ESPP - 5501 - Free Film School
Course Description
Learn the basics of filmmaking from industry professionals this summer for free!
Free Film School was created in 2020 to address the longstanding underrepresentation of African Nova Scotian and Black Nova Scotian creatives in front of and behind the camera. Oriented to Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour participants, with a particular focus on Black participants, this summer program offers accessible, skills-based training alongside a set-culture framework rooted in respect, safety, and accountability, so participants can learn and create in environments free from racism, tokenizing, harassment, or unconscious bias.
Participants can expect hands-on filming exercises, theoretical film knowledge, and guest facilitators from the local film industry.
This intensive course focuses on camera operation, lighting, and sound. It concludes with hands-on shoots, both in-house and through our community partners. Participants who have successfully completed the training may have the opportunity to apply their skills on real productions with professional mentorship and clear roles with the Black Above the Line production program.
All professional equipment is provided for the duration of the course, and registration is completely free. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion from NSCAD Extended Studies.
If you’re interested in participating but the course hours don’t work for you, please feel free to reach out at ninaacosta@nscad.ca. We’d be happy to see if we can accommodate you or keep you in mind for future courses.
This program is led in partnership with In My Own Voice (iMOVe), Black Above the Line, and the Community Mobile Media Lab (CMML). Main Program Supervisors include Sobaz Benjamin and Solomon Nagler.