The Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy

Program Details

DePaul University welcomes high school students to join us this July 19-23 as we return to conducting the 2021 Game, Cinema, and Animation Summer Academy in-person, as we did for our first 11 years. We decided to return to school based on the encouraging progress with vaccinations and the trajectory of school and business openings in Illinois, and our belief in the value of in-person education. We will adhere to all safety procedures recommended by DePaul and government health officials during the week-long session. Our top concern is the health and safety of students and faculty, and if the situation in Chicago changes, we will take appropriate actions.

While we cannot require Covid-19 vaccinations for participants, we strongly encourage everyone age 16 and older to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible—whether you attend the Summer Academy or not!

The Game, Cinema, and Animation Summer Academy will run for one week, July 19-23, for high school students interested in the film, television, and game industries. Students must be 16 years or older by July 19th, and have completed their freshman year of high school by July 1, 2021 to be eligible. Apply to the 2021 Summer Academy by June 22nd.

Please check back soon for further updates on the application process.

Software and hardware requirements

Film and TV Production Track

Students will work in groups to write, produce, shoot, and edit short films. Students will have the opportunity to take on multiple roles within the productions. Students will learn basic editing techniques to complete their films. This track will be taught by Gary Novak, Susanne Suffredin, and Meghan Artes.

Game Development Track

Along with students in the 3D modeling and animation track, game development students will work in teams to brainstorm, design, program, and produce assets for a 3D computer game. Students will have the opportunity to explore multiple roles in the game production process. The games will be designed and programmed using a game development platform. This track will be taught by Mike DeAnda.

Hand-Drawn Character Animation Track

Students will be introduced to the basics of classical hand-drawn character animation. Students will get hands-on practice on animation software. This track will be taught by Scott Roberts and Brian Ferguson.

3D Modeling and Animation Track

Students will learn the basics of computer animation and modeling. Along with students in the game development track, students will work in teams to brainstorm, design, program, and produce assets for a 3D computer game. Students will design, model, and texture creatures, vehicles, and environment objects, and learn how to import them for use in a working game. This track will be taught by Joshua Jones.

Screenwriting Track

Students will learn the basics of script format and visual writing style, while being introduced to story structure, character development, and the business of screenwriting. A series of in-class and take-home writing assignments will push students to discover their own unique point of view in a creative workshop environment. This track will be taught by Brad Riddell.

For additional questions, email us at CDMSummerAcademy@depaul.edu.

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Cost

The cost of the Summer Academy is $1250. A deposit of $150 will be required in order to guarantee a spot in a track.

Once admitted to the Summer Academy, students must submit a non-refundable deposit of $150 within 2 weeks of their admission in order to reserve their spot in the program. Space is limited so it is highly encouraged that you submit your deposit and the balance of your tuition by the applicable deadline of June 22nd. Final payment will secure your spot.

A limited number of full and partial scholarships were available for those demonstrating financial need. This year’s scholarship recipients have been awarded.

Faculty Bios

Scott Roberts

Associate Professor // Animation
School of Cinematic Arts

Scott Roberts received his M.A. and M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His sculptures, video installations and animations have been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions in New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago, and screenings in Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival. He also has over ten years of professional experience in television art direction, post-production, animation and 3D game art, and was the production designer for the independent film 'Making Revolution.' He most recently was Associate Professor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where he taught animation and motion graphics for five years and helped establish a Time Based Media BFA program.

Scott Roberts was the Art and Story Advisor for Devil's Tuning Fork, one of ten winners of the 2010 Independent Games Festival Student Showcase.

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Gary Novak

Assistant Professor // Screenwriting
School of Cinematic Arts

Gary has been at DePaul since 2002 and is one of the founding members of the Digital Cinema Program. He has worked as a producer, writer, and director. The projects have included commercials, documentaries, and independent feature films. Gary has a M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute.

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Meghann Artes

Associate Professor // Animation
School of Cinematic Arts

Meghann Artes holds an MFA from the Animation Workshop at UCLA. In addition to her academic work, she has over fifteen years of entertainment industry experience working for companies like Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Bix Pix, Noggin, NBC, ABC and Sesame Street. She has won both an Emmy and a Peabody and her short films have enjoyed success in film festivals both across the country and internationally. Her film Speed Dating (2014) was selected as a Short of the Week and won a national jury award at the USA Film Festival. Meghann’s latest film, Sleepy Steve (2015), a comically absurd short film that combines live action, animation and visual effects, is playing in film festivals now.

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Josh Jones

Associate Professor // Animation
School of Cinematic Arts

Joshua Jones is an animator, film maker, and Associate Professor at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. He received a BFA from Syracuse University in Computer Graphic Arts, and an MFA in Animation from The University of Southern California where he created the student Academy Award-Nominated film “A Short Lifetime's Poem of Memory.” As a stop motion animator at Will Vinton Studios, Jones animated on 8 episodes of the 3 time Emmy award winning show “The PJ's,” and the 2 time Emmy award winning UPN show “Gary and Mike.”

Following his stint as a puppeteer, Jones found renewed interest in his electronic roots, and went on to work as a CG animator in feature film and television. He has animated for studios and clients including Fox TV, Fox Kids, Warner Brothers, Crystal Sky, Creative Visual EFX, Skyler Animation Studios, Oregon Public Broadcasting and National Geographic. “Make It A Great Day,” his most recent animated film, was a project that began as part of DePaul University’s Project Bluelight and then continued on as a 2 ½ year online collaboration between faculty and students. It has screened at 28 film festivals both nationally and internationally.

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Brian Ferguson

Animator in Residence //
School of Cinematic Arts

Brian is a 25-year veteran Walt Disney Feature Animation animator whose filmography spans 15 feature films, several as supervising animator, including the classic animated feature films Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan, Fantasia 2000, and Winnie the Pooh. Brian is especially skilled at conveying humor and appealing personality, as can be seen in his characters among these landmark films.

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Brad Riddell

Assistant Professor // Screenwriting, Cinema Production
School of Cinematic Arts

Brad Riddell has written four feature films for Hollywood studios including Paramount, MTV, and Universal. His first film, American Pie: Band Camp, remains one of the highest-grossing live-action DVD releases in history, and is now syndicated on TBS. His most recent film, Crooked Arrows, was released nationally in theaters in 2012, and is the first lacrosse movie ever produced.

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Michael DeAnda

Professional Lecturer // Game Development
School of Design

Michael Anthony DeAnda earned his Ph.D. in Humanities and Technology from Illinois Institute of Technology. As a scholar-practitioner, DeAnda's research and game design practices centers on experimental approaches to designing games that center on marginalized communities and social justice. His games have been showcased at international events, including Meaningful Play, Different Games, Queerness and Games Conference, and the Melbourne Queer Games Festival.

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