Urban Exposure Independent Summer Film Project

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Every summer, Urban Exposure brings young creatives from across the Quad Cities together to discover their voices through filmmaking. Designed for youth ages 16–22, this annual program offers hands-on training, professional mentorship, and the opportunity to bring an original story to life.

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Our 2026 season has concluded, and Urban Exposure will return in summer 2027! Stay tuned for next summer’s program dates and registration details.

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Supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Urban Exposure introduces participants to every stage of the filmmaking process, including screenwriting, directing, cinematography, lighting, sound, production, and editing. Participants also explore 360-degree filmmaking while building a strong foundation in traditional filmmaking techniques.

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Created by Jonathan Burnett, a Rock Island native, professional filmmaker, and tenure-track professor of Film Production at Los Angeles Valley College, the program was founded on the belief that every young person has a story worth telling. Urban Exposure celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026, marking a decade of helping Quad Cities youth build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and technical skills through the art of filmmaking.

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Throughout the program, participants work together as a film crew to develop an original screenplay before producing, directing, filming, and editing a collaborative short film. The short film created by our 2026 participants will be presented at the 2027 Pulling Focus African American Film Festival, giving these young filmmakers the opportunity to share their work with family, friends, and the community.

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“Urban Exposure is about much more than making movies,” said Jonathan Burnett. “It's about helping young people discover their creative voice, work together toward a common goal, and realize that their stories have value. Every year we watch students grow—not only as filmmakers, but as confident young leaders.”

Your story could be next.

 

Join us in summer 2027 to explore your creativity, learn new skills, and experience what it takes to make a film.