Filmscape Chicago 2023 has released the Class Schedule for their highly anticipated annual industry trade show, to be held on the weekend of June 24 – 25.
Now entering their fifth year, Filmscape’s annual trade show weekend brings the best-of-the-best of lighting, camera, audio, and grip manufacturers, along with Chicago-area production resources, for two days of completely free classes, networking, and technology.
Their classes range across all departments — creative and technical — and are taught by industry experts. Filmscape classes help students acquire “real world” knowledge and skills that they can put into practice immediately — from the latest and greatest in new technologies to practical and technique-based instruction.
This year’s event will once again be held at CineCity Studios, Chicago’s newest film and tv studio space which boasts 140,000 sq. feet of film production office space. CineCity Studios was home to Disney’s biggest show of 2021, The Big Leap on FOX, as well as tenants such as the Production Resource Group (PRG) the world’s leading provider of services and solutions in entertainment and events, and the Whitney Reynolds Show broadcasting from their permanent stage on the campus.
The 2023 trade show will return to the beautiful event space at CineCity Studios:
June 24 – 25, 2023
CineCity Studios
1414 S Western Ave, Chicago IL 60608
A full list of this year’s exhibitors will be announced soon.
Scroll down to see the schedule with all of the amazing FREE classes and sessions available at Filmscape Chicago 2023.
Here is the 2023 Class Schedule:
Filmscape Chicago Day 1 — Saturday, June 24
10:00 am — Main Stage
CAREER PATHS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
Discover diverse career paths within the film industry in this engaging panel discussion featuring Colette Gabriel and Kenny McReynolds. Gain invaluable insights from these industry professionals as they share their experiences and provide guidance on how to navigate and succeed in various roles on and off the set.
10:00 am — Room 401
UNDERSTANDING LOCATION MANAGEMENT WITH OSCAR MONTESDEOCA
In this engaging session, we will explore the intricacies of location management and the delicate balance between enhancing storytelling and considering practicality, budget, and creative vision. Discover the indispensable art of scouting, securing, and managing locations for film and television productions.
10:00 am — Room 402
UNDERSTANDING LENS FLARES ZEISS
ZEISS will share the science behind developing Supreme Prime Radiance lenses, which artistically emphasize lens flares. Listen in as we break down the science of flares and how ZEISS engineers built lenses to take full advantage of flares in a controlled and predictable way.
10:00 am — Room 403
BUDGETING FOR VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
Resolution Digital’s Todd Freese on Budgeting for Virtual Production will cover many of the ins and outs of budgeting for your first production working on a LED Stage/ Volume.
10:30 am — Filmscape Lab
LOADING 16MM AND 35MM FILM
Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques for loading film in a changing tent, how to load various types of magazines, and much more.
11:00 am — Main Stage
FILM OFFICE KEYNOTE – THE FUTURE OF VIRTUAL PRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS
Join us for an enlightening keynote presentation exploring the future of virtual production in Illinois, moderated by Peter Hawley, Commissioner of the IL Film Office, and Jonah Zeiger, Commissioner of the Chicago Film Office. Esteemed panelists from SMASH Virtual, Resolution Digital Studios, and SHOWRUNNER will share their expertise, discussing cutting-edge technologies and trends that are reshaping the film industry and positioning Illinois as a hub for innovative virtual production. Presented by the Illinois and Chicago Film Offices and World Business Chicago
11:00 am — Room 401
PA MASTERCLASS
What goes into being an Production Assistant and how does a person find opportunities working in Film and Television productions in Illinois? Learn the Basic Fundamentals of Film Production and How to be a PA from industry vets Dee Tate and Desmond Huey.
11:00 am — Room 402
WACOM TRAINING
Wacom’s ergonomic technologies break artists free from the drudgery of content creation. Join them as they show their natural drawing toolset that allows you to create art and imagery once again, as it has been since man started creating images.
1:00 pm — Main Stage
THE INS AND OUTS OF CUTTING STORIES ON MEDIA COMPOSER—THE ESSENTIAL TOOL OF PROFESSIONAL FILM AND TV EDITORS
Audience demand for high-caliber content is at a fever pitch, so competition for qualified production talent among media companies is escalating. For storytellers who bring the requisite skill sets, opportunity may abound. And in particular, editors who know the ins and outs of Media Composer editing software are well positioned to get the call. As a longtime evangelist of editing technologies and workflows, Michael Krulik has the unique POV liaising with editors working in film and TV in Hollywood and around the world. His talk for Filmscape attendees will demonstrate Media Composer and bring top advice, tips and shortcuts to help aspiring editors and pros alike to turn out their best work on the tool specified by the vast majority of studios, post houses and broadcasters.
1:00 pm — Room 401
CANON LENS DEMO
Join us for a demo of Canon’s new CNE lens and its application for ENG and documentary
1:00 pm — Room 402
CINEMATOGRAPHY ON AN LED VOLUME
SMASH Virtual’s Andy Jarosz walks through the misconceptions, pitfalls, and tricks of the trade on shooting on a virtual production LED volume. Andy will help cinematographers and gaffers ensure their creative vision is maintained in the virtual space, while diving into the technical mechanisms of how cameras perceive LED walls
1:00 pm — Room 403
WHAT IS VECTORWORKS, AND WHY SHOULD YOU BE USING IT? (PART 1)
This is the first half of a two-part class. Vectorworks is more than just a drafting and modeling software; it is a productivity tool that can maximize your shooting time by streamlining your pre-production. In this 2-hour demo, Michael Sharon will show how Vectorworks can be used to model sets and lighting for video production. He will quickly turn pencil sketches into computer models, where we can analyze camera shots and lighting looks, plus produce drawings for the install crew. (And even make equipment lists!)
1:00 pm — Filmscape Lab
LOADING 16MM AND 35MM FILM
Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques for loading film in a changing tent, how to load various types of magazines, and much more.
2:00 pm — Room 401
UNDERSTANDING CONTRACTS
Elaine Wyder-Harshman discusses the issues related to contracts and Non-disclosure agreements commonly found in Media and Entertainment
2:00 pm — Room 402
AL COLLINS ON OPTICS
Keslow’s Al Collins joins us for an open discussion on lenses, working with a Lens Tech and building a relationship with your rental house.
3:00 pm — Main Stage
GETTING STARTED IN FILM PRODUCTION – A MODERATED PANEL
This moderated panel will offer valuable insights on how to get started in the film industry from experienced professionals including Clarise Callahan, Matt Brown, and Rey Tang. Moderated by Alan Dembek, attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to navigate the industry, build a network, and succeed in the competitive world of film.
3:00 pm — Room 401
MAINTENANCE FOR STANDS AND GRIP HARDWARE – AMERICAN GRIP
Lance Snoke of America Grip has decades of experience maintaining grip equipment for longevity – join him for a hands-on walkthrough of the basics, including tips and tricks to keep your grip gear working for you for years to come
3:00 pm — Room 402
MINI MASTERCLASS ON CINE OPTICS W/ JAY HOLBEN
Join Jay Holben, ASC associate member, chair of the ASC MITC Lens Committee, contributing technical editor for American Cinematographer magazine and co-author of The Cine Lens Manual as he takes you through the fundamental understanding of cinema optics. Learn the truth about lens behavior, dispelling rumors and common misunderstandings. Dive deep into how light behaves passing through various glass elements, the formation and correction of aberrations, understanding coatings, the differences between vintage and modern lenses and understanding how to evaluate and choose the character of a lens for your particular project.
3:00 pm — Room 403
AI AND COPYRIGHTS
Gary Adcock and Chicago-based attorney Elaine Wyder-Harshman along with special guests for an open discussions on the growing AI trend and what that means for Artists and Cinematographers alike
3:00 pm — Filmscape Lab
16MM CAMERA BASICS
Film is not dead! Learn about how a 16mm film camera works so you can be prepared to work on a film project or shoot one yourself. Al Collins will go through the operation of an ARRI 416 camera in this session.
Filmscape Chicago Day 2 — Sunday, June 25
10:00 am — Main Stage
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTIONS: HOW THE SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT CAN HELP YOUR SET
The Local 600 Sustainability Committee is excited to host a panel with members of the Chicago film community as we explore how sustainable practices can be implemented through the introduction of a sustainability department. This has successfully been deployed on film/tv work on the west coast with higher budgets, but with the threat of climate change in our not so distant future, it is clear that more drastic change has to happen sooner. How can we implement the sustainability department on shows in Chicago, now?
10:00 am — Room 401
BUDGETING YOUR SHOW
Budgeting 101: Where to begin? What Assumptions are you making? For investors/pitch deck or ready for production? This course will outline basic steps for Film/ TV budgeting to ensure your project is properly funded through production. While this will be a general overview it is open to all levels of expertise. Q&A sessions will be utilized to explore topics based on attendee specific needs.
10:00 am — Room 402
WHAT IS VECTORWORKS, AND WHY SHOULD YOU BE USING IT? (PART 2)
This is the second half of a two-part class. Vectorworks is more than just a drafting and modeling software; it is a productivity tool that can maximize your shooting time by streamlining your pre-production. In this 2-hour demo, Michael Sharon will show how Vectorworks can be used to model sets and lighting for video production. He will quickly turn pencil sketches into computer models, where we can analyze camera shots and lighting looks, plus produce drawings for the install crew. (And even make equipment lists!)
10:00 am — Room 403
FUNDAMENTALS OF LOCATION SOUND – SECOND CITY SOUND
Delve into the essential principles of location sound in this comprehensive class led by industry veteran Gerry Formicola. From capturing clean dialogue to managing equipment and troubleshooting common challenges, students will acquire fundamental skills and knowledge to excel in the field of location sound recording.
10:00 am — Filmscape Lab
DJI RONIN 2 TRAINING – PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
In this hands-on gimbal training class, presented by local 600 camera assistant Alan Dembek, participants will gain practical skills and techniques for effectively using the DJI Ronin 2 in real-world set environments. From balancing to operating and achieving smooth shots, attendees will learn from an experienced professional, equipping them with the tools to elevate their camera work and storytelling capabilities.
11:00 am — Room 401
AICP PRESENTS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN FILM AND TELEVISION
Sheila Brown, VP Equity & Inclusion for AICP will join us to discuss diversity in the Midwest TV/Film/Advertising community, and more broadly about the work being done to advance diversity and inclusion in Chicago and what she plans to accomplish with AICP.
1:00 pm — Main Stage
CLOSEUP ON CHICAGO: FILMING THE BEAR
When Hulu’s The Bear dropped last summer, it took the internet and the Chicago food scene by storm. Join Director of Photography Andrew Wehde, camera operator Gary Malouf and other members of the crew as they talk about their work on this groundbreaking show “Shot in Chicago.”
1:00 pm — Room 402
BUILDING A SCENE – ROSCO CINEMATOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS
Starting from the script, Chicago-based Cinematographer Jana Mclain walks us through the decisions in lighting and lensing that go into building a scene. See how these tools can be used to convey emotion, build depth, and create a cohesive story.
1:00 pm — Filmscape Lab
LUX LIGHTING PRESENTS: IMAGE BASED LIGHTING
As virtual production with volume and green screen spaces becomes more and more prevalent, lighting techniques will continue to evolve. Erin Giblin provides an overview of control and workflow of image-based lighting, for immersive environmental effects and added realism.
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