Hart House Film Board

Workshops

Hart House is offering a wide selection of film workshops and classes in the heart of Toronto.

Classes and Workshops are open to everyone; U of T students, Hart House members and non members.

Winter 2010 Film Classes

Register at www.harthouse.ca/classes

Guerilla Super 8 Filmmaking

In this 3-week hands-on intensive class students have the opportunity to complete a short super 8 film.

In Week 1 students will learn how to get proper exposure and focus before shooting some test film. In Week 2 we’ll look at the test results before discussing additional features of the cameras, such as fast- and slow-motion, animation and time lapse. Students will then take away a camera and one roll of film (3 minutes) to shoot on their own time. In the final week students will view their work and receive detailed feedback. You will also learn how to edit (splice) the film.

All finished films will be eligible to enter the U of T Film Festival’s Super 8 Circus event. Price includes film, processing and transfer to video ($60 value). Enrollment limited to 8.

Instructor: Rick Palidwor

Dates: Saturdays, 12-4pm, January 23, January 30, 12-2pm, February 13 (3 weeks).

No class Feb 6.

Location: Hart House Committees Room

Registration Fee: $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $236 (general public)

Documenting Field Work

Are you doing field work as part of your studies? Are you planning to shoot some video and take photos to document your work? Hoping to make a great presentation at the end? This workshop will prime you on all the major areas of production: getting better pictures, getting better sound, interview techniques and tips for gathering additional media for a seamless final product. There will also be a practical demonstration of shooting and editing a digital video sequence. Enrollment limited to 8

This one-day workshop is also a great introduction to all the other filmmaking classes Hart House offers to support your project.

Instructors: Rick Palidwor

Dates: Sunday, 11am-4pm, January 24 (1 Day).

Location: Hart House Debates Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $52 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $79 (general public)

Shooting from the Hip - DIY Documentaries

This 8-week DIY (do it yourself) documentary course will cover all the necessary steps to
make your own short (5-10 minutes) documentary by the end of the course! The class
will cover all the technical and creative aspects of shooting with portable digital
cameras, lighting, sound recording, and interviewing/voice over techniques, it will also
cover introductory editing with Final Cut Pro.

Throughout participants will be exposed to various ways to go about telling a story and to create the visual/aural language for the film, through the screening of various low-budget filmmakers – including the use of verite, appropriated/archival footage, animation/stop motion and guerilla shooting techniques from around the globe.

Students are encouraged to have at least one documentary idea/project that they will be able work on over the duration of the course.

Instructor: Tracy German
Dates: Mondays, 6:30-9:30pm, January 25 to March 22 (8 weeks).

No class February 15

Location: Hart House Committees Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $236 (general public)

Comprehensive Introduction to Movie-Making

This is an “everything you wanted to know…” lecture-based 8-week class designed for beginners or those who need brushing-up.

Each week will be an overview of a different topic or cluster of topics, including but not limited to: film and video cameras, basics of writing and directing, thinking like an editor, sound in production and post, cast & crew, locations, lighting and workflow (pre-production, production, post-production). Guaranteed to inform and energize.

Instructor: Rick Palidwor

Dates: Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30pm, January 26 to March 23 (8 weeks).

No class February 16

Location: Hart House South Sitting Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $236 (general public)

Director’s Introduction to Filmmaking: Directing Actors in a Dramatic Scene

This is a practical hands-on film directing class with a strong emphasis on the director’s relationship with actors. Students will be coached in the tools they need to direct a dramatic scene, and will gain confidence from having worked with a crew in a true-to-life setting.

In the first week each student will be assigned a short script and two actors with the intent of shooting the script before the end of this 8-week class. To prepare, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of a director’s “tool kit”: pictorial continuity, shot structure, styles and moods, framing with a lens, shot lists and storyboards, blocking the action and thinking like an editor before you shoot.

Throughout the 8-weeks students will be working with actors-in-training and their acting coach to experience actor-director communication first-hand. (See “An Actor’s Introduction to Filmmaking”).

Students will also work closely with camera, lighting and sound crews-in-training to prepare for their shoot and will have the opportunity to work closely with the editors-in-training.

Students who also take the “Hands-on Editing” class will have complete editorial control over their scene. The “Editing Concepts and Theories” class is highly recommended for director’s who want to obtain an even greater understanding of their craft.

Final results will be screened on the last day. Enrollment limited to 9.

Instructors: Rick Palidwor and Kevin McCormick

Dates: Thursdays, 6:00-10:00pm, January 28 to March 25. (8 weeks).

No class February 18

Location: Hart House North Dining Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $368 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $472 (general public)

Introduction to Writing Adaptation for the Screen

Screenwriting shares many of the same characteristics as other writing genre.  In this course, participants practice their screenwriting craft through exposure to the short story, plays and even poetry. By focusing on the fundamentals of these other media, writers begin to appreciate the value of those story elements intrinsic to all modes of writing, all the while gaining a fuller understanding and appreciation for the *unique* qualities of the screenplay.

Writing exercises will concentrate on a comparison across all storytelling genre and students will have an opportunity to adapt fiction and drama into camera-ready screenplays to be to be produced by other Hart House Creative Classes.

Instructor: Ross McKie

Dates: Thursdays, 6:30-9:30pm, January 28 to March 25. (8 weeks).

No class February 18

Location: Hart House Committees Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $236 (general public)

Introduction to Filmmaking Equipment Theory: Lights, Cameras, Sound…

This class is for people new to film production and need a basic introduction to the major theories behind the key equipment areas of video cameras, sound and lighting. Students will come away with the theoretical foundation behind these major equipment areas and the ability to better apply them.

Week 1 will concentrate on video cameras and how images are formed. Camera parts such as aperture, shutter, lens, and the CCD chip will be explained in order to make decisions about proper exposure, depth of field and motion. Other concepts specific to video such as pixel resolution and monitor reference will be included. Call it Video Cameras 101.

In Week 2 students are introduced to the basic concepts of movie sound. Topics covered include: elements of sound, characteristics of a good recording, audio formats, single system vs. double system, and a brief introduction to various mics, recorders and other sound recording equipment. Call it Movie Sound 101.

In Week 3 students are introduced to general lighting theory, covering: different qualities of light and lighting styles such as high-key and low-key lighting and three-point lighting, as well as colour temperature, gels and filters and exposing with a light meter. Call it Lighting 101.

Instructors: Chris Jodoin (video), Kevin Munro (sound), Yale Massey (lights)

Dates: Thursdays, 6:30-9:30pm, January 28 to February 11 (3 weeks).

Location: Hart House South Sitting Room

Registration Fee: $59 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $88 (general public)

100% Hands-on Filmmaking Exercises for Absolute Beginners: Learn by Doing

This class is designed for absolute beginners who need a comprehensive hands-on experience. Each week students will work in small groups to shoot and cut simple exercises designed to teach the fundamental building blocks required by all filmmakers.

In Week 1 you will learn the art of “pictorial continuity”, the foundation upon which all filmmaking is built and indispensable for all genres of film. In Week 2 students repeat a similar exercise, only now with an eye to “composition”, the art of getting a more aesthetically pleasing frame. In Week 3 students begin working with sound and learn some simple tricks to address the most common sound problems.

Note: the cameras used in this class are very simple: it’s not about the camera it’s about what is happening in front of the camera.

Each exercise has a hands-on Final Cut Pro digital editing component, where students not only learn basic editing techniques but also discovering first-hand how well they shot their scene. Students will share a small number of computers.

Instructors: Dagny Thompson and Rick Palidwor

Dates: Sundays, 11am-4pm, January 31 to February 14 (3 weeks).

Location: Hart House Debates Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $236 (general public)

Editing Concepts and Theories

This 4-week class examines the visual language of film editing. Surveying the evolution and implications of styles such as invisible editing versus disjunctive editing, this workshop further explores the psychology of editing and how it can be used to affect and even control viewers’ reactions.

Whatever the genre – fiction, documentary, short film, music video, experimental – through screenings and discussions this class explores how editing can guide an audience through a story, imposing the desired thoughts and feelings.

Instructor: Alex Shuper

Dates: Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm, February 3 to March 3 (4 weeks).

No Class February 17

Location: Hart House South Sitting Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $79 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $116 (general public)

Hands-on Video Production

This 4-week class offers an immersive hands-on video shooting experience where students will act as camera crew on several true-to-life film shoots with actors and directors.

In Week 1 students will be introduced to the Panasonic DVX100 digital video camera, the camera’s features and the skills needed to operate it. In Week 2 students begin preparing to shoot several scenes working with Directors notes. In the final weeks students will work in a true-to-life shooting environment, shooting one or more scenes alongside other crew members, including directors and actors. Note that weeks 3 and 4 are longer days.

Students will come away with a firm grasp of using the equipment and trouble-shooting in a practical environment. Highly recommended for students who have taken previous Hart House film equipment workshops (take what you learned to the next level) but no experience necessary. Enrollment limited to 7.

Instructor: Chris Jodoin

Dates:

Thursday, February 25, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 4, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 11, 3-11pm

Thursday, March 18, 3-11pm

Location: Hart House Board Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $210 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $315 (general public)

Hands-on Sound Production

This 4-week class offers an immersive hands-on sound-for-film experience where students will act as camera crew on several true-to-life film shoots with actors and directors.

In Week 1 students will be introduced to a variety of professional sound tools (microphones, recorders) and taught the basic skills needed to use them. In Week 2 students begin preparing to record sound for several scenes working with Directors notes. In the final weeks students will work in a true-to-life shooting environment, recording sound for one or more scenes alongside other crew members, including directors and actors. Note that weeks 3 and 4 are longer days.

Students will come away with a firm grasp of using the equipment and trouble-shooting in a practical environment. Highly recommended for students who have taken previous Hart House film equipment workshops (take what you learned to the next level) but no experience necessary. Enrollment limited to 7.

Instructor: Kevin Munro

Dates:

Thursday, February 25, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 4, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 11, 3-11pm

Thursday, March 18, 3-11pm

Location: Hart House South Sitting Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $210 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $315 (general public)

Hands-on Lighting Production

This 4-week class offers an immersive hands-on lighting experience where students will act as camera crew on several true-to-life film shoots with actors and directors.

In Week 1 students will be introduced to a variety of high-end professional lighting packages and how to properly expose for these lights through the use of a light meter. In Week 2 students will be taught how to properly prepare for a lighting set-up, working with Directors notes. In the final weeks students will work in a true-to-life shooting environment, lighting one or more scenes alongside other crew members, including directors and actors. Note that weeks 3 and 4 are longer days.

Students will come away with a firm grasp of using the equipment and trouble-shooting in a practical environment. Highly recommended for students who have taken previous Hart House film equipment workshops (take what you learned to the next level) but no experience necessary. Enrollment limited to 9.

Instructor: Yale Massey

Dates:

Thursday, February 25, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 4, 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, March 11, 3-11pm

Thursday, March 18, 3-11pm

Location: Hart House Bickersteth Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $210 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $315 (general public)

Hands-on Editing Lab with Final Cut Pro

Students will work on their own editing stations in a small 4-station computer lab environment. In the first 2-weeks students will learn the basic architecture of Final Cut Pro software before moving into practical applications, including: media management, basic picture and sound cutting, transitions, simple effects and titling, importing raw material and exporting finished movies.

In weeks 3 and 4 students will cut, from scratch, concurrent production workshop scenes (See “Director’s Introduction to Filmmaking” and prepare them for a screening on March 25. Students will be encouraged to work on their own time to meet the screening deadline. Enrollment limited to 3.

Instructor: Jeremy Singer

Dates: Sundays, 12-4:00pm, Feb 28 to March 21 (4 weeks).

Location: Hart House Film Board Room

Registration Fee (includes GST): $168 (U of T students and Hart House members) / $252 (general public)

About the Instructors

Tracy German is an instructor at Sheridan College, as well as an active member of LIFT, WIFT, and the Doc Org of Canada. She has been making documentary films for fifteen years. Her award winning auteur films have screened both locally and internationally at film festivals around the world and have broadcast on television. Currently she is Directing/Producing a rock n’ roll doc entitled Iggstock, as well as in development with several other projects. www.tracygerman.com

Chris Jodoin has been working with digital video for nearly 10 years and has served as cinematographer and editor on many films of many genres and lengths.

Yale Massey is an award-winning director and cinematographer. Currently Yale is writing, directing and producing the second season (Episodes 8-15) of a docu-series airing on Rogers Television, entitled The Film Student. Yale is also directing and producing a documentary entitled Gway that focuses on the issues facing at-risk youth. He has taught filmmaking at George Brown College for a number of years and is an owner of the post-production house Media Magic.

Kevin McCormick has worked as Artistic Director, Producer, Director, Acting Instructor, and Consultant. Some directing credits include: The Fantasticks, The

Sound of Music, In God’s Own Country, Oklahoma, The Stronger, Camelot, Jesus

Christ Superstar, Wait until Dark, and Suddenly Last Summer. He founded Theatre

Collingwood, and remained there as Artistic Director for many years. He was a

founding member of the Toronto Association of Acting Studios and served as Chairman for several years. www kevinmccormickdirector com

Ross McKie has been working for many years as a screenwriter and story editor. Recently he wrote for the television series Crimes of Passion and adapted the acclaimed Canadian novel Moody Food for the screen. He is currently developing a drama series with Frantic Films entitled Push!

Kevin Munro is a Toronto-based freelance sound engineer, and a graduate from Sheridan College’s Media Arts program. Over the last 6 years he has owned and operated an independent sound studio, Broompole Productions. He has recorded location sound and mixed audio for several films, documentaries, and commercials that have been broadcast and screened across North America. Kevin embraces the unique creative and technical challenges present in sound recording, and enjoys sharing his passion with others.

Rick Palidwor is an independent filmmaker and educator. His short films and videos have been broadcast in Canada and abroad and he is the producer and co-director of the innovative super 8 feature Sleep Always. He has taught at Hart House (University of Toronto), York University, George Brown College and LIFT for many years.

Alex Shuper is a Toronto-based filmmaker. Working predominantly as an editor, his documentary credits include The Five Cent War, The Last Mogul, Comedy Gold, and most recently T.C. McLuhan’s The Frontier Gandhi; his narrative film editing credits include the critically acclaimed deadend.com and The Mad. In addition, he directed the film Edge Codes, a documentary about film editing. Currently, he is directing his second film, a documentary about the evolution of video games, entitled Mind Games.

Jeremy Singer is a Toronto-based filmmaker. He is a graduate of the Ryerson Film program and has worked as a freelance editor for the last seven years, working on a large variety of projects including documentaries, TV shows and commercials. Recent projects include music videos by Toronto-based Kids on TV and Hank.

Dagny Thompson is a U of T grad who now works in the independent and mainstream film and television industry.