Class Date:
Thursdays, Jan. 29th - March 12th, no class Feb. 19th
Class Time:
5:30-6:30pm
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
7th-12th Graders
Location:
PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Do you ever finish a movie or show and think, “That was amazing!”—or maybe, “That didn’t work for me”? In this class, we’ll learn how to figure out why. Students will explore how to watch movies and TV with a more thoughtful eye, discovering the language of film and the art of constructive critique. Each week, we’ll watch clips, discuss characters, story, and visuals, and learn how to express opinions clearly and respectfully—whether you’re raving about a favorite scene or breaking down what didn’t land. By the end, students will write their own short reviews, developing the skills to talk (and write) about what they love—and what they don’t—with confidence and creativity.
All students will have the opportunity to publish work in the National Writers Series 2026 Literary Journal.
Chris Loud is a writer and producer with extensive experience across television, film, and documentary storytelling. In the narrative feature world, he helped produce Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, as well as Quicksand, a multi-award-winning independent film. He also wrote and produced the short film Listen (Official Selection IFFCA) and served as associate producer on the short film Created Sleep Transmissions (Audience Award Winner TCFF).
In television, Chris has written and produced for travel series including Third Coast, Coolest Places on Earth, State to State, and Great Escapes, along with the true crime series Forensic Justice.
In addition to his screen work, Chris writes and produces short films with The Boardman Review, where he also serves as executive editor of the print publication. He also contributes as a freelance regional reporter for The New York Times.
