Creativity, collaboration, and storytelling take center stage in this conversation with Brett Salamim and Mike Cappalletti from the School of Film at Detroit Country Day. Together, we explore how their film program immerses students in the creative process — where ideas are developed, shaped into stories, tested, revised, and ultimately brought to life through shared effort. Filmmaking becomes a powerful medium for students to think creatively, collaborate meaningfully, and craft narratives that reflect both technical skill and personal voice.

Throughout our discussion, we highlight how students learn to navigate the complexities of storytelling — balancing vision with feedback, working within constraints, and building cohesive narratives alongside their peers. From short films to full-length features, each project becomes an opportunity to deepen communication, perspective-taking, and collective problem-solving, all in service of telling stories that matter.

This episode showcases how film education, at its best, is not just about producing content, but about developing storytellers and creative thinkers who can collaborate, adapt, and bring ideas to life in compelling and meaningful ways.