Austin Film and Arts Academy, Austin

It’s sometimes incredible to fathom just how many people are behind one movie: you need a group to write a script, draw up storyboards, direct, act, hold the camera, do makeup...the list goes on. Casting all these roles is a familiar task to Suezean Matarazzo, a veteran of the film industry who is also the school's founder. At Austin Film and Maker Camp, her instructors teach elementary through high-school-aged students how to collaborate on a short movie of their own or on constructing robots or animation.

In the camp's workshops, art and science are combined to teach students real-world applications of technology, engineering, and math as they work together to design, prototype, and build their own inventions. Workshops stay small, so the camp's roster of instructors and guest speakers—such as casting agents and stuntmen—can help individuals hone their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.