Summer at Villa

Morning Session

This camp will give writers the opportunity to finally get all their fantastical thoughts down on paper.  Learn the basics of world building and creating a compelling story. Here, you can customize the rules of your own setting. Writers will examine a range of fictional worlds through novels, short stories, and popular culture examples in order to inspire and strengthen their own story settings. Along the way, learn some tips and tricks on how to overcome writer’s block and how to keep a story going.

About the Instructor

Aryanna Denk holds her BA in English and Creative Writing and her MFA in Creative Writing: Fiction. She has taught many workshops and classes on the craft of writing everything from disability representation to early college composition and short stories. In addition to writing, she has editorial experience as Assistant Fiction Editor of Mid-American Review as well as Poetry Editor of Blanket Sea. She is the author of two novels-in-verse on topics of disability and mental health and has fiction, poetry, and essays published in Lily Poetry Review, The Merrimack Review, Tule Review, Blanket Sea, Healthline, Pain Resource, and others.

Morning Session

Put your love of drawing and cartoons into action! Work singly or in small groups to make a bite-sized animated film. We’ll provide a stylus and Wacom tablet and you’ll be creating immediately!

In this camp, students will discuss the foundational principles of animation – the stuff that makes animation work – and plan and animate a short film using Toon Boom Harmony. Harmony is the industry standard for 2D animation and is used for television and streaming shows (Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty and The Simpsons) and even movies (Klaus).

About the Instructor

Emily Kostyo, a junior animation major right here at Villa Maria College, incorporates Toon Boom Harmony into her creative process. Specializing in pre-production development and character animation, Emily’s animation style is a blend of traditional artistry and modern techniques. Her approach to Harmony is innovative, allowing her to craft animations that resonate with audiences, capturing the essence of her unique artistic vision. Being a member of the school as well as a new and aspiring animator she brings a fresh insight on the animation industry and process.

Morning Session

The Digital Art and Illustration summer camp is an opportunity for students at all skill levels to produce their own creative imagery and digital artwork using Adobe Photoshop. Students will explore how to composite and combine photographic imagery, learn the basics of how to digitally paint, and use vector graphics to create fantastic scenes and invented landscapes. This hands-on camp will have students rolling up their sleeves and diving right into the software from day one.

About the Instructor

Jessica Longson is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Communications at Villa Maria College and lover of all things design, art, and multimedia. After receiving an MFA from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Longson worked in a variety of professional roles related to marketing and storytelling before becoming a teacher full-time.

Morning Session

This camp will focus on making the proper and creative documentation of Game Design. Game Design documentation is typically a detailed guide that describes what the game is and how it will work. This camp session will cover how to properly set up the unique and fun game mechanics, the world setting, and the flow of creating video games. The students will be able to properly format their game ideas in a cohesive manner as a team creating one large Game Design Document. This will bring individual perspectives into one collaborative experience. Through this course, they will start their path as the next generation of game designers.

About the Instructor

Eddie A. Mas is a Professor for Game Design and the Coach for E-Sports at Villa Maria College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Game Design from Full Sail University, a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Arts from Canisius College, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from SUNY at Buffalo State. He has been teaching Game design for the past three years and showing students how to become great game designers.

Morning Session

Tailored for students in grades 8-12, this is your teen’s chance to discover their artistic voice and hone their skills in an exciting, hands-on environment. Whether they’re a future actor, director, or designer, this camp is the perfect place to explore the many aspects of the theatre world.
From acting and voice work to stage management and theatre design, each day is packed with opportunities for creative expression. They’ll leave the camp not just with new techniques but with the confidence to take on any creative challenge.

About the Instructor

Afternoon Session

This camp will present the basic concepts of forensic science and the career fields which are available. It will explain the duties and responsibilities of crime scene investigators and present topics related to photography, DNA, fingerprints, footprints, the several types of evidence, the proper procedures, methods and techniques for the collection and preservation of crime scene evidence as well as their value to the forensic scientist. The camp will provide a realistic overview of the processes involved in an investigation, from its inception to the final adjudication in court and the scientific technology used by our criminal justice system. Students also can participate in hands-on activities.

About the Instructor

Mary Ann Hobar is an Adjunct Instructor in the Criminal Justice Program at Villa Maria College with an MS in Criminal Justice. She has spent over 25 years working in the criminal justice field, including serving as a police office, detective, and patrol lieutenant. She has taught police recruits at the CPS Law Enforcement Training Academy and instructed college students in the field of crime scene investigation. Mary Ann is an active member of the International Assoc. for Identification, the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, and a licensed private investigator.

Afternoon Session

In this hands-on camp, campers will produce a short film of their own! Campers will learn the filmmaking process from concept to final cut, including the basics of screenwriting, on-set production, and post-production skills including video editing and sound design. Campers will work with equipment used by Digital Filmmaking students at Villa Maria College, including cameras, microphones, and lights. Campers will end the week with a screening of their work for family and friends and receive a digital copy to take home.

About the Instructor

Michael is a passionate and experienced independent filmmaker with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Afternoon Session

Scratch is a visual coding tool where students of any age can engage. It is a type of block programming which uses graphical blocks to represent programming commands. Students will use Scratch in this camp session to code their own interactive stories, animations, and games. This platform will also provide sprite assets and opportunities to share your artwork. Students will learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. They will learn how to provide feedback to their fellow student’s projects and how to use that feedback to improve the projects. In this camp session, they will be capable of creating their own game as a team through Scratch and start their journey into coding.

About the Instructor

Eddie A. Mas is an Adjunct Professor for Game Design and the Coach for E-Sports at Villa Maria College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Game Design from Full Sail University, a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Arts from Canisius College, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from SUNY at Buffalo State. He has been teaching Game Design for the past five years and showing students how to become great game designers.

Afternoon Session

Open to beginner or more advanced players
Develop your musical skills in a positive and supportive environment.
Perform live music on stage, jam along to classic rock tunes and discover contemporary music.
Make new musical friends, all with the same goal of putting together a band!
Become inspired and motivated to further your musical skills, regardless of your current level!
Learn the skills, ideas, and concepts behind songs that are chosen by the band.

About the Instructor

Gary Rutowski is an Adjunct Professor at Villa Marie College in our Music Program. Gary is a professional musician and a recording artist. Gary is a drummer and percussionist specialist and has performed with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and several other bands and artist. Gary is also an author of Drumming Concept and Techniques.

Afternoon Session

The workshop begins with ensemble-building exercises, theatre games, improv, and scene analysis. Students then explore monologue and scene study work. They will leave the camp with acting techniques and the confidence to perform in front of an audience.

The workshop will celebrate a final share where friends and family can come to see their acting work.

About the Instructor