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 Notes: 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 this class is January 18 at 5:00 pm. An $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.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is January 25 at 5:00 pm. A $5 / $8 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 January 18 at 5:00 pm. A $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies. 

Instructor: Minsoo Koh

This one-day workshop teaches students the basic process of film production from pre-production, production, to post-production mostly from but not limited to the point of view of a director. This workshop is geared towards students who are interested in getting into the production side of filmmaking with little to no experience. This workshop covers different aspects of each production stage such as treatment creation, storyboarding, script/brief, casting process, location scout, editing, VFX, and more.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is January 11 at 5:00 pm. A $4 / $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 Jan 17 at 5:00 pm. 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 January 10 at 5:00 pm. A $3 / $4 / $5 withdrawal fee applies. 

Instructor: Shlomi Amiga

This engaging class will focus on the fundamental aspects of smartphone photography. Students will learn how to properly control their camera app settings to achieve better, and more creative results with the photographs they take, as well as retouch the photos and prepare them for social media/print use. Commercial photographer Chase Jarvis once said: “The best camera, is the one that you have with you!”.

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: A $4 / $5 / $8 withdrawal fee applies for withdrawing from the class. 
Deadline to withdraw from the Jan 7 class is Jan 4 at 5:00 pm.
Deadline for the Jan 14 class is Jan 11 at 5:00 pm. 

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 January 16. A $6/$15 withdrawal fee applies. 

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.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is January 4 at 5:00 pm. 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.

Instructor: Aisha Lesley Bentham

Cooking is one of the most human acts we can do. And spending time around food has become some of our greatest past-times which brings together friends and family. Soft Cooking is all about bringing more ease, joy and play into the kitchen, while developing a practice of care and reconciliation. This class is for anyone interested in exploring a new cuisine.

Founder and food savant, Aisha Lesley Bentham will be leading participants through new learning techniques on meal preparation, principles of FEMA, sustainable and economical practices and building a list of staple pantry items. We will prepare meals together, share stories and cultivate a new generation of conscious cooks. 

See a full course breakdown on the Soft Cooking page.

Note: Deadline to withdraw from this class is January 16 at 5:00 pm. An $8 withdrawal fee applies.