What Makes a Story Work on Screen? Inside the Film Programme at UWCSEA East

By Zarate-Mancilla Jose, Head of High School Film, East Campus and the UWCSEA Communications Team
January 2026

In Grades 9 and 10, the UWCSEA East Film programme guides students through the full creative journey from the first spark of an idea to the final cut. Along the way, they build creativity, self-management, collaboration skills, and confidence, learning not just how to make films but how to communicate clearly and thoughtfully with an audience. By analysing and creating films, students explore their own identities, engage with diverse perspectives, and discover how storytelling can create impact beyond the screen.

Students learn the language of filmmaking by making films. They explore how stories are shaped through visual choices, narrative structure, and audience perspective, while also developing the ability to analyse films critically. This balance of creation and reflection helps students understand how meaning is constructed, and how thoughtful decisions—from camera angles to editing—influence the way a story is received. The two-year journey culminates in the Grade 10 Film Exhibition, where students share their work with the wider school community, building confidence and pride in their learning.

The programme flows naturally into IB Film, where students deepen both their creative practice and analytical skills. They produce original films, undertake comparative and textual analysis of films, and learn to work independently through sustained creative inquiry. These experiences support skills valued well beyond the classroom—resilience, time management, critical thinking, and self-directed learning. Each year concludes with the Senior Film Festival, inviting families and the East Campus community to experience students’ work on the big screen and celebrate the graduating cohort.

Behind this learning is a hands-on, industry-informed environment. Students work with professional cameras, stabilisation tools, lighting and sound equipment, and edit their films using industry-standard software. More importantly, they follow a clear production process—from planning and collaboration through to execution and reflection—a transferable framework that supports success across subjects and real-world projects.

Beyond the curriculum, students can extend their skills through DragonsTV, East Campus’s weekly student-run broadcast. In roles such as camera operator, editor, interviewer, and producer, students document campus life, strengthen their communication skills, and gain real experience working as part of a creative team.

This journey comes full circle through the Film Alum Lecture Series, where graduates like Victoria Glass ’24 and Ella Ashton ’25 return to share their experiences and mentor the next generation, sparking curiosity about what stories they will tell next.

The Studio Unfolded

The film recording studio on East Campus may look like a single space, but it is, in reality, a layered learning environment. Here, students plan, collaborate, perform, and discover how thoughtful, creative and technical choices shape meaning on screen. From learning to “paint with light” through camera settings and lenses, to staging a frame through mise-en-scène, the studio reflects how film is learned—by making, testing, and seeing differently. Scroll to explore!