Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Karsch.
Tom, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
With local film production on the rise and technology creating greater access to filmmaking then ever before, I started Camp Flix in 2012 with a goal of giving Atlanta tweens and teens a one-week real-world experience immersed in the world of filmmaking. At the time I started Camp Flix there were many options for kids interested in sports but fewer options for those a little more creatively inclined; there seemed to be a real void in the market. The kids learn from local filmmakers and academics and over the course of the week, make a short film with 6-7 other campers. Campers learn the process from concept pitch through final cut and we put a lot of emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. It is also a place where kids with a passion for film can meet other kids with similar passions.
Incredibly, we have had one film “In Our Eyes” selected for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in 2106 and another film, “Dear Drew” ran in several film festivals around the country. Both were truly extraordinary achievements given the ages of the kids and the short timeline (5 days) that they had to make them.
We started with two sessions in July, one at Emory University and one held at Oglethorpe University and we have grown to add a third session in June and now host 250+ kids per summer. Currently in the works are a holiday program offering, quarterly workshops and an after-school program.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like any new business, the challenge was getting our brand’s voice heard among the competition of summer camp options available to parents in the Atlanta/Georgia area. As it turned out, there was a need for a camp like this in the southeast as we quickly attracted campers from North Carolina, Florida, etc. The smartest thing we did was to invest in search engine marketing to get us on the map; we wanted to make sure that when you searched for a filmmaking camp in the southeast, that our name would come up. We also created partnerships with various organizations around town, including Lefont and Midtown theaters, as well as Campus MovieFest, the Atlanta Film Festival and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, to get the word out. Not being a filmmaker myself, the primary challenge was to find Atlanta filmmakers who would be willing to take time out of their busy schedules to work with our kids, and even that turned out to be easier then I thought it would be. Turns out that there are a lot of people passionate about watching kids find their voice.
Camp Flix – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in teaching kids about the art of filmmaking in a friendly atmosphere where they can express themselves freely and work with other kids to create engaging content. As we have seen with the kids from Parkland, Florida, kids are a lot smarter and articulate then we give them credit for, and Camp Flix has always been about allowing kids to express what is on their minds. With smartphones, anyone can be a storyteller and a filmmaker but we want to create and environment where collaboration and teamwork are stressed as the pillars for successful filmmaking. At Camp Flix, campers learn from filmmakers and local film professors about screenwriting, sound mixing, lighting, directing, cinematography and editing, and then apply what they learn as they make a short film with 6-7 other crew members during the week. The climax of the week is a Hollywood-style premiere where their films are shown to the parents, staff and other campers. Our overnight kids get to work on a second project, usually a Public Service campaign, which allows them to learn a different set of skills. Past projects have included anti-bullying PSAs in collaboration with the Cartoon Network or tolerance-themed content created for the Breman Museum and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
After a successful career in the television business, I now measure success by my ability to have a positive impact on others, whether it be thru a business like Camp Flix, one-on-one mentoring and most importantly, helping my own sons to become successes in their own right. The most gratifying aspect of Camp Flix has been the feedback that I have received from parents about their kids’ experience and how it has helped them come out of their shells, helped them find peers with the same passion and interest in film that they have and in some cases, has led to a formal study of filmmaking in college. In terms of business success, the primary markers are the ability to sell out every summer and the high percentage of campers who return for multiple summers.
Pricing:
- $645.00 for Day Camp, $1,345.00 for Overnight Camp
Contact Info:
- Address: 1820 Peachtree Street NW #808
Atlanta, GA, 30309 - Website: www.campflix.com
- Phone: 404-863-6778
- Email: karsch24@aol.com
- Facebook: Camp Flix
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