Summer Filmmaking Workshop & Exhibition – Video Production (Denfeld High)with Jacob White

JULY 7-11

Located at Denfeld High School, Zinema, and Zeitgeist’s Media Arts Lab (222 E Superior St, Suite 306). Classes are designed for those of ALL high school students. The level is Beginner – no prior experience needed!

This workshop focuses on making a short film. High School Students will work as a team to learn how to tell a story with essential film equipment, including camera, audio, and lighting. Students will fill production roles, set up a plan, and turn the plan into action. Students can expect a lot of hands-on experience and the opportunity to use their creativity!

The workshop runs from 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm and will be held at Denfeld Monday through Thursday, and at Zeitgeist on Friday to either work on editing the footage in our MN Media Arts lab or see a film in the Zinema. The final student short film will be presented at Minnesota FIlm Festival in the Spring at Zeitgeist. Family and Friends invited!

*This workshop is designed in partnership with Anne Parish’s Summer DASH program to reach students attending Summer School at Denfeld and to be particularly accessible for students who are looking for Attendance Recovery Credits. The workshop is open to ALL high school students.

Dates:

July 7 – 11. Monday – Friday, 12:30 – 3:30pm. 

Duration:

1 Week

Location:

Denfeld High School, Zeitgeist Media Lab, Zinema. 

Instructor:

Jacob White

About the Instructor:

Jacob White

Jacob lives and works in the Ely area of far Northern MN. He owns and operates White Pine Productions, a video production company that collaborates with organizations and businesses whose work is rooted in shared community values. Jacob received his education at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts – Maurice Kanbar Institute for Film and TV, where he cut his teeth working on all kinds of productions and as a community organizer. In 2022, his feature length film Home on Earth screened at the first Minnesota International Film Festival in Duluth, Minnesota, followed by a showcase from Ely’s own Reflections Dance Company. Jacob is also the Director and Founder of Ely’s End of the Road Film Festival. Jacob believes in the power of visual storytelling to change and shape our world in a positive way.

Advanced Editing with Elisheba Perry

Sep 2 – Oct 21

Located at Zeitgeist’s Media Arts Lab (222 E Superior St, Suite 306). Classes are designed for those of Intermediate – SOME experience required.

At the heart of editing is storytelling. We’ll go beyond the edit bay as we dive deep into the soul of story and learn the foundations of story building from the perspective of the editor. Throughout this 8 week course you will learn the tools to speed up your edits and the principles of story that will transition you from a technical editor to a storyteller.

Dates:

Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, starting September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 14, 21

Duration:

8 Weeks · Schedule: Once a week, 1.5 hours per session

Location:

The class will be held at the Zeitgeist Media Arts Lab. 

Instructor:

Elisheba Perry

Gear Needed:

1TB Drive

Topics Include:

• Premiere Pro workflow and terminology
• Time saving editing tools and emerging technologies
• How and why stories work
• Story structure breakdown
• Practice with story formatting

Costs:

$95 for the entire session, scholarships available.*

*Limited Scholarships! If inquiring about a scholarship, please send an email to vera@zeitgeistarts.com

About the Instructor:

Elisheba Perry

With two decades immersed in the art of visual storytelling, Elisheba Perry brings a seasoned perspective as a highly skilled film editor, specializing in documentary episodic and narrative projects. In addition to fostering the growth and development of the local post-production scene, she is currently the lead editor for a documentary series in production.

Her extensive career, marked by consistently delivering exceptional results within tight budgets and demanding timelines, provides her with a uniquely informed perspective on navigating the evolving film industry. Driven by a profound belief in the power of story to both educate and inspire, Elisheba envisions a vibrant future for Duluth as a thriving hub for story building, aiming to positively impact a global generation through compelling narratives crafted locally.

Advanced Documentary with Gus Ganley

Sep 3 – Oct 22

Located at Zeitgeist’s Media Arts Lab (222 E Superior St, Suite 306). Classes are designed for those of Intermediate to Advanced – Prior filmmaking experience recommended.

Take your documentary skills to the next level in this immersive, project-based course designed for filmmakers ready to deepen their craft. Over 8 weeks, you’ll refine your storytelling voice while developing a short documentary from concept to final cut. Emphasis will be placed on intentional cinematography, sound design, structure, ethics, and the art of working with real-life subjects.

This course is ideal for filmmakers developing passion projects, submitting to festivals, or preparing for professional work in the field. Students will leave with a completed project documentary or polished work-in-progress, along with thoughtful feedback and support from peers and the instructor.

Dates:

Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:30 pm, starting September 3, 10, 17, 24 and October 1, 8, 15, 22

Duration:

8 Weeks · Schedule: Once a week, 2.5 hours per session

Location:

The class will be held at the Zeitgeist Media Arts Lab. 

Instructor:

Augustin Ganley, Filmmaker/Producer

Gear Needed:

1TB Drive

Topics Include:

• Advanced Interviewing Techniques: Drawing out emotion, navigating sensitive topics, and building trust
  
• Cinematography for Docs: Visual storytelling, shot planning, and capturing vérité scenes
• Story Structure & Narrative Arc: Organizing real life into compelling stories
• Ethical Considerations: Representation, consent, and responsibility
• Sound Design & Music: Using sound to shape mood, pacing, and emotion
• Editing for Impact: Refining rhythm, experimenting with structure, and tightening the cut

Costs:

$95 for the entire session, scholarships available.*

*Limited Scholarships! If inquiring about a scholarship, please send an email to vera@zeitgeistarts.com

About the Instructor:

Gus Ganley

Augustin Ganley is an Irish-American writer and filmmaker from Minneapolis. For 20 years Augustin has directed traditional and experimental documentaries, working on international projects, web shows, live performances, and movement cinema. His first feature film in 2010 chronicled a theatre troupe that built a raft and traveled down the Mississippi River. Since then, the water has carried him to the Great Lakes, Duluth, and the larger Fond du Lac area. In 2023, Augustin joined the Multimedia Production (MMP) faculty at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC). Besides teaching MMP classes, Augustin is responsible for the video production of various FDLTCC grants and overseeing the recently established NBCU Academy scholarship for MMP students. He lives with his family on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Cloquet, Minnesota.

Create Your Online Portfolio: Website Essentials for Filmmakers and Creatives with Katie Lindow

Oct 17 – 19

Located at Zeitgeist’s Media Arts Lab (222 E Superior St, Suite 306). Classes are designed for those aged 16+. The level is Beginner – no prior experience needed!

Looking to showcase your work online but don’t know where to start? Whether you’re promoting a film, building your personal brand, or preparing for festival submissions, this course will guide you through creating a polished, accessible website that reflects your unique voice and professional vision.

In this high-level, beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn how to design a compelling website using Squarespace—one of the most intuitive platforms for creatives. We’ll cover essential web design principles, explore real-world examples of successful filmmaker portfolios, and walk through each step to ensure your site is clear, easy to navigate, and optimized for marketing and submissions.

Whether you’re establishing your creative identity online or preparing for your next film festival circuit, this workshop gives you the tools to make your site a one-stop hub for your work.

No prior web design experience needed—just bring your project, your passion, and your vision!

Dates:

October 17, 18, and 19, Friday, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Duration:

3 Days, 2 hours per session

Location:

The class will be held at the Zeitgeist Media Arts Lab. 

Instructor:

Katie Lindow, Senior Marketing Coordinator & Filmmaker

Topics Include:

• Build and launch your own professional website—no coding required
• Understand layout, visual hierarchy, and accessibility best practices
• Create pages for bios, reels, press kits, contact info, and film portfolios
• Learn how to organize your content so industry contacts and programmers can find what they need fast
• Get tips on replicating your site on other platforms like Wix or WordPress

Costs:

$95 for the entire session, scholarships available.*

*Limited Scholarships! If inquiring about a scholarship, please send an email to vera@zeitgeistarts.com

About the Instructor:

Katie Lindow

Katie is an accomplished marketing professional with nearly a decade of experience in web management and design. She’s been building websites for film and tv professionals for several years, including films actively submitting to festivals. In addition to managing websites, she is a documentary filmmaker, and she has worked with local film festivals

Our goal is to empower, support, and educate Northland community members ages 16+ as active participants in shaping our culture, and engage diverse communities to rethink the way we view film, art, and local storytelling. We provide access and a platform to work, learn, create, and experience filmmaking and media production in our community. 

Benefits include access to iMac computers loaded with creative design and editing software, meeting rooms, multi-media studios, film/video equipment for on-site photo/video shoots & projects, digital tools, and more.

Zeitgeist is made possible with your help

MN MEDIA ARTS SCHOOL SPONSORS