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.

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.

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.

Instructor: Annette Mangaard

So you want to make a documentary and aren’t sure where to start? This class will introduce you to the fundamental concepts, processes and techniques of documentary filmmaking. It will cover the major genres and elements, including ethics, the art of the interview, narration, archival and stock footage, styles of shooting, pitching, funding and distribution. Screenings and discussion of films will provide an overview of the historical, conventional, experimental and emerging forms of the doc. Hands-on work with the camera provides real experience.

This class is great for students actively working on a doc or as an introduction to the range of documentary approaches in preparation for a future production. Students should come to class with an idea that they would like to develop during the class. They should leave with a solid understanding of next steps and how to proceed with making their film. (Students in need of equipment experience are encouraged to take the various equipment and hands-on classes Hart House offers and the Hart House Film Board offers inexpensive equipment rentals.)

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. 

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.

Instructor: James Ramlal

This introductory class will shed light on the elements of film and still photography as a basis for understanding video. Camera parts such as aperture, shutter, lens, and the sensor will be explained in order to make decisions about proper exposure, depth of field and motion. Other concepts specific to video such as white balance and gain will be introduced. Students will be shown basic camera set-up for shooting indoors and outdoors.

In the second half, we look deeper into video camera menu options, such as frame rate, manual VS auto functions, and the User buttons. Using a hands-on approach, students will see first-hand how framing, axis and camera movement decisions affect editing choices. The instructor will give tips on best practices for using the camera to film in a variety of situations, including hand-held and verite, or use with a tripod.

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.

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This course introduces basic darkroom procedures: developing black and white negative film and printing photographs from negatives. You will learn various techniques to enlarge and control the quality of prints with time to develop your photographs.

Each week's lesson includes a short orientation and supervised time in the darkroom. On day one, we will focus on the basics of developing; on day two, we will focus on the basics of printing; and on day three, we will explore advanced printing methods.

Instructor: Shlomi Amiga

Learn how to use your digital camera. The class will be a practical, hands-on introduction to your digital camera and how to use its features. In the first class, we start with the absolute basics, looking at exposure, aperture, shutter speed, focal length, image quality, and other introductory stuff. We will look at intermediate-level features in the second class including white balance, built-in flash, exposure compensation and more. Have your cameras handy.

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. 

Instructor: Shlomi Amiga

This Photo Essay class is designed for photography enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of visual storytelling and develop their skills in creating compelling photo essays. This hands-on course delves into the techniques, principles, and concepts behind crafting thought-provoking narratives through a series of photographs.

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.

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Pinhole photography is a technique whereby photos are made without the use of a lens. Instead, a tiny hole is punctured in one side of a light-tight box allowing light to stream through and create an image on a piece of photographic paper inside the box. In the first hour everyone will be provided with the materials to build their own pinhole camera. In the second hour everyone will venture outside to take a picture. In the final hour everyone will venture into the darkroom room to develop their photo. No prior darkroom experience required. This class is suitable for beginners as well as darkroom or photography veterans who have never explored the world of pinhole photography.

All materials are provided and everyone will leave with their own pinhole camera for future use.

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.

Instructor: Janelle Hanna

Always wanted to try acting but didn’t know where to start? Don’t have time in your regular class schedule but still want to feed the acting bug? Intro to Acting is an introductory course for beginners and artists in the early stages of their careers. Through the use of theatre games, storytelling, improvisation and monologue exploration, participants will be introduced to and learn to apply common acting techniques including intention, tactics, relationship, conflict, and stakes.

Participants will walk away with a coached contemporary theatre monologue or piece of their choosing. The course will be tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the group, whether that is to have a polished monologue for upcoming theatre auditions or to have a party trick in your back pocket to impress your family and friends. Learn from professional actor Janelle Hanna, while making lasting memories and new connections.

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.

Instructor: Julian Frid

Anyone who has introductory improv skills can take this class. Building on the foundations of Yes And, Environment and Character work, this class will focus on the unique Improv skill 'Game of the scene' and experiment with different virtual improv formats to create a range of fun and engaging scenes that will push their improv skills to the next level.

Instructor: Janelle Hanna

Looking to gain confidence speaking in front of a crowd? Or perhaps you are looking to better understand the voice and how it connects to the body as a performer? Led by voice over artist and professional actor Janelle Hanna, over this 8-week course you will explore key concepts such as breath, resonance, alignment and articulation. Learn how to access your own unique authentic voice and rid yourself of bad vocal habits and tension while focusing on developing clarity, credibility and confidence.

Take your class presentations, speeches, artistic endeavours and social and professional interactions to the next level. Participants will learn how to build an individualized vocal warmup and repertoire of exercises while receiving individualized feedback and coaching tailored to their specific vocal goals. Whether you are new to voice work or looking to take your practice to the next level, there is something to learn for all.

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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.

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. 

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.