"Just try something. Just be brave. Nothing is wrong and I will guide you, " urged Lana Young of her nine young charges attending the acting camp sponsored by the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) this week.

Taking risks – assuming new identities, exploring new situations, opening oneself to the criticism of an audience – is all part of becoming an actor, and the weekly camps offer campers the opportunity to do just that in a safe environment.

"It inspires you a lot," asserted eight-year-old Myles Packwood. "It gives you a really solid start if you're interested in acting as a career."

And then Myles added: "But the best part of all is probably making friends."

The Saltus Grammar School student, who is interested in acting as a career, is attending the camp for the second year, having been initially told about the camp by a friend. Recalling his first year, Myles noted: "The first day I was kind of shy and didn't know much of the people. Then I started doing the acting exercises and working with people and it became fun. And then we started filming. We filmed for two days, and I realised we could see the film at the film festival. I was psyched to see the film and then it was only four minutes long. All that hard work for four minutes! It really surprised me."

And yet it was all worth while, apparently, because he has returned, enjoying "working with friends and making new friends. It is awesome."

Currently BIFF is offering its final three weeks of film production summer camps for children aged seven to 13. These camps, led by US-based, Bermudian actress Lana Young, concentrate on teaching acting skills that prepare youngsters for the film set.

Ms Young, a Bermudian who has been a professional actress since 1993, recalled that at the start of her career she wasn't aware of the acting opportunities available to her. "You think the opportunities aren't vast because you don't see beyond the scope of the Island," she explained. "I want young people to realise that being on an Island shouldn't stop them from following their dream, that the world is accessible to them. Bermuda is a wonderful place to nurture your creativity, and you can take it anywhere."

Ms Young went on to say, "Acting also teaches life skills such as listening, communication, empathy, trust and confidence. This is the bonus that parents love."

As the week progresses, the participants discover the necessary elements of theatre, the differences between stage and screen acting, do improvisation and scene-work exercises, find their own personal motivation style, learn about the different roles in filmmaking and finish the week with auditioning for and shooting a script.

By the second day of the camp the young people have already read through the film script and have been assigned roles. Students are encouraged to keep an actor's journal in which they write about their own personal discoveries about who their characters are and what their objectives might be throughout the script.

Sarah Daniels, a graduate of earlier BIFF camps, and employed as cameraman this year, explained the plot of the film to be shot this week: It involves seven cats (Love, Prudence, Temperance, Courage, Justice, Faith and Hope) unable to get anything done because their virtues are also their limitations. Envy arrives and splits everyone up, because she has a different way of thinking. This is not necessarily a bad thing, according to the narrator in the closing scene, because with the virtues out in the world and not concentrated in one spot, the world is perhaps more virtuous.

Rebecca Cowan, who attends Victor Scott Primary School, is enjoying the camp because of the freedom it affords her. "Most camps are usually not as free," she explained. "You're told to 'Do that' and you stick with it. Other camps tell you what to do. At this camp it's up to you to decide how to respond to your partner, what to do next."

She is thrilled to have been assigned the role of Envy. "I got Envy, the girl I want to have. She's kind of just like a free person. Her script's more like I can express myself anyway I feel," Rebecca elaborated.

Myles, who happens to be the only boy at the camp this week, is equally pleased with playing Justice. "I'm Justice. He fights for rights. It feels special to act this role," he stated. "I can put my own type of style into my character."

Olivia Harshaw is also back for the second time, "for the acting and stuff and making the movies. 'Cos I really like acting and watching movies. It's really cool." Attending the camp, the Bermuda High School student has learned, "How to move on stage, and it helps you not be so embarrassed when you do movies."

Seven-year-old Aaliyah Fadda, who also attends BHS is attending the camp for the first time: "Cos I like acting and having fun with my friends and meeting new people rather than sitting at home all day in front of the TV."

"It's fun," she elaborated. "You get to like go on TV and do all these funny actions. And I like writing in my little book, writing something about the movie we're doing."

Attending a camp that lets kids get their energy out doing things they like, learning new skills, meeting new friends and having fun – not a bad way to spend a summer.