Creative Pathways

This program has been so incredibly amazing. The staff at this program help create such a creative and free environment I felt safe and listened too. The chateau, food, and classes were amazing and so welcoming. This program and the things i learned in the program will continue to inspire who I am for many years to come. I highly recommend anyone to come to Berridge programs you will not regret it. I was so scared to come to this program but I had nothing at all to be worried about. Best place ever.

It was meaningful and really fun. Thank you staff. I learned a lot and had a really nice time. The chateau is super nice and magical. The people made it really special. I think berridge attracts a really special group of creative cool people. It was really important to me to have a time in my life dedicated to putting my head down and pursuing art. I’m so glad I did berridge. My favorite part was open mic where we got to see everyone perform and as we got closer to the end the performances became even more niche and special, I’m so proud of my friends.

I went into this with very low expectations, but the people, staff, and experiences here made it one of the most impactful times in my life. The bad days were still great and the great days I’ll never forget. The food from the chef was made with a palpable love that you can only feel from your family and everything I learned in these two months, I never would’ve imagined I could learn in that short amount of time. I’m still shocked at how much I loved this experience and how desperately I wish it wouldn’t end.

I’m so lucky to have found this program. I’ve had a friend do it in the past, and she recommended it to me, told me it was the best thing ever, and she was right. The staff are unmatched- the kindest and smartest people I’ve ever met. They value the safety of students and are so passionate about their craft. Students who love all visual arts, film, creative writing, acting, music, cooking, and history should come here. It is such a rich environment and a beautiful chateau. They balance everything so well. I’ve made some of my best friends here, and I genuinely couldn’t recommend it enough.

I had such a good time on this program. The faculty were so fun to work with. They all pushed me to keep learning and trying new things while encouraging me to be more independent. I started the program wanting to experiment with light painting. None of the faculty members had a lot of experience, but a few faculty waited till it was dark and we all experimented together. The results turned out pretty cool. I also was able to experiment with new forms of cameraless photography, jewelry making, developing film, and even making a magazine. This program has helped me create a more experienced portfolio.

The Berridge Program opened my eyes to how teamwork and collaboration not only allows for converging opinions to form a creative project, but also boosts creativity. Meeting friends with similar creative interests, I could not have asked for a better environment to learn, film, and explore - especially in a foreign country. I would recommend the Berridge Gap Year program to anyone who is looking to expand their creative horizons and wants to get out of their comfort zone and learn about various creative fields in a beautiful place.

The staff and kids are really dedicated in the projects that they are working on. The food is great, the housing system is really cool. I do wish that the two houses could interact more, as each house only holds 13 students, and we did most of our socializing at night because we were so busy during the day. Overall, I learned a ton and made a bunch of new friends. You also get to be in the middle of nowhere France, which is amazing because you get real French culture and you get to get away from your day to day life. It is definitely what I would search for in a gap year experience.

Join this program if you want to come out with powerful cinematic skills. Don't think about it twice. Literally. There are programs out there that have purely technical classes, others that are just theory, etc. This program will teach you how to THINK, WRITE, and DIRECT, like a true filmmaker. They teach you the importance of imagery and emotion, while getting hands-on experience at the same time. You are dealing with genuine industry professionals that will teach you how to behave on set and ways to be successful in this industry. Completely worth it.