Fourthwall Youth Studios
Empowering diverse youth to find their voice and express their individuality through digital and performance arts, to change the trajectory of their own lives, those around them, and their community.
We believe intelligence comes in many forms. Traditional grades are not the only barometer for success. Fourthwall prepares our youth for a brighter future by helping to activate their unique strengths, offering them a platform to speak their voice and express their individuality through film and digital storytelling.
Our Vision
Evolve personal narratives to inspire the surrounding community.
Our Purpose
Empower diverse youth to take a hands on role in creating their own story
Our Promise
Open new paths toward a brighter future through modern creative practice
Here's some of what we offer
After-School Programs
On site with our mobile production studio
Summer Camps
For some, this is where it all gets started
Jobs in Creative Practice
After school and summer work. Real jobs for real clients.
Classes
Tp prepare you for a career and for life.
Fourthwall students are mentored through the professional style filmmaking process of research, ideation, story development, scriptwriting, production workshops, production planning, filming, editing and distribution. While applying these skills to a complex, collaborative project, students will also develop cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies.
”80% of employers say that during the hiring process it is very important to them that recent college graduates demonstrate the ability to apply learning in real-world settings. Sadly, just 25% of employers say that recent college graduates are well prepared when it comes to having the ability to apply knowledge and skills in real world settings.
American Association of Colleges and UniversitiesPercentage Employers who say graduates are well prepared
”Good News! Not only does the production of just one short film, from end to end, introduce the student to a dozen different creative career possibilities, the production process is unmatched in empowering that same student to develop collaborative, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and communication skills...21st century skills...that every employer requires but students do not yet possess.
Frank O'FarrellDirector, Fourthwall Youth Studios
An improvement in these competencies, in combination with an advanced portfolio, enhances college and workforce readiness, boosting a student from “unprepared” to “well prepared” in the eyes of potential employers, opening up new pathways to success.
Collaboration
Fourthwall students work in small teams mentored by industry pros. They learn collaborative best practices while using and applying agile project management tools to their projects. Based on our ongoing observational evaluation and interactive assessments, students experience a significant increase in collaborative skills as well as exploratory talk, feedback and reflection.
Problem Solving
Creative problem solving is an essential skill in the workplace yet many graduating students do not meet minimum employer requirements. Problem solving is also a key ingredient to successful filmmaking as students navigate creative, technical, mechanical, logistical and human centered challenges on the way to successfully completing a project on time.
Communication
Fourthwall students demonstrate a significant improvement in oral and written communication. We provide training and real world experience in persuasive speaking and client “pitches”. Students evolve ideas into loglines, synopses, treatments, scripts, narratives, powerpoints and presentations which mirror industry requirements while developing production, reception and intercultural communications skills.
Check Out
What They’re Saying About Us
And look at the logos in the background
(UC, XU, SCAD, Chapman, Oberlein, NYU, Columbia, DePaul, Morgan State, Arizona State and so on 😉
“Fourthwall showed me that my dreams were achievable.”
Student
“This experience has inspired me to go to school for film and audio production”
Student
“I have a confidence in my ability to actually succeed at something and school this fall was much better because of it. I am now looking at colleges with film majors.”
Student
“I love the the idea of furthering their writing skills, collaboration skills, interpersonal skills, at the same time they have fun making a movie. This program builds creativity and innovation.”
Parent