Heights Middle School Shorts is a three-week mixed-media film arts camp for Cleveland Heights-University Heights middle school students.
Guided by local professionals experienced in filmmaking, writing, acting, music, and facilitating youth creative expression, HMSS campers learn storytelling through the medium of film as they write short stories that they turn into short films. Each camper is part of a production team that writes and produces a film.
In 2024, campers wrote, directed, and produced nine films, all of which were shown at the 2023 Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and will be entered into the Cleveland International Film Festival’s FilmSlam®.
Visit the Heights Middle School Shorts website here.
HMSS Film Scores
Students work with an HMSS Music Instructor who will guide them to write and produce music for the films of Heights Middle School Shorts. This FREE after-school program is available to all 6-8th grade CHUH School District students.
HMSS Films
Guided by the wisdom of a quote often attributed to Confucius: “Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand,” Building Heights has created a production company to execute documentary projects that will be filmed and staffed by Heights students working directly under the guidance of industry professionals.
We are currently working on a project, directed and produced by Emmy-award-winning documentarian Kara White, that showcases the building and rebuilding of Coventry Peace Park.
HMSS Profiles
HMSS Profiles, an extension of Heights Middle School Shorts’ film camp, is open to Heights students in grades 6-9. Campers write, direct, and produce documentaries that profile Heights community leaders, in particular Heights High Alumni Hall of Fame members, in the BIPOC community.