Workshop Registration

Producing Dramatic Film

Hone your producing skills in this two-evening crash course in producing low-budget independent films. In this workshop, participants will learn the process of taking a dramatic film project from development to delivery from a producer’s perspective. Explore how to go through the basics of development, production and post-production activities to maximize and capitalize on the film project’s cash-flow. This workshop tracks the trajectory of making a dramatic feature film in the Canadian financing landscape, highlighting topics relevant to anyone interested in producing a short or feature narrative film. Topics include pitching, development, production, financing, casting, crewing, budgeting, scheduling, negotiations, legal issues, marketing, distribution and professional development. Participants will acquire the foundational knowledge to help guide this multifaceted job and navigate a complex juggling act of a narrative-based production.

Note: Participants are asked to bring their laptops for in class exercises.

The Introduction to Independent Filmmaking workshop is strongly recommended as a prerequisite. This workshop is recommended as a companion to the Short Film Writing, Advanced Script Studio, Directing Dramatic Film, Introduction to Production Accounting and The Business of Film Distribution workshops.​

part 1: Mon 10 February 2025, 6 - 10 pm   
part 2: Wed 12 February 2025, 6 - 10 pm   
(Registration deadline is Mon 10 February 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Shehrezade Mian

Shehrezade Mian is a Pakistan-born, creative producer based between Toronto and Pakistan. In 2022, Mian’s feature film "Concrete Valley" premiered at TIFF 2022, followed by an international premiere at the Berlinale in 2023. Mian is an alumnus of the Toronto International Film Festival-Netflix Talent Accelerator, EAVE Access and Rotterdam Producers Lab. Mian’s films have played at festivals across the globe, receiving press from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Criterion Daily, Mubi Notebook, CinemaScope, The Globe and mail and more. In 2021 Mian founded Markhor Pictures, a production company that seeks to champion unique voices from across the globe and places an emphasis on auteur driven cinema that explores innovative ways of storytelling. In her spare time, Mian runs a mentorship program for emerging South Asian/Muslim filmmakers who are immigrants like herself. https://www.markhorpictures.com



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Producing
Maximum Capacity: 12
8 hours of instruction in 2 parts$125 /member$150 /nonmember