Outlast Filmmaking Institute:
Meet the 2025 Cohort
This five-day camp in Pine Ridge marked the beginning of our new Outlast Cohort—bringing together filmmaking, reflection, and connection.
Through a mix of workshops, wellness practices, and production sessions, students found their voice and shared stories that matter.
DAY 1
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DAY 1 ☆
Community, Story & Intention
We kicked off the Pine Ridge program with intention.
As this marked the first gathering of the new Outlast Cohort, we spent the morning building connection rather than jumping straight into filmmaking.
We started with "Flex Time"—a mix of games and team-building activities designed to break the ice and build trust.
Students laughed, listened, and began to form new bonds.
Next, Anika led a grounding wellness session that invited students to journal and reflect on their goals for the week. It was a quiet but powerful moment to set individual intentions.
From there, we moved into visual storytelling foundations. Students explored how camera angles, movement, and composition create meaning—laying the groundwork for strong documentaries.
Finally, students began pre-production: brainstorming topics and beginning to map out their group 60-second documentaries.
DAY 2
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DAY 2 ☆
Camera Skills, Set Roles & Editing Fun
The day began with a basic camera workshop. Students practiced setting ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance, and experimented with composition through a camera scavenger hunt.
Outlast Youth Leader Jayden then led a dynamic Set Etiquette session—sharing how to show up with professionalism, respect, and energy on set.
After lunch, students filmed short, creative scenes inspired by movies like Zootopia, Finding Nemo, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The focus? Practicing set roles, blocking, and visual storytelling.
The day ended with an editing workshop. Using DaVinci Resolve, students began assembling their footage—learning how pacing, transitions, and visual rhythm shape meaning.
DAY 3
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DAY 3 ☆
Lighting & Production Kickoff
The morning started with a hands-on lighting workshop.
Students rotated through different lighting setups—from natural looks to dramatic shadows—learning how to set mood and guide audience emotion.
Next, they entered their final pre-production phase. Each team finalized: their topic, interview subjects, key questions, and B-roll ideas.
In the afternoon, cameras rolled!
Production officially began, and students took the lead as directors, camera operators, and storytellers.
DAY 4
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DAY 4 ☆
Production & Post Begins
With their stories outlined and production underway, students spent Day 4 filming their documentaries.
Interviews were conducted, b-roll was captured, and teams worked together to bring their stories to life.
Later in the day, groups began post-production.
Editing teams reviewed footage, started rough cuts, and began shaping their final 60-second documentaries.
DAY 5
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DAY 5 ☆
Final Edits & Big Celebrations
Day 5 was filled with quiet focus and big celebration.
In the morning, students made final tweaks to their edits—adding music, text overlays, and transitions.
By the afternoon, it was time to share.
At our community screening, students presented their short documentaries with pride. There were laughs, claps, and heartfelt reflections.
It wasn’t just a film showcase—it was a celebration of creativity, confidence, and voice.
Final Films from the
2025 Cohort
Experience the powerful stories brought to life through film.
