Hart House Creative LifeSchool Classes

Instructor: Minsoo Koh

This three-week class is designed for absolute beginners needing 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.

It is important to be on time each day as each lesson begins with a vital 30-minute presentation. 

Equipment: 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 digital editing component using Adobe Premiere. Please bring a USB memory stick with at least 500MB of free space to class each day to facilitate taking your work home.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from these classes is 5:00 pm on May 5 and May 29. A $8 / $15 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Minsoo Koh

This one-day workshop teaches students the basics of 3D modeling in Blender. Blender is a free 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D-printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and, formerly, video games. This workshop focuses on creating simple models, positioning, coloring/texturing, lighting, capturing with a virtual camera, and rendering. This workshop is for students who have no experience with Blender but are interested in 3D modeling.

Equipment: If you do not already have it, please pre-install Blender on your laptop in advance of the workshop, and of course bring your laptop to class. You are also strongly advised to bring a mouse (wired or wireless) to the class as it will allow you to perform more operations more efficiently.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 10. A $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Kennedy Kao

An introduction to directing performance for the screen. Topics include: identifying good performance, communicating with actors, casting actors, what actors want from a director, how actors work, rehearsal techniques, script analysis and preparation, forming a creative & productive relationship between the director & actor.  

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 26. A $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: James Ramlal

This beginner's workshop concentrates on general lighting theory covering different qualities of light and lighting styles, including high-key and low-key lighting, three-point lighting, colour temperature, gels and filters. Students will learn the key characteristics of light and be able to decode lighting scenarios in film and everyday life and learn how to recreate similar effects in their own films. Students will have the opportunity to practice several hands-on lighting set-ups, applying the general theories covered.

Equipment used in this class is the same equipment available to members of the Hart House Film Board. 

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 10. A $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Kennedy Kao

An introduction to the basic concepts of movie sound. Topics include: elements of sound, audio formats, single system vs. double system, and a brief introduction to various mics and other basic gear. Students acquire a greater understanding of the challenges of recording location sound. Topics covered include: recording techniques, challenges of field recording and troubleshooting. Students will do some hands-on recording in the classroom to experiment with proximity, the mic axis and room acoustics. Equipment used in this class is the same equipment available to members of the Hart House Film Board.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 9. A $4 / $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Auden Cole

This introductory 3-hour workshop teaches the basic use of a film camera: understanding film exposure, the relationships between f-stops, shutter, and film speeds, while paying particular attention to the effects composition, light, and depth of field have on image quality. The instructor will provide photographic examples and slides. You are encouraged to ask questions related to your camera equipment.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on April 18. A $3 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Albert Hoang

Bring the magic feeling of cinema to your photography! In this three part class and workshop, learn how to create emotional, impactful "movie-moments" in your photos. We will cover the essentials: shaping composition and working with natural and ambient light, engaging with both models and clients, and introducing various editing techniques to equip you with the tools to develop cinematic photography skills. The second class will be a practical workshop with a model so participants can learn how to interact with a subject and create narrative scenes. The third class will be a hands-on editing workshop.

This class is meant for folks who are familiar with photography who want to broaden their skills.

Equipment: Participants should bring their own cameras to practice techniques on days 1 and 3, and laptops/tablets with editing software to get the most out of the class on day 2.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on June 7. A $4 / $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Shlomi Amiga

Learn to use photo editing software Light Room – the desktop version. Download the free trial – if you intend to use this going forward, there is a license fee. To get the most from this class you should arrive with a working version of this software on your laptop.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 16. A $3 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Michele Crockett

In this workshop you will use light and photography to make images that go beyond what the eye can see. Through lectures, in-class exercises and a final project, you will explore shutter speed in the camera and how to create movement in your images.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on April 26. A $3 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Micah Donovan

This introductory workshop teaches what conditions make for a good photograph, and introduces strategies for making meaningful and visually pleasing photographs. Photography depends on many relationships between moment, space, light, texture, composition, subject and concept. The workshop will explore the interests of the students, different techniques, and successful, historically significant images. Expect to spend some time shooting on your own after the first class and there will be a shared drive to upload images to review will all during the second class.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on June 5. A $3 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Michael Chambers

This class is an open-format studio shoot environment. Instructor Michael Chambers will guide students through standard studio procedures with an emphasis on lighting and working with models. Bring your camera and be prepared to model for others.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 10. A $4 / $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Julian Frid

This introductory improv class will hone your skills in areas that are key to good improv and to living a positive, productive and playful life. Students will drill exercises that enrich listening (the words people say, the inflection, the body language), which leads to better acceptance (realizing the reality positively), and to a stronger appreciation for different values and points of view. After these exercises, students will practice scenes and enjoy each other's' creativity in a space that is only limited by people's imagination.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 15. A $6 / $15 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor:

Drop-in life drawing class with a model. Uninstructed. Participants must provide all their own supplies. Pencil or markers only please.  Pen & Ink, water colours, oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal are not permitted because they may stain the rug on the studio floor. We provide simple stands but no easels so some may want to bring a drawing board.

Note: Life Drawing classes are one session only. Please register for each weekly session you're interested in.

Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on Tuesday of the week class is scheduled. A $2 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Edy Garfinkel

This workshop will investigate the challenges of asserting oneself and how to overcome it. In a group setting, individuals will explore what being assertive means, the difference between passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive styles of communication and the limiting beliefs that stop individuals from being themselves in certain contexts of life.

Through the use of tools and exercises from the actor’s process, improv and mindfulness-based techniques, students will face what comes up for them and unearth their authentic truth to be expressed openly and assertively while standing up for themselves. 

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on June 21. A $8 / $15 withdrawal fee applies.

Instructor: Cathy Sobocan

This course is for advanced English speakers who learned English as a second language. Learn how to reproduce the North American vowel and consonant sounds, and develop your English-speaking abilities so that you can express yourself in English with confidence. You’ll open up your voice by using some of the same techniques actors use when learning accents, along with some practical ESL pronunciation techniques. Changing an accent takes time. This will be time well spent. 

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is 5:00 pm on May 8. A $8 / $15 withdrawal fee applies.