SCRIPT SUPERIVISION 101
Have you ever wondered who that person with the clipboard and the stopwatch beside the director on a film set is? Why do they care if you're matching your actions as an actor, or if you're getting all your shots as a director, and how can they make your work shine through as a screenwriter, editor or producer? If you've ever wondered about any of this, or have actually done some script supervision or continuity on a film of any size but want some real training, then this course is for you.
Script Supervision 101 is a primer course in doing continuity for feature film, television and commercials. It's a five hour workshop designed to cover all the basic knowledge you should have before you book your first continuity job and will fill in any gaps in training you may have. If you're a director or other film technician who'd like to know how to work more effectively with your script supervisor, you will also find this course useful.
Topics covered include: the role and responsibilities of the script supervisor during prep and production, how to time and break down a script, set protocol, continuity paperwork, how to "see" like a continuity person, the axis of action, basic editing and directing theory, and more.
Cost is $75 including 100-page workbook (receipts provided by instructor).
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Daniela Saioni has been a professional script supervisor since 1992 and is a proud member of IATSE 873 and ACTRA. She has worked in nine countries on feature films (Casino Jack, Traitor, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Boondock Saints) and TV series (Soul Food, Traders), miniseries (The Path to 9/11), MOW's (The Day Reagan Was Shot) and commercials in all budget levels and genres.
She is also a professional actress and independent filmmaker who brings a thorough knowledge of the filmmaking process to her teaching and her work. She has been training script supervisors since 1995 for organizations like WIFT, IATSE 873, LIFT, CrewCall Saskatchewan, BigSoul Productions, NIFCO and Film Training Manitoba. She has also been a guest lecturer at ACTRA, York University, and Humber College.
STAND-UP CLASSES
Registration for Comedy Girl (level 1) & Comedy Big Girl (level 2) with Dawn Whitwell is now open & classes will begin the week of April 12. Contact jen@comedybar.ca to register now! Space is limited!
Comedy Girl (Thursdays 6-8PM)
Girls with no standup experience learn how to use their personal narratives and work them into jokes. This course focuses on the art of writing a joke. Students can expect to finish with 3-5 minutes of standup material, and a righteous class performance at Comedy Bar.
Comedy Big Girl (Mondays 6-8PM)
For female comedians who want to develop material specifically for standup. This class is aimed at girls who already have experience performing, to develop standup material with peers on a weekly basis, working toward a tight/tighter five.
Dawn Whitwell
Dawn Whitwell has taught standup comedy since 2002, and over the past seven years has honed her own style of shaping her students personal narratives into jokes. Since serving as a juror for the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund in 2006, Dawn has actively advocated for an increased presence of women in Toronto’s Standup community. In 2007 Dawn began co-producing Girls School, an all-girl comedy tour, and ever since has aimed at developing a standup class specifically for Girls. The name Comedy Girl is inspired by Guitar Girl, an all female class lead by professional musicians. Dawn is excited and inspired to teach Comedy Girl and Comedy Baby Girl at the rousing phenomenon of Toronto's comedy landscape, The Comedy Bar.
Some things Dawn’s students have said:
"Wow!!! What a feeling. People laughed!!!"
"I just wanted to say that your course is truly awesome, and that you have a great talent for helping us find our own angle on jokes, and for seeing how to polish the stones into gems:)"
"you’ve given me more ability and confidence in this field than I ever suspected"
SKETCH CLASSES
LEVEL 1 – Introduction to Sketch Writing and Performance
This course provides the basics in sketch writing and focuses on scene structure and sketch premise. Upon completion students will have an advance understanding of all sketch types and a portfolio of work. This course includes a show but is not mandatory for students who are just interested in writing. There is no prior sketch comedy experience required. Students will be required to have material written and printed outside of class time.
LEVEL 2 – Advance Sketch Writing
Sketch Level 1 is required to enroll in this course. The class will provide students with a greater understanding of their own sketch writing strengths or “tricks” as well as writing process. The class will further develop students in multiple structures and layered scene writing as well as writing in groups and re-writing. Students will be required to have material written and printed outside of class time.
LEVEL 3 – Sketch Troupe
AUDITION REQUIRED
This class will explore the complexities of writing a sketch revue. Students will form a sketch troupe and write a show. The class will work in the Sketchersons structure of developing a sketch comedy revue. This class will also look at directing your own sketch, producing, running orders and transitions. Short sets will be provided to craft material. Students will be required to have material written and printed outside of class time.
Class size: 8 – 12 students
Cost:
- Level 1 - $160
- Level 2 - $160
- Level 3 - $160
* Students will be able to audition for Level 3 after completion of Level 1.
Instructors:
Pat Thornton
Pat Thornton has worked in sketch for many years. He put in 3 years with his first troupe, Todd’s Lunch before they all became Sketchersons, then he spent 4 years as the head writer of Sunday Night Live. He is also the creator, star and head writer of the new series Hotbox on The Comedy Network.
Norm Sousa
Norm Sousa graduated from the Humber College Comedy writing and performing program. Upon completion he founded the sketch comedy troupe punchDRYSDALE. In 2007 he joined the Canadian Award winning sketch troupe The Sketchersons, and is currently working as the shows head writer. Norm has appeared on The Jon Dore Show, Canadian Idol: All Access, Much Music’s Video On Trial and many commercials nationwide. Norm is also featured on the Comedy Network series HOTBOX.
Gary Rideout Jr.
Gary has been writing and performing sketch for nine years. He produces Sunday Night Live with the Sketchersons, the sketch and improv show at the Canadian Comedy Awards, is an associate producer of the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival and is the Artistic Director of Comedy Bar. In 2007 Gary was a writer for the only live season of The Royal Canadian Air Farce dubbed Air Farce Live. Currently he can be seen in episodes of HOTBOX.
Registration will be open from Aug. 15th to Aug. 31st. classes begin Sept. 8th.
To register email jen@comedybar.ca
