In-Production Bootcamp: Christmas TV Movie

ACCESS EMMY-NOMINATED, HALLMARK TALENT & TOP TV CREATORS TO SHOOT A CLASSIC HOLIDAY SCENE

Just in time for the holiday season, Vancouver Film School presents a 3-day In-Production Bootcamp event for writers, actors, and directors to experience the industry production pipeline of a Christmas Hallmark movie.

RON OLIVER Emmy-Nominated Director, Writer, Producer

Ron Oliver has created award-winning feature films and television for studios such as Warner Brothers, Fox, Universal, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. His Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movies are among the highest rated in the network's history, routinely landing on Variety's "Top 25" list, and his work on the feature Falling for Christmas helped make it the #1 movie around the world for Netflix. As Writer/Director on Nickelodeon’s iconic Are You Afraid of the Dark, he has been recognized for creating one of the "Top Ten Most Frightening TV Shows". He’s been nominated twice for the prestigious Director's Guild of America Award and is also a published author of award-winning short fiction.

ZAC HUG Screenwriter, Playwright

Zac is an experienced TV writer and creative writing teacher. His credits include Drop Dead Diva, Shadowhunters, and numerous Hallmark films, including Road to Christmas, Matching Hearts, and Ghosts of Christmas Always. He’s produced plays for the New York Fringe Festival and teaches television writing at UCLA, DePaul, and UBC.

How It Works

Hallmark movies have fast become a holiday staple and a quintessential Christmas tradition. Vancouver is the primary shooting location for countless Hallmark classics, including Time to for Her to Come Home for Christmas, To All a Good Night, and Christmas on Cherry Lane, making VFS’s campus the perfect setting for this industry production experience.

Writer Zachary Hug along with industry actors and a special guest director (to be announced!) will join us in studio to work directly with you for a once-in-a-lifetime production experience over two days. PLUS, Ron Oliver kicks off the event on Day 1 with an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on breaking into Vancouver’s entertainment industry and how he’s built his own successful career in film, television, and as an author.

Register for either the AMA only OR the full package including both the AMA and the 2-day Bootcamp.

VFS AMA (Ask Me Anything) EVENT:

TALK WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR RON OLIVER

Friday, November 29 | 6 – 8 p.m. PST | VFS Main Theatre, 420 Homer Street

$20 (*Standalone cost for AMA only)

IN-PRODUCTION BOOTCAMP:

ACTING, WRITING, & DIRECTING WORKSHOPS

Saturday, November 30 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST | VFS Film Campus, 151 West Cordova Street

PRODUCTION DAY - SHORT SCENE IS FILMED

Sunday, December 1 | 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PST | VFS Film Campus, 151 West Cordova Street

$150 (*includes both AMA Event and Bootcamp)

*In-Production Bootcamp registration is under the AMA Event Only registration below.

AMA Event: Breaking into Vancouver’s Entertainment Industry (and Staying There!)

VFS is thrilled to be hosting Ron Oliver as the next guest in our AMA event series. Following in the footsteps of industry greats like Matthew Lillard, Kevin Smith, and recent guest Emmy-winning Director Michael Spiller, Ron takes the stage, alongside VFS’s Head of Acting/Co-Head of Film Production Omari Newton, to discuss how Hallmark’s trademark movies have become a dominant force, how these productions have created numerous jobs in Vancouver, and advice on how to build a long, successful career in Vancouver’s film and TV industry. As always, the audience will have a chance to ask questions.

In-Production Bootcamp

Our In-Production Bootcamps truly bring the industry to you! Experience working on a professional TV set as writers, actors, and directors collaborate to bring a short scene to life in just 2 days! On Day 1, you’ll take part in industry workshops and a table read as part of the pre-production process and on Day 2, the scene will be filmed. This is an incredible opportunity to gain practical experience that you can take with you into your career.

WRITERS:

Take part in a 2-hr ‘Writing Holiday Movies’ workshop with industry professionals for insight into how to write heartfelt, funny, and dynamic scenes & characters.
Write your version of the final page of the scene.
The top 6 scripts will be chosen, followed by table reads; a group vote will determine which script is shot.

ACTORS:

Take part in a 2-hr ‘Auditioning for Holiday Movies’ workshop with industry professionals for insight into the look, tone, & acting technique required to book roles.
Audition for your chance to play the supporting role in the scene.
All other actors get to be extras on shooting day.

DIRECTORS:

Take part in a 1-hr ‘Directing for Holiday Movies’ workshop with industry professionals for insight into how to light, block, & direct actors.
Craft and deliver a 20-second pitch for your chance to shadow the guest director during shooting day.

About Vancouver Film School

Located in one of the world’s largest creative hubs, Vancouver Film School (VFS) is Canada’s premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution, offering an immersive curriculum in Film, Animation, Game, and Creative Design. VFS’s production-based education is taught by industry professionals and delivered in accelerated time frames; students graduate in 1 year as in-demand creative professionals with powerful portfolios that will serve as their industry calling card.

In 2023, alumni were credited on 8 of the top 10 domestic grossing films, 7 of the 10 best-selling games, and 8 of the 10 most streamed shows, in a global entertainment industry valued at over US$2.3 trillion. VFS is recognized as a Leading Film School in North America (Variety), the #1 Game Design School in Canada (Princeton Review Journal) and the #1 Global Animation School (Animation Career Review), amongst other accolades.