CREATIVE MEDIA LAB
MAKE A FILM FROM START TO FINISH…
If you join our Creative Media Lab program not only will you learn all the steps needed to make a short film or short animation, you will also have a completed film that you can use for your portfolio.
The films we make may also be entered into film festivals as well as be shown at various screenings around the world. Our latest animation BackJump premiered at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
After, your film will be released on our YouTube channel Spectrum Studios. We will share it with pride to our community and from there you can share it with anyone and everyone that you know.
DEVELOP HIREABLE SKILLS
During production days at Spectrum, CML participants have a chance to engage in various media projects and shadow a film crew on set or during post-production. This allows them to learn and develop production skills, get credentials for completed work and launch a career in film and media.
Spectrum Studios also takes on commercial video contracts like corporate videos, event coverage and offer services for anyone looking for high quality production work.
While these positions are rare due to the organizations scale, there are still real opportunities for paid contracts for participants aspiring to enter the freelance video world.
Learn more about the type of production contracts we do and where your skills need to be to be paid.
GET ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
Our Production Studio aka Spectrum Studios is equipped with industry standard equipment and software’s for filmmaking and animation. From high end computers equipped with the latest software’s like Adobe, Davinci, Unreal Engine, Krita, and Ableton to a virtual production workflow with cyclorama greenscreen, we have everything you need and more to fulfill your film ideas.
WARM AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TEAM
Our CML team is made up of filmmakers, animators and support workers that together make for the absolute best supportive learning environment. Our staff will nurture your ideas, push your creative boundaries, while making the experience a fun, exciting and fulfilling time. Everyone that joins our team goes through training in all realms of support so you can trust that you are in good hands.
We believe that artistic expression is the best way to share interests, find passion, and develop social networks in a collaborative setting.
WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
Live-Action | CoLab
Co-Lab is the spot for all you aspiring filmmakers interested in live action productions, this means any production where we use cameras, real actors, locations etc.
If you choose this path you will be co-creating a 5 to 7 minute live-action short film in a group of other filmmakers. You will learn the whole process from pitching your film idea to putting the final touches on your completed film.
If you are ready our production team is waiting for your direction. Action!
Animation | CoToons
CoToons is all about animation. This is the place where you learn to hone your skills in all things animation.
If you choose this path you will be co-creating a 3 to 5 minute animation. This process includes story development, character design, storyboarding, animation foundation, colouring and compositing.
If you are ready, pick up the pencil and sign up!
WHAT WILL YOUR WEEK LOOK LIKE?
MONDAY
A new Workshop every week!!
Every Monday you will be introduced to a new production skill, these will sometimes be overlapped with the stage of production you are at with your group project but sometimes they are just really interesting skills that you can explore a little. Our workshops are run by our experienced staff, giving a warm but challenging workshop with fun activities.
TUESDAY
CoToons Production Day
If you have chosen the CoToons path then today will be your main production day. On Tuesdays you will brainstorm, write and develop your group project, each Tuesday you will work on this through every step of production together.
WEDNESDAY
CoLab Production Day
If you have chosen the CoLab path then today will be your main production day. On Wednesday you will brainstorm, write and develop your group project, each Wednesday you will work on this through every step of production together.
THURSDAY
Day Off or Extra Production Day
This is a day off for everyone that is part of the Creative Media Lab. Although when production starts on your projects, you may be required to come in on Thursdays to finish the films. That being said, we will give you lots of notice if we will require you to come in on a Thursday.
FRIDAY
Feedback Fridays
On Fridays we watch, review and critique. You will have a chance to show personal work of yours for feedback from the group. We will also look at the progress of the productions, and sometimes we will watch a film for reference or to critique as a group.
REGISTRATION
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Click the “Register” button on the program you are interested in.
Read the detailed information about each program before registering.
Click the blue register button, fill out your information and submit.
A deposit will be requested upon registration to confirm your spot. Full payment is due before the first day of programming.
If you have not attended Spectrum Productions programming before, we will invite you to an intake interview before programming starts. This friendly interview will help us get to know you, and for you to tour our Montreal studio!
If you have any questions, you can send an email to our program managers, Felipe Arasanz at felipe@productionsspectrum.com or Kathleen Tuck at kat.tuck@productionsspectrum.com
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All participants, new and returning, must go through this registration portal for each new term; there will be no exceptions. Priority re-registration is given to those who currently attend a program. If you would like to maintain your spot, you must respect the re-enrollment deadline.
There is an intake process for all new registrations to ensure that registrants are enrolled in the program best suited for their interests and goals. If you haven’t attended programs at Spectrum Productions before, we want to get to know you in a friendly interview before approval for a program to ensure we have found the best fit for you!
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A deposit is required for each program registration to confirm your spot. Full payment is due on or before the first day of programming. If not paid by this date and no contact has been made to our team, the application will be cancelled and the spot is offered to applicants on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
We accept the following forms of payment, in order of preference:
E-transfer to info@productionsspectrum.com
Cheque (payable to Spectrum Productions, 5445, av. de Gaspé, suite 415, Montreal, QC H2T 3B2)
Cash (in person)
Online Credit or Debit Card Payment on the registration platform (Extra Fees of 3% are charged by Stripe.com)
In some cases, monthly payment plans are available; we aim to be flexible. Please contact us to arrange a payment plan at info@productionsspectrum.com
REQUIREMENTS
First and foremost, we want to see a desire to create a short film or animation from start to finish in a professional work environment.
Second is a desire to work in a room full of others excited about creating original short films and animations.
$1590 for the semester
+ $525 to attend both CoLab & CoToons
CML is essentially a 3 day a week commitment with potential for extra days when filming, if needed. If you wish to attend both program paths, it will be a 4 day a week commitment with an additional fee.
Level: Intermediate
Age: 21+
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Fall 2025 Term: September 8th to December 19th
Weeks: 15
Studio closed on October 13th for Thanksgiving and November 19th for the Spectrum Gala.
CoLab | Live-Action Schedule
Monday: Workshop Day
Tuesday: Day Off
Wednesday: Live-Action Production Day
Thursday: Day Off
Friday: Feedback & Share Personal Work
CoToons | Animation Schedule
Monday: Workshop Day
Tuesday: Animation Production Day
Wednesday: Day Off
Thursday: Day Off
Friday: Feedback & Share Personal Work
WE ALSO MAKE STUFF
CML so far has created many short films some that made it into festivals, even won awards.
Take a look at some of our CML x Spectrum Studios productions.
WANT TO WATCH MORE?
Well you are in luck! We have 2 channels filled with films, skits, reviews and animations all created by autistic and neurodivergent filmmakers.
Subscribe to both and join our growing online community!
SPECTRUM PRODUCTIONS
SPECTRUM STUDIOS
FAQ
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FAQ *
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The day is from 10:00am - 3:00pm.
Participants arrive at 10:00 am, after settling in we will work in our group for 2 hours. There is a 1 hour lunch that starts at 12:00. It is important to bring your own lunch. Please note Spectrum is a peanut and tree nut free zone.
We will resume working at 1:00pm, and then packing up around 2:55pm.
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Our programs will fill up to a max of 15 participants. We have found this is the optimal capacity of our studio, one that allows for a fun and sensory friendly experience.
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Our program staff are well trained to support our participants. We have many spaces in the studio dedicated as quiet spaces as well as noise canceling headphones. Feel free to send a inquiry to info@productionsspectrum.com about accommodations.
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The only thing you need to bring is a lunch that is peanut and tree nut free. We have an abundance of state of the art equipment as well as costumes at our studio.