The CSC is committed to providing professional development in the form of workshops for its members, organizing learning opportunities at various levels from novice to masters. Workshops are open to members only, unless otherwise posted.

In addition to partnering with CSC sponsor companies to present discussion events regarding current technology and applications, the CSC has developed its own highly regarded series of specialist training, including:

  • Technology and process modules related to cameras, lenses, lightning
  • Core fundamental workshops for entry level cinematographers
  • Extensive high-level modules for Camera Assistants
  • Imaging and lighting workshops for various people of various skill levels in film/tv production, commercials and documentaries
  • Advanced workshops led by full member cinematographers for skill progression
  • Introductory workshops for actors and others for understanding on-set interplay with a camera team
PAST WORKSHOP PHOTO GALLERY

Recent & Upcoming Workshops

To apply for all workshops and seminars, please visit our calendar page. 

 

Feb 8 2025 – Virtual Production for Documentary Workshop (Edmonton)

Taught by Wes Doyle CSC and Chase Gardiner, Associate Member, this one day in-person workshop explores the intersection of cinematic lighting for documentaries and virtual production techniques. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of essential terminology, VP technology, and best practices for shooting cinematic documentaries in both virtual and real-world environments.

March 1 & 2 2025 – Night Lighting Workshop (Vancouver)

Led by Philip Lanyon csc and Nick Thomas csc, this two-day workshop will offer participants the opportunity to expand their creative and technical boundaries, and gain the tools necessary to capture captivating visuals in low-light conditions.

March 1 – On Set to Finishing Colour Workshop (Toronto)

This workshop explores the collaboration between the Cinematographer, the Digital Imaging Technician and the Finishing Colourist. The objective is to achieve a desired look in real-time while maintaining consistency from set to delivery.

Andrew Richardson will discuss on-set colour workflow, livegrade fundamentals, LUTs and real-time colour grading. Picture Shop Senior Colourist, Brett Trider, will discuss the importance of colour finishing and the additional tool sets that are available to the cinematographer in post. Cinematographer Justin Black CSC will be on hand to answer any DP-related questions.

 

 

APPLICATIONS & REGISTRATION

Previous Education Event Videos

Camera Modules

Camera Modules

Camera Movement

Camera Movement

Camera Assistants

Camera Assistants

Acting for the Camera

Acting for the Camera

Cinematic Lighting

Cinematic Lighting

Lighting Faces

Lighting Faces

Advanced Post Workflow

Advanced Post Workflow

Tabletop Lighting

Tabletop Lighting

Past Workshops

Camera Assistant Workshop

To ensure that camera crews maintain the high standards recognized by the Canadian Motion Picture industry, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers is offering a two day intensive and advanced course on the craft of Camera Assisting

The course will be conducted by working professional camera assistants and cinematographers who will not only teach, but share their wealth of production know-how and technological knowledge gained from years of on-set experience.

LEARN THE VARIED SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A CAMERA ASSISTANT WORKING TODAY

New cameras and technologies are being introduced into the Motion Picture industry at lightning speed. But, regardless
of the platform being used, the on-set craft of the Camera Department remains just as vital and necessary today as it was 100 years ago. The CSC Camera Assistant Workshop will provide its participants with knowledge of the tools and protocols necessary to work in today’s fast paced and demanding production world.

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE INSTRUCTED IN:

  • Tools and ditty bag
  • Information on useful industry apps w Paperwork and administration
  • Labeling
  • Slating
  • On-set deportment
  • First procedures on the set
  • Camera set-up
  • Focus pulling
  • Photographic theory

HANDS-ON MEANS EXPERIENCE

The CSC believes that the best training comes from doing. The CSC Camera Assistants Workshop will have a classroom component but will also include “building the camera from the ground up” using current digital technologies as well as realistic on-set exercises. Course size will be limited to maximize hands–on time. As a follow-up to this workshop, the CSC offers camera module workshops that will allow on-going skills upgrade to assistants and more hands-on experience at different equipment suppliers with different camera systems.

 

Cinematic Lighting Workshop

Hands-on means experience

The CSC believes that the best training comes from doing. This two day hands-on lighting workshop offers the participants comprehensive knowledge on the fundamentals of practical lighting setups.

Participants will work in groups and will alternate the roles of DoP, camera operator, camera assistant and gaffer. Each group is assigned a digital camera package and access to a gaffer and electric. Actors will be on hand to contribute to effective blocking and lighting setups. Content shot will be critiqued at the end of each day and a course manual will be provided.

Topics include:

  • Lighting concepts and theory
  • Colour temperature
  • Colour and diffusion gels
  • Light fixtures (open face, fresnel, HMI, fluorescents, LED)
  • Grip & Lighting support & light modifying equipment
  • Light meter operation
  • Single and two camera setups – set lighting

Participants are encouraged to bring a light meter (if you have one) for the practical exercises.

Table Top Lighting

In spite of the term “table top” this type of cinematography can be employed for areas that require a much larger work area than a table. However, the term is universally accepted and during this workshop we will confine our exercises to an area that will be both practical as well as manageable … a “tabletop”.

In this workshop the participants will be instructed in the following:

The psychological approach to the advertising of products – either stationary or while being manipulated.

Understanding the approach to specifics products and how best to photograph them.

Learn about the various lighting instruments required for this kind of application.

How to evaluate the special requirements, both aesthetically as well as technically to achieve the intended results.

How to apply special techniques and the methods for lighting a variety of products, surfaces and textures.

As this is not classified as a “basic workshop” an important prerequisite for this course is that the participants have a good understanding as well as working knowledge of the following:

Working knowledge of lighting instruments such as: fresnel’s, open face, kinos, HMI’s etc.

Working knowledge of grip equipment such as: grip stands, grip arms, sky highs, frames, etc.

Understand the basics of modifying light sources using flags, nets, fingers, styrofoam, foam core,
show card, etc.

Knowledge and understanding of the differences between hard and soft light as well as the basic terminologies regarding it.

Day One (morning)

Will consist of exploring and the evaluation of product photography using a psychological approach. Different techniques for lighting products will also be introduced and accompanied by samples of real advertising scenarios.

Day One (afternoon)

Group selection will take place and participant numbers
will dictate the number of tabletop set-ups to be used. Each set-up will be in a specified area and each working group will have the attention of a dedicated instructor for the duration of that exercise. Each set-up will have also have a camera and monitor to record the images, which will be played back at the end of the workshop for evaluation. After the completion of each exercise, the set-up will be dismantled and the groups will rotate so that each team has an opportunity to experience different scenarios.

Day two

Will consist of the same procedure and it is expected that as many set-ups as possible will be undertaken so that the learning curve may be as expanded.

Advanced Post Workflow

A one-day workshop that gives participants the opportunity to learn how to work with a professional DIT for onset Look management and a professional Colourist at a high end lab for the final colour correct. Both the DP/DIT and DP/Colourist relationship will be explored as well as the technical aspects of each stage of the process.

Participants will be instructed in:

Shooting a simple set-up that can be used to explore different looks. Camera settings and lighting choices will be touched on.

The DP/DIT relationship.

DIT kit (computer, software, monitors, etc.)

DIT live grade demonstration.

Discuss look management, LUTs, CDL values, ACES, etc.

DP/Colorist relationship.

Colorist tools (software, color panel, projector or monitor).

Screen earlier test material to see how well the look carries through.

Explore different grading options including secondaries, power windows, nodes, de-noise, grain emulation, channel blurring and tracking.

Lens Testing Module

How do you know the lens you want to use is what you expect it to be? That it functions properly? That it matches the rest of the lens set you are using?… TEST IT!

Learn the various methods of testing lenses at the CSC Lens Testing Module. CSC instructors will provide in-depth methods to help you find accurateresults when testing multiple lenses.

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE INSTRUCTED IN:

Theory – Collimation, Depth of Focus, Back Focus, Flange Depth, Circle of Confusion, Depth of Field, Colour Matching

Demos of Collimator, MTF Machine, Lens Projector

Prep of Lenses, Testing Area

Testing Lenses for Film – 35mm Spherical, Primos, 35mm Anamorphic, Super 16

Testing Lenses for Digital Productions
Special Conditions – eye Versus Tape, zoom lenses, tele-extenders, underwater, testing for 3D

Interpreting the Results – Tabulating the findings, using a microscope to view film footage of lenses with abnormalities

Lighting Faces

HANDS-ON MEANS EXPERIENCE

The CSC believes that the best training comes from doing.

This two day hands-on lighting faces workshop offers the participants practical knowledge on the fundamentals of achieving the most efficient and captivating interview lighting setups.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL 3 POINT LIGHTING SETUPS

Lighting faces isn’t a one-size-fits-all setup. Accredited “csc” instructors will demonstrate the importance of background geometry, perspective, texture and colour for the best camera placement. In this workshop we will focus on ways to create natural and pleasant lighting setups that will benefit both you and your clients.

TOPICS FOR THIS WORKSHOP WILL INCLUDE

Hard and soft lighting CSC lighting workshop

Contrast ratios
Broad, short and glamour lighting w light control
Modeling of light
Depth of field
Colour temperature
Inverse square law
Composition
Single and two camera setups

Participants are encouraged to bring a light meter (if you have one) for the practical exercises.

Camera Movement

The options for camera movement are vast. As a Director of Photography it is your responsibility to make the appropriate creative choice that works within the scale of the project you are working on. Whether it be table top photography or a full scale feature film – you are constantly faced with with the challenges of making complex decisions on equipment that is always changing.

With the innovation of gimbal technology, these decisions are now even more complex. Why choose a Steadicam over a Gimbal? Should this be a handheld shot or is it better loose on a tripod head? Is a telescoping crane the right tool? Or can it be done with a dolly?

Led by a full CSC cinematographer, this course will cover the ins and outs of a variety of options with hands-on access and demonstrations of the tools being discussed.

Next to lighting, camera movement is probably the most important way to help define the look of a scene or create a mood for a film. Having a thorough understanding of how to use these tools is essential for every cinematographer.

Acting for the Camera

To help the actor maintain professionalism in front of the camera, the CSC is offering a one day workshop on the art of acting with the camera. The course will be conducted by a director of photography who will share their knowledge of working with professional film and television series actors so that the participant can gain valuable experience necessary to work with various camera lenses and learn how to be at home in front of the camera.

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE INSTRUCTED IN:

Finding your light

Axis/Eyeline

Working with camera movements; i.e. standing-up/walking

How to preserve energy and adjust acting with different lenses

Camera team crew members and their functions

How to help the camera team

The role of a director of photography (DOP)

How to approach a DOP

Identify film equipment and their functions

Safety

This one day workshop will be interactive with each participant going on-camera to better familiarize themselves with the various lenses used for close-ups, medium shots, etc. Participants will work on a set, with multiple cameras and a full camera crew including a director of photography.

High Speed Cinematography

The art of high speed photography has evolved quite rapidly in recent years. As digital capture technology has advanced, so has the accessibility of high speed imaging systems.

This workshop will explore two main aspects of high speed photography. We will look at specialized systems like the Phantom family of high speed cameras.

In addition we will look at other options like Arri Alexa and Red Cameras and other “prosumer” options.

Understanding how lighting will impact your high speed photography is paramount to having a successful shoot. Can you use HMI? What is “arc wander”. Which tungsten units can I use? These questions and more will be answered.

We will also touch on the challenge that can be encountered when wanting to incorporate camera movement in extreme high speed shots and touch on the theory of how to evaluate what speed something should be shot at.

As with all CSC workshops we offer hands on learning and exploring.

Sample scenarios will be executed. In addition we will recreate problems and show you how to solve them.

High speed photography is another tool in the cinematographer’s creative belt that should be thoroughly understood. This workshop will give you those skills.

The Principles of Cinematography

Taught by Christina Ienna (Associate Member & Board Member of CSC) and Richard Grunberg (Associate Member CSC, Media Production / Associate Professor, Ryerson University), this workshop offers an overview on the foundations of cinematography. Targeted towards emerging cinematographers, directors and producers interested in learning more about the craft of visual cinematic storytelling. Participants will learn about the fundamentals of prepping, lighting, camera movement, transitions, colour and how to best collaborate with different departments.