Summer Film Camps

True West Summer Film Camps offer a range of filmmaking experiences for students ages 7-14 years old. Led by teaching artists Heather Murray and Jesus Montero, our summer camps reflect our commitment to providing media arts education to students throughout Sonoma County. Each week-long camp offers five full days of programming, Mondays through Fridays.

Registration and Eligibility

2025 summer camp registration will open on Monday, February 3, 2025. 

Meet Our Teaching Artists

Heather Murray 

“My teaching philosophy is focused on the particular ways the fun and self-expression of filmmaking simultaneously encourages self-confidence and empathy in the filmmakers. When young filmmakers are invited into a space in which they can be vulnerable and take chances when using their imagination, their self-worth increases considerably. In order to make a film, however, they must collaborate with others. Working on a film crew means negotiating to make decisions and working toward a shared goal. In the process of making and watching films, they are also increasing their media literacy skills so that they are better prepared to interpret other forms of online programming and social media. I feel very lucky to support students in this process.”

Heather (she/her) is a videographer who worked as an art history college instructor, a museum director, and an art curator before shifting to video production and editing. She has created promotional videos for many Sonoma County nonprofits, businesses, and visual artists, and has collaborated with several local bands on music videos.

 

 

Jesus Montero

Jesus (he/him) is a Sonoma County local with a passion for film. After completing the SRJC’s film program, Jesus is currently pursuing a degree in Cinema at San Francisco State University. Jesus works as a Teaching Artist at True West Film Center and loves all aspects of film from screenwriting, to production, and especially editing. Jesus is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach what he’s learned to the youth of Sonoma County!

True West Film Center Educational Programs are supported in part by these funders:

 
National Endowment for the Arts
Creative Sonoma
California Arts Council
Sonoma County Vintners
Community Foundation Sonoma County
CARE Foundation
BeastGrip
FiLMiC Pro
 

Preston Addison & Wendy Conner
Dale & Ann Amtower
Jerry Anderson
Carol Beattie
Kimberly Bender
Tyra Benoit
Steve Bernard
Rachel Brass & Richard D. Foster
Naomi Brilliant
Carrie Brown
Susan Campbell & John McKinney
Susan & William Cary
Church of the Good Shepherd
Tony Crabb & Barbara Grasseschi
Patricia Dahl
Joseph & Sandra Dobbins
Lance & Sarah Dublin
Tanya Dublin
Kerry & Andrew Elkind
Ann Elston & Larry Lossing
Barbara Epstein
Judy Fujita
Rick & Jenny Gomez
Tom Halliday
Neena & Val Hanchett
Alex & Leah Harris
Adrienne Heinz & Barrett Elmer
Patrick Houston
Natalia & Kristina Jaramillo González
Ozzy Jiminez
Hillary & Michael Kambour
Jeanne & Stephen Kearns
Janen & Buzz Korth
Laura Kramer
Tim & Terry Leach
Elizabeth Loebel
Ann Mackenzie & Jack Cortwright
Kristen Madsen & Robb Senn
Susannah Malek
Ingrid Maltrud
Maureen McCalla
Chris McKenna
Winky & David Merrill
Carl Milfeit & Mary Fitzgerald
The Miner Anderson Family Foundation
John and Em Minor
Heather Murray
Turner Newton & Annie Himmelstein
Sharon & Jim Olson
Gary Passarino
Debbie & Mike Potmesil
Phyllis Rosenfield
Peter Rosson & David Barrett
Randall Schai & Sarah Miller
Yvonne Schell & Steve Kent
Jeffrey Schlesinger & Isis Moussa
Wendy & Bob Singley
Conrad Smart
Alex Threlfall
Mike Traina
Dianne & Mark Vernon
Marshall Vincent
Angie Wachholz
Jade Weymouth
Jenny Wilson
Faith Wilson-Grove
Jee & Alex Wipperfurth

Join Our Mailing List

Stay up to date on upcoming events, education programming and the new film center!