TEMECULA - Ah, the perks of film camp.

You get to write, direct and edit film shorts - maybe featuring zombies or perhaps a social commentary on the challenges facing female presidential candidates - under the direction of Hollywood veterans.

There are sessions analyzing cult films, including "Napoleon Dynamite," a 2004 comedy about the quirkiest of teens whose peers and relatives are just as idiosyncratic. It was made on the cheap but earned millions.

And then there are the informal discussions with some of Hollywood's best and brightest.

On Wednesday, television producer Gregg Fienberg sat within arm's reach of 14 local aspiring filmmakers in a room off KZSW's kitchen. The day before, 20-somethings Luke Rold and Trevor James, who were a part of reality television show "On the Lot" discussed directing with the campers, whose ages range from 13 to 18.

Fienberg is the executive producer of several past and current HBO dramas, including "John from Cincinnati," which has confounded critics but has legions of devoted fans trying to piece together what could be television's most eccentric and nonlinear program.

Fienberg, who was raised in Los Angeles, had a different path planned than the students in the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival's inaugural film camp: He was headed toward accounting, not neighboring Studio City, in his schooling years.

The 14 campers already are ahead of Fienberg at this point in their lives.

"I've learned that a film is not just spontaneously created," said student David Ruby, 14, of Temecula. "It takes so many people to tell a story. The thought process really amazes me."

While at UCLA, Fienberg studied business, and only took a few television courses. He had an internship at the American Film Institute, but still planned on a career in accounting.

A fluke invite to be a production assistant on a Roger Corman film was Fienberg's entry point into Hollywood. From there, he found his traction: willingness to work 14-hour days.

"I'm often asked, 'How do you get into the business?'" he said. "I say all the time, 'It's easy to get in, but it's hard to stay in.'"

Turnover is high among production assistants, who generally don't share Fienberg's work ethic and determination.

In his Q-and-A with the students, Fienberg reiterated many mantras instilled in teens today: don't give up, don't say no, and work tirelessly. But camp organizers believe it's more meaningful for teens to hear it from a practitioner.

"'No' is never an answer," said Fienberg, 46. "I've never accepted it … and I won't accept it from my crew. There's always a solution."

The aspiring filmmakers, who were selected from a field of 30 applicants, are learning just that.

On their first day of camp, they were instructed to write a script for a one-minute film. Fear abounded, said camp leader Allan Goldstein, who has helmed several independent feature firms.

"It would scare the hell out of me," Fienberg said.

But by day's end, the students had each completed a script. Now, they're wrapping editing on their shorts.

"We learned to get as many shots as possible: medium shots, small shots," said student Dustin Marine, 18, of Temecula. "You understand the art of filmmaking, not just watching."

The two-week camp, which cost $795 per student, has another perk - and it may be the best of them all.

Their shorts will be shown alongside professional films at September's Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival, said founder Jo Moulton.

"We're always asked, 'Are there are any local filmmakers?'" Moulton said. "Well, there aren't too many. This is a way to fix that."

- Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or beckhouse@californian.com.