07/23/2026
ShadowCraft | Suspense & Thrillers | Summer 2026
😱🎬🎥🫣 PCC Rock Creek | Aug 3-7 Portland OR
Class Experience
Unleash your inner Hitchcock and explore the thrilling possibilities of suspense-driven cinema at NW Film Camp. This immersive week-long experience invites young filmmakers to dive deep into the techniques behind today’s most gripping thrillers and psychological dramas. From the slow-burning tension of Jordan Peele’s Get Out, to the emotional intensity of Hitchcocks psychological thrillers and the eerie unease of Ari Aster’s Hereditary, campers will study how modern auteurs use pacing, tone, and visual storytelling to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Throughout the week, participants will learn how to write, storyboard, direct, and edit their own short films, with a special emphasis on creating atmosphere and suspense. The camp will also focus on the power of sound design, how audio can manipulate emotion, suggest the unseen, and heighten tension. Campers will experiment with camera angles, lighting techniques inspired by film noir, and narrative tools to explore stories of the supernatural, the psychological, and the unknown.
Rather than relying on gore or violence, this camp challenges young creators to think critically about fear, mystery, and what truly unsettles an audience. Whether you’re crafting a ghost story, a crime thriller, or a chilling character study, this is your chance to turn the shadows of your imagination into cinematic gold.
