By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
For one week each spring, classrooms at the downtown YMCA transform into film sets, rehearsal stages, and creative labs as students step into roles they may have never imagined for themselves. Now in its fifth year, the Dundrill Heights Film Camp — held March 23–27 this year — continues to grow as both a creative outlet and a safe haven for young people across the city.
What began in 2021 as a small experimental idea has quickly evolved into a sought-after program, attracting educators, industry professionals, and families alike. At the center of it all is camp director Valton Johnson, whose vision for the program is rooted in both purpose and community need.
“The Dundrill Heights Film Camp started because children were asking, how can we get involved in voice acting and acting?” Johnson said during an interview last week at the Youth YMCA in downtown Birmingham. “So my wife and I decided to do a film camp. We didn’t know really what was going on with it.”
That uncertainty didn’t last long. The inaugural camp welcomed about 25 students and introduced them to screenwriting, acting, voice acting, ballet and poetry. By the following year, interest had surged.
“It expanded outward,” Johnson said. “The City of Birmingham Board of Education showed up, and then they asked us to do it for them during the summer.”
Since then, the camp has grown into a year-round opportunity, with partnerships extending into school systems and plans to expand beyond the city. Yet its spring break session remains especially meaningful — a free, weeklong experience designed for students in grades 4 through 12.
“It’s on spring break so that the kids will have something to do that’s productive during their break and not have idle time on their hands,” Johnson explained.
This year’s camp once again blended creativity with hands-on skill building. Students rotated through acting, screenwriting, and even stunt training — guided by visiting industry professionals. Representatives connected to major studios led sessions, while actors affiliated with Tyler Perry Studios worked with students later in the week.
But Johnson’s mission extends beyond performance.
“We’ve added carpentry and electrical,” he said. “Why? Because carpentry would give them a skill set… you got to build stages. And we have electrical because you have to light the room that you’re in.”
Each student, regardless of their interests, is required to experience every aspect of production. By midweek, teams form to write, cast, and shoot original short films—projects they present during a graduation ceremony on Friday.
The structure is intentional: exposure first, specialization second.
“Many of them didn’t know… what they like,” Johnson said. “So, what we’re doing for the full week—they have to go to everything.”
At its core, the camp is about access — removing financial and social barriers that often limit entry into creative industries.
“It is very pricey,” Johnson acknowledged of typical film programs. “But when the Lord gives you something to do, he’s already given you the provision because he gave you the vision. So, I don’t have to worry about money.”
That philosophy has helped sustain the camp as a free program, even as it continues to expand. With new partnerships forming in other cities and a monthlong summer program on the horizon, Dundrill Heights is positioning itself as more than just a seasonal camp — it’s becoming a pipeline.
To learn more about the Dundrill Heights Film Camp, visit cinematiccreations.agency.
