acting Camps are for students 13–18 years old. The camps run July 12–16. The cost per camp is $599, and the last day to register is June 30th. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Parents can register their children by calling the academy at (616) 458-4238. For more information, visit www.compass.edu.

To learn more about Blake and his production company Plasma Productions visit www.plasmaproductions.net. For more information about The First Encampment visit www.thefirstencampment.com and become a fan on Facebook.