EmpowHER Female Filmmaking Series

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Next program starting Nov 2024!    8 Sundays 10am-1pm PST online. 

A course taught by industry professionals and designed specifically for female representing and non binary teens and adults. This course is geared towards those who are looking to expand their knowledge beyond their specific skill set or who are wanting to learn the skills required to successfully shoot a short film. Our goal with this course is to create a safe space for you to ask questions, to learn, become motivated, inspired and to create a network of like minded filmmakers and friends.  

From contracts, working with the union, the common mistakes and pitfalls all the way to festival submissions, let us guide you to success and empowerment as you enter this industry and join the group of unshakable women in film. 

"I took the badass, all female film-making program "Empowher" run by Lisa Ovies, and let me tell you, to say it was valuable and time well spent is an understatement. Lisa is real, and runs her courses in a way thats refreshing, captivating,  and sometimes out right philosophical. Covering all topics from writing, to principle photography, to editing, right through to festival submission, this is your one stop shop for all the tools necessary to make your first film or your tenth. Its accessible for all levels of industry folk. If you don't want to spend months or even years in a film program, let Lisa guide you with her cherry pickings of wisdom and what actually goes into a film. No BS. Money well spent."

-Online Google review 

This program is open to all  female-identifying and non binary filmmakers of any skill level and age.

Class topics: 

Producing with Joanna Tsanis 

From the legal aspects, paperwork and contracts, dealing with unions and managing a team. This class covers everything everyone forgets to tell you when making your first film.

Screenwriting with Seth Sherwood 

You have a great idea, but what next? Work with what you have to tell a story you can realistically make, and format it in a way that works. A quick walk through screenwriting software and a great conversation about tricks to beat out your story in a way that helps you find purpose and engages your audience   

Casting With Monika Dalman 

Casting director and CDC member Monika Dalman talks to us about the process of casting your film. How to pull your sides, navigate the casting websites, make offers, talk with agents, and run an audition.   

Directing actors with Lisa Ovies 

Director Lisa Ovies walks you through the best ways to work with and communicate with dept. heads and crew members in different areas of the production process. She brings the directors perspective to each of the classes in the term. 

Editing with Gigi Saul Guerrero

So much more than just editing, this class teaches how to set up BEFORE you shoot to be prepared in the edit room with all the footage you need to tell your story your way. Shot lists, storyboards, communication and key choices in the edit room all play into your success. And remember, the edit room can be your laptop and iMovie, it's your choices that make the film, not the money.

Lighting and Camera with Mel Ward.

Mel brings her extensive grip and camera experience to this class that builds on the tools and ideas from past weeks. Shot listing your story, communicating with your DP, simple lighting choices and how they change the mood, inserts and all the things you may forget you need until you are in the edit and it is too late. Prepare ahead for success and maybe even be the camera op or DP on your next film.  

On set and Post sound with Robert Phaneuf Sound. The forgotten element of Indie film and one of its greatest downfalls when it comes to festival play and success. Rob takes us through capturing proper sound on set, tools to clean up your sound in post, DIY ADR, simple sound design and so much more.   

Navigating Pre-Production Through to Post with Marena Dix 

Post Production Supervisor and producer Marena Dix takes us through all the connections and planning we should be making BEFORE we go to picture, and then walks us through scheduling and planning our way successfully through post and final delivery.

Music with Stephen Gallagher  

Composer Stephen Gallagher will walk us through how music affects the tone and feel of your film. Where a simple music cue can change everything and how to access and utilize cheap and free software to help build your score  

Film Festivals and FilmFreeway with various film festival directors and programmers.  Where it all ends: The festival circuit. Creators and programmers for some top film festivals in both Canada and the US bring us their inside knowledge on the top mistakes filmmakers make when submitting to film festivals, what they are looking for, what film lengths they love (and hate), the value of a personalized title page and so much more. We also talk about FilmFreeway and how to best set up yourself, and your film, for success. We end the class and course talking about the film festival experience itself. How to get the most out of the experience. Network, listen, learn, repeat.

The Hollywood Journey:

What’s it really like to work from the mail room up to working at a top production company and working with some of the biggest directors in Hollywood? Disciple, passion, and a drive like no other. What are development execs really looking for? What works in a pitch? How do we get our stories told. 

Past guest speakers:

20th Century Fox Studios Manager, Creative Affairs:  Alli Mcardle

Raimi Productions president Zainab Azizi 

Development Executive of Blumhouse Productions Jenny Sciarra 

*Please note this is a bonus class we offer in addition to the regular 8 classes in the term when schedules allow and is never guaranteed.*

8-week summer program (Level 1)

Sundays 10am --1pm

*Some classes may run longer as we will be running a lecture format with an interactive Q&A in every class*

Two payments of $320 + GST

" Award-winning Film director Lisa Ovies' Rogue Studios #EmpowHER Female Filmmaking Cohort experience was PHENOMENAL!

For 3-4 hours every Sunday, I have felt exceptionally grateful that such a knowledgeable and supportive team of accomplished instructors worked to equip us with the skills we need to succeed in the creative economy. Thank you all for generously sharing your time and expertise!!

I still cannot believe that THE Stephen Gallagher who did the sound editing for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY got up at 4am New Zealand time to teach us about music composition AND that Lisa let me workshop my film with him so that I could get his suggestions, Thank you so much! 

Thank you for bringing in Emmy-nominated LA-based Screenwriter Seth Sherwood. Seth, you led one of the most exciting workshops I have ever sat in on.

We learnt about producing from a very special genre filmmaker that has been consistently slaying awards every year, we gained insider tips from CDC member Monika Dalman (whose) passion for creating positive change through inclusive and diverse representation is exactly what the world needs. 

#EmpowHER also provided invaluable insight on lighting and cinematography, on set and post sound and how to navigate pre-production through to post production.

To better understand Film Freeway and navigating the film festival circuit Lisa even introduced us to powerhouses film festival directors from the US and Canada and we got to meet a Development Executive from Blumhouse!!

Lisa Ovies you are a trailblazing legend. This course was exactly what I needed to prepare for filming this fall. Thank you so much for caring & for making a difference in our lives.
Emiko" 

** Please note that as we are a small business, the cost of this program is based on your acceptance and initial attendance and does not change based on how many classes you are able to attend. 

Additionally, please note there may be slight changes to content or instructors due to availability as all staff are currently working in film and television however every attempt will be made to replace with equally or greater content.

Contact now to register as space is very limited  Lisa@roguestudios.ca