Lights, camera, action at QU

Student filmmakers turn original ideas into short films at Quinnipiac summer program

HAMDEN, Conn. – July 22, 2026 – Standing in the woods on Quinnipiac University's Mount Carmel Campus, Olivia Ruisi watched her horror story come to life.

The Andover, Massachusetts, high school student spent the week helping write and direct “Untold Truth,” a three-minute horror film about a group of friends searching the woods for their missing childhood friend. Instead of finding answers, Ruisi said, "horrific things happen in the woods, like, nothing goes to plan. What is supposed to be happening, where they find the truth, just ends turning up into a huge mess."

Ruisi was one of 33 aspiring filmmakers who spent the week in Quinnipiac's Modern Storytelling: Movie-Making pre-college summer program, led by Jim O'Connor, the university's studio production manager and part-time faculty member, and Jessica Smith, Quinnipiac's remote equipment manager and another part-time faculty member.

Students wrote, filmed and edited original three-minute short films before premiering them Friday. The camp gave students hands-on experience in every stage of the filmmaking process, from scripting and cinematography to post-production using professional equipment and editing suites.

"This isn't just about making a movie," O'Connor said at the start of the week. "These students are writing their own scripts, producing them, editing them, and then on Friday we're going to have a big showcase for the families and show off their work."

The goal, he said, is for students to leave with more than memories.

"Hopefully, they'll get a bunch of content for their reels to leave the camp with," O'Connor said. "Whether they use it to get work or decide to come here and go to school, they'll have something they created."

This year's campers were divided into three production crews, each tackling a different genre: horror, psychological thriller and drama-comedy. While each group created its own original story, students also learned one of filmmaking's most valuable lessons — adapting when circumstances change.

Ruisi said her interest in filmmaking began in eighth grade after a class unit on dystopian fiction sparked her imagination.

"I read all of the 'Maze Runner' books, and then I just got really into dystopian stories and moviemaking," she said.

Heavy rain early in the week forced crews to rethink plans for outdoor scenes.

"We were going to shoot outside a bunch, so we're probably going to have to tailor our scripts a little bit," O'Connor said. "We're facing time constraints, we're facing weather constraints, and it's a good thing for the kids to learn how to think on their feet and change their scripts around."

Those unexpected obstacles mirrored the realities of professional film production, where creative problem-solving often becomes as important as creative vision.

O'Connor said he was especially impressed by this year's participants.

"They're super creative," he said. "I'm always impressed, but this year especially I'm super impressed with their knowledge."

He tested campers with movie trivia early in the week.

"They were super smart with that," he said. "The creative ideas have been growing and blossoming. Probably the smartest group we've ever had."

Many students arrived already inspired by the movies and streaming series they love. While blockbuster productions continue to spark imaginations, O'Connor said today's young filmmakers are also looking to a new generation of creators.

"TV shows like 'Stranger Things' are always big," he said. "But there are a lot of new independent films and YouTube filmmakers who are really getting their big breaks now more than ever."

That accessibility has changed how young people view filmmaking, according to O’Connor.

"I think that gives these kids the understanding that they can do it themselves," he said.

Students traveled from across Connecticut and beyond to participate in Quinnipiac's movie-making pre-college summer program, which introduces high school students to professional storytelling techniques while encouraging collaboration and creative expression. Throughout the week, participants rotated through the roles found on a professional film set, learning not only technical skills but also the teamwork required to bring a story to life.

When the credits rolled Friday, each student left with an original film, new production experience and a better understanding of what it takes to transform an idea into a finished story.