WFMA at Walnut Hill: One Program, Endless Creative Opportunities

At Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the Writing, Film, & Media Arts (WFMA) program offers students the chance to explore the limitless possibilities of storytelling. Encompassing a range of artistic disciplines, including screenwriting, playwriting, audio storytelling, filmmaking, journalism, poetry, and beyond, the WFMA program empowers students to bring their voices to life.

In this collaborative and supportive environment, students are encouraged to take creative risks. Failure is reframed as part of the process: if you’ve learned something, you’ve succeeded. Ideas evolve into original, expressive pieces that reflect each student’s unique perspective.

One of the highlights of the WFMA experience and a representation of WFMA’s endless creative opportunities is the annual Black on White showcase, where students present their capstone projects in front of the entire Walnut Hill community. Each piece is a testament to the power of student-led storytelling, and the variety of work on display is a reflection of the program’s wide reach.

Learn More About WFMA and Black on White

Nate, Short Film

For Nate, a junior at Walnut Hill, inspiration struck while visiting a local bookstore. That moment became the seed for Lovestruck, a short film he worked on to debut at Black on White. The film tells the story of a meet-cute between two kids who find each other among the shelves. Nate even had the chance to film inside the bookstore which, to him, made the story feel even more real; it was a surreal experience for a budding young filmmaker.

“Making movies, writing movies, doing anything in the filmmaking process is what I want to do, and that is why I came to Walnut Hill.” - Nate, Class of ’26

Events like Black on White give young artists like Nate the chance to showcase their hard work with and for the community of artists Walnut Hill nurtures.

“It’s validating as an artist to have these platforms where we can celebrate our work and other artists' work. Black on White is the best way we can express ourselves at Walnut Hill, not just with our classmates, but with the entire school community." - Nate, Class of ’26

The Journey of a WFMA Film Project

Bear, Audio Story

Bear, a WFMA student in his first year of the program, took a different route, adapting a play they had written into an audio production project. His piece centers on characters in a saloon who realize the play they’re in is ending, trying their best to stop it.

“My story is a metaphor for life and death. It’s dark, but also funny and weird. The cowboy characters are over-the-top, more like caricatures, and using audio helped me play with different voices and sound effects to make it feel immersive.” - Bear, Class of ’28

Having experimented with multiple mediums, including screenwriting, playwriting, and audio production, Bear’s story idea evolved to a point where he recognized an audio project was the right direction for the story he wanted to tell, and a distinctive medium for Black on White.

Zoe, Stage Play

Zoe, a senior WFMA student, wrote a full-length play that explores her thoughts on the evolving relationship teens have with religion. Her story unfolds over a single snowy night, as a group of teens find themselves locked in a church together without their parents. The stage play has a single source of light - a lantern - creating a moody atmosphere for her play.

“I chose playwriting because it felt like the most organic medium for this story. I didn’t want to get caught up in camera angles or grammar. I just wanted the characters’ voices to come through.” - Zoe, Class of ’25

She premiered the play at WFMA’s Senior Show in May, showcasing a snapshot of her full-length play to accommodate time for her peers, ensuring her classmates’ stories have an equal amount of time to shine. For Black on White, she was asked to produce a teaser or a trailer to share with the audience.

“It’s a powerful thing to know that you're part of such a passionate group of people that all need each other, to know that you are supported and also that you're supporting other people.” - Zoe, class of ’XX

One Program, Endless Opportunities

Each student in the WFMA program brings a different lens to storytelling, and through the guidance of their teachers and peers, their voices are not only heard, they’re celebrated.

Are you interested in Writing, Film, & Media Arts at Walnut Hill? Inquire today.