Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Camps in Summer 2024:

The Odyssey Program at Cleveland State University’s School of Film & Media Arts offers a variety of immersive summer camps for high school students (age 13–18) interested in filmmaking. Through interactive workshops, film screenings, focused activities, and visits from special guest speakers, Odyssey participants learn storytelling, screenwriting, acting, directing, cinematography, editing and much more as they create their own original films in a fun and collaborative environment.

During the in-person summer camps, students see behind the scenes and learn how the film industry actually works through special guest lectures and site visits to real-world media environments. Outside of class, residential students get a preview of college life by staying in Cleveland State University dorms and experiencing Cleveland’s robust cultural offerings through scheduled trips and activities.

With access to the film school’s professional soundstages, Mac editing labs, and vast inventory of film production equipment, expert instructors aided by CSU film student camp counselors help students hone their skills while finding their creative community and making friends during these activity-packed experiences.

All meals are provided for residential students and breakfast and lunch is provided for day camp students.

The summer includes an experiential three-week camp, followed by three one-week intensive camps that focus on acting and directing, screenwriting, and postproduction. Day camp and residential options are available.

Day campers attend sessions Monday-Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

  • 9:00 – 10:00 am: Camper drop-off and breakfast
  • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Morning Workshop
  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Lunch
  • 2:00 – 5:00 pm: Afternoon Workshop (Pickup at 5:00 pm)

Contact: 216-687-5087 or odyssey@csuohio.edu.

What are the dates and costs for each program?

Odyssey  Three-Week Film Camp
 
Residential:$4500
Day Camp:$3600
Odyssey Intensive: Stories and Scripts 
Residential:$1500
Day Camp:$1200
Odyssey Intensive: Acting and Directing 
Residential:$1500
Day Camp:$1200
Odyssey Intensive: 5-Day Film Challenge 
Residential:$1500
Day Camp:$1200

What are the deadlines to register for the summer camps?

For residential campers, registration must be received and tuition paid in full one month prior to the beginning of each camp. For day camp students, the deadline for registration and tuition payment is two weeks prior to the beginning of the selected camp. The deadlines for each camp are as follows:

 ResidentialDay Camp
Three-Week Film Camp5/10/20245/24/2024
Stories and Scripts5/31/20246/28/2024
Acting and Directing6/7/20247/5/2024
5-Day Film Challenge6/14/20247/12/2024

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Through generous funding from the Andrews Foundation, the CMSD Future in Film Scholarship covers one week of residential Odyssey program costs for 4 Cleveland Metropolitan School District students who demonstrate financial need. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and award recipients will be notified within one month of submission.While financial aid and scholarships are limited at this time, payment plans can be arranged by emailing odyssey@csuohio.edu.

How do you ensure the safety of the students while they are attending the program?

The health and safety of your child is our top priority while they are attending the program. Camp counselors supervise all extracurricular activities, monitor meals and reside on the same dorm floor as the students.  While on campus, students are required to abide by a curfew and follow the rules and regulations established by the program and Cleveland State University. We will provide emergency contact information to students when they arrive. 

Where do residential students live during the program?

Residential students stay in dorm accommodations located in CSU’s historic Fenn Tower: http://tours.imagemaker360.com/viewer/30.asp?id=94486
Along with spectacular views of downtown Cleveland, Fenn Tower accommodations include:

  • 24-hour community desk
  • Game Room with billiards
  • On-site laundry facilities
  • Theater room
  • Fitness center
  • Study areas
  • Mailroom
  • On-site dining location
  • Computer lab and conference rooms
  • On-site community assistant staff
  • Cable television and high-speed internet
  • Fully furnished units: extra long twin bed, dresser, closet, desk, and chair

Who are the instructors for the program?

Lessons are taught by School of Film & Media Arts faculty and staff with assistance by current CSU film school students in the role of camp counselors and production assistants. There is one instructor and one film student counselor for every ten campers, plus additional production assistants.

What is the daily schedule for the Odyssey Program summer camps?

Day and Residential camp students attend workshops Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Residential students enjoy evening and weekend activities and Day students are invited to specific All Camp Activities on the weekends. Breakfast and lunch is provided for all campers. The day begins at 9am with breakfast and drop off for day camp students. The morning session occurs from 10am-1pm, followed by lunch at 1pm. The afternoon session takes place from 2-5pm, with pick up for day camp students occurring between 5-5:30pm.

What is your refund/cancellation policy?

Cancellation requests must be received in writing no less than 30 days prior to the first day of the selected program.

Cancellation requests should be emailed to odyssey@csuohio.edu. Approved cancellation requests will receive a full refund for the registration fee.

Cleveland State University’s School of Film & Media Arts reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any Odyssey programs due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the School of Film & Media Arts. In this case, applicants are entitled to a full refund of the registration fee. The School of Film & Media Arts is not responsible or travel fees, or any expenses incurred as a result of cancelled programs

CSU School of Film & Media Arts Student Ownership Rights

The following guidelines govern works created by students in the School of Film and Media Arts: 

  • Works created by a student as part of their course work in any program in the School of Film and Media Arts are owned by the student(s) who created them unless they have transferred their copyright in writing to the University or other entity except for the following classes of works: (a) works for hire; (b) works for which the University has provided assistance beyond that usually accorded (“extra-ordinary University assistance”); and (c) works done under a sponsorship agreement between the University and an external agency pursuant to Article 23.13 RIGHTS TO AND EQUITIES IN COPYRIGHTABLE MATERIALS of the AAUP Agreement effective at the time the work is created.
  • The creator(s) of each work has(ve) the right to submit their work to contests and award competitions, any exhibition venue or festival of their choosing and/or to seek other distribution outlets if they so desire. 
  • Any profit gained from possible distribution or awards from the work belongs solely to the creator(s) of the work subject to the AAUP Agreement. Any physical awards such as certificates or trophies will be retained by the student.
  • Student works that originate as class projects are made for educational purposes. As such, the University reserves the right to use student works created in the course of their education as possible examples in future courses taught at the University. 
  • The student(s) who owns each work grants the University the right to reproduce, display, or perform copies of the work anywhere and for any reason, including, without being limited to, publicizing the University, without any royalty or other payment of any kind to the student(s), provided that such copies may not be rented or sold by the University. 
  • Each student is responsible for their work. This includes but is not limited to not violating any copyright, right of privacy, or law.  Each student is responsible for obtaining any needed permissions for the use of any copyrighted materials the student includes in his/her work.
  • Any advice or assistance given by any faculty member or other representative of the University to any student in the course of the student’s education, creation of student works, or in relation to the above-listed responsibilities shall not be interpreted as the assumption of such responsibilities or of any liability by such person or by the University.