After-School Program · Grades 9–12
A third space for your teen to create.
Magic Hour Academy — After School is a year-round creative studio for Pittsburgh high schoolers (grades 9–12). Students produce films, podcasts, and journalism pieces — building technical skills, a professional portfolio, and the confidence to take creative risks. Monday and Wednesday afternoons, 4–8 PM.
NOW ENROLLING
Join OUR 101 & Crew Clubs YEAR ROUND
Our After School program is now YEAR ROUND! You can join anytime and stay as long as you want. Memberships are offered by month, 3 months, 6 months, and a year — each option with discounted pricing. We want everyone to be able to join, no matter their budget. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!
The program
About MAGIC HOUR After School
Launched in July 2025, Magic Hour After School is a club-style media hub for high school students (grades 9–12) to explore storytelling, media production, and creative collaboration in a fun, hands-on environment. Our top priority is creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive space, where LGBTQIA+ students and all participants feel comfortable expressing themselves, taking creative risks, and learning without judgment.
Produce Media Projects
Create films, podcasts, and journalism pieces from first concept through final cut.
Contribute to Our News Hub
Cover local events and produce documentary-style segments about your community.
Work on Client Projects
Collaborate on real-world media for local organizations and small businesses.
Learn From Mentors & Media Pros
Work alongside instructors and working creatives who take your ideas seriously.
Collaborate Across Programs
Partner with studios, programs, and outlets across the Pittsburgh creative scene.
Explore Career Pathways
College-aged participants can engage in internships and hands-on industry experience.
Safe & Welcoming Environment
Carefully vetted mentors and structured guidance keep the studio supportive for everyone.
Curiosity is the
only prerequisite.
No experience required — every level finds a place from week one.
NEW TO MAGIC HOUR ACADEMY?
101 CLUB
START HERE.
Our flagship after-school program. Students rotate through film, podcasting, and digital storytelling alongside working creative mentors — and finish each semester with a piece they're proud of.
READY FOR MORE?
CREW CLUB
LEVEL UP.
Crew Club is for returning students or those who've completed a foundational filmmaking program elsewhere. You'll take on advanced roles — directing, producing, cinematography, sound design — and work on more complex, longer-form projects. Crew Club members also serve as mentors and leaders within the broader Magic Hour Academy community.
FIND YOUR LEVEL
Two tracks.
One studio.
Whether it's your first time behind a camera or you're ready to direct, there's a track built for where you are right now.
Safety & Supervision
Who's in the room with your teen
Every Magic Hour Academy teaching artist and mentor goes through a thorough vetting process, including background checks, before working with students. Our studio is a structured, supervised environment — not an open drop-in space.
We maintain small group sizes so mentors know every student by name, and can recognize when something is off. Our founders are on-site regularly and maintain an open-door policy with parents.
Magic Hour Academy is explicitly welcoming of LGBTQIA+ students and students of all backgrounds. We take the safety and dignity of every student seriously — not as a policy, but as a core part of who we are.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
"
Magic Hour Academy is a creative club that gives students like me an opportunity to learn about filming, editing and working with others, while being in a supportive and friendly environment. If this program did not exist I would not have other opportunities to learn like I have been given through Magic Hour Academy.
"
It is a unique, accepting, and supportive space for teens to pursue their interests in all corners of film. Good film programs are not always available, and those that are either are not very productive or not very personal and accepting. I think magic hour does both — we get stuff done and make great films, but we also have a great accepting environment and opportunities for everyone.
"
My personal goal was to learn more about producing and pre-production. I was given the space to learn on my own and mess up and then grow. Now I feel completely comfortable doing it
"
It feel[s] ... [like] a stress free learning focused environment where I am able to grow in a safe space.