WORKSHOP 1: Stop-Motion Animation (ages 7+)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Enter the world of film making as a member of a film crew and create your own animated film using your choice of clay, puppets, or paper cut-out animation. From script to production, your film will be shot using the same equipment used by professionals of animation.

You can complement the Stop-Motion Animation workshop with the Seeing Sounds Workshop for a full-day program.

Seeing Sounds (ages 7+)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Students will discover the role of a film sound designer; the importance of audio in filmmaking; and explore how it affects the viewer’s emotions by listening closely to different types of sound. Students will then record or remix a film soundtrack, creating sound effects, dialogue and music tracks before watching (and listening) as the magic unfolds on screen at the end of the session.

• Option A

  Full-Day:
  1 Animation Technique (Clay, Puppets or Paper Cut-Outs) + Seeing Sounds Workshop

• Option B

  Half-Day:
  1 Animation Technique (Clay, Puppets or Paper Cut-Outs)

• Option C

  Half-Day:
  Seeing Sounds Workshop

WORKSHOP 2: Norman McLaren Animation (ages 5+)

Flipbook and drawing on film

Duration: 2.5 hours

Explore the innovative techniques pioneered by Norman McLaren—one of the NFB’s great animation filmmakers. You first discover basic animation technique by creating a flip book. Afterwards, students move on to drawing directly on film stock, working collectively creating experimental images before watching the final result on screen.

You can complement the Flipbook and Drawing on film workshop with the Pixilation Workshop for a full-day program.

Pixilation (ages 7+)

Duration: 2.5 hours

For more animation experimentation, you can discover pixilation—a technique that animates objects and people.

• Option A

  Full-Day:
  Flipbook and drawing on film + Pixilation

• Option B

  Half-Day:
  Flipbook and drawing on film only

• Option C

  Half-Day:
  Pixilation only

WORKSHOP 3: Doc Talk (ages 13+)

Duration: 2.5 hours

The NFB is well-known for its documentary filmmaking. Using engaging film clips and discussion, students will explore the different documentary elements, styles and trends. They also consider some important controversies surrounding this film genre and discuss the ethical questions that come with trying to represent reality on screen—an issue they may already recognize thanks to the popularity of reality television.

You can complement the Doc Talk workshop with the Documentary Workshop for a full-day program.

Documentary Production (ages 13+)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Students learn how to work on a documentary film crew. They will storyboard the team’s doc idea, learn how to operate a camera and microphone, and experiment with a variety of shots, angles and lighting for subject interviews. The Documentary Production workshop is offered as its own workshop, or in addition to the Doc Talk workshop.

• Option A

  Full-Day:
  Doc Talk + Documentary Production

• Option B

  Half-Day:
  Doc Talk

• Option C

  Half-Day:
  Documentary Production. NOTE: limited to a maximum of 30 students

WORKSHOP 4: Digital Storytelling Workshop (ages 10+)

Duration: 5 hours (includes a one-hour lunch break)

The vast media exposure we face on a daily basis presents an almost overwhelming amount of information, content and messages. In this workshop, students learn how to scrutinize these messages and develop important critical-thinking tools. Using this knowledge, they will then create a unique and ethically responsible digital story. Is your class studying the environment, bullying, culture, diversity, equality or family? Perhaps you are exploring a specific theme in class? Get your students inspired to tell their story and take a stand. When reserving, please indicate which theme you would like to explore.

NOTE: This workshop is available only as a full-day and is limited to a maximum of 30 students. It can be offered in 4.5 hours, with a half hour lunch.