About this Event
Two-Weekend Intensive
📅 March 20–22 & March 27–29 Friday evenings: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Alternate dates: April 9–11)
Participants must be fully available for both workshop weekends. A contingency date (April 9–11) is reserved if needed.
SETLIFE: Prototype Edition is a hands-on film production workshop for actors and emerging crew seeking real on-set experience.
Over two immersive weekends, participants collaborate to produce a professionally shot short film. Actors perform on camera. Crew rotate through key set roles. Together, the ensemble trains inside a structured production environment designed to mirror a working film set.
This is not a lecture-based class.
It is a working production.
What You’ll Do
• Work on a live film set from prep through principal photography
• Train within real production workflow and set etiquette
• Rotate through essential crew roles (crew participants)
• Perform on camera in a guided production setting (actors)
• Develop audition preparation and on-camera technique (actors)
What You’ll Leave With
• Professionally shot demo-reel footage
• Screen credit
• Practical production experience
• A working understanding of how a film set operates
Who This Is For
• Actors seeking meaningful on-camera experience
• Emerging filmmakers and crew
• Artists curious about how film sets actually work
No prior film experience is required — only commitment, professionalism, and collaboration.
Who you'll be working with
SETLIFE is led by Paul Hopkins (Reacher, Disney’s Z.O.M.B.I.E.S., More Tales of the City), with industry mentorship from:
Patsy McCracken – Assistant Director
Aviel Kurulkar – Director of Photography
Tony Smith – Guest Industry MentorApplication, Selection & Tuition
... MORE TBC
SETLIFE: Prototype Edition is selection-based to ensure a strong and balanced ensemble.
All applicants (actors and crew) must:
• Submit an application form
• Register with a $50* deposit by February 23
Priority consideration is given to current and former students of The Actor’s Atelier (Paul's acting classes).
Final decisions will be confirmed no later than February 25.
*Deposits are applied toward tuition upon acceptance and fully refunded to applicants who are not selected.
Tuition – Prototype Edition
• $650 + HST — Actors
• $350 + HST — Crew
Full payment is due by March 7. Payment instructions will be provided upon acceptance.
Accepted actors will be invited to an optional audition workshop on February 28 (Zoom available if needed).
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener, Canada
CAD 50.00 to CAD 54.58
