Date: Friday, October 2 – Sunday, October 4
Time: 5:30-7 p.m. (Friday); 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Saturday/Sunday)
Work on set with Leo Award-winning filmmaker Karen Lam – Oct. 2-4.
Just in time for Halloween, Vancouver Film School’s next In-Production Bootcamp brings a touch of horror to our campus. The event features an Ask Me Anything, hands-on workshops, and the production of a short horror scene, led by filmmaker Karen Lam.
KAREN LAM
Karen Lam has worked in film and television since 2000. Starting her career as a producer and entertainment lawyer, Karen was one of the architects of the British Columbia tax credit program before assisting with creating tax shelters for US studio clients. Her film, The Curse of Willow Song, won Best British Columbia Feature Film and Best Director at the Leo Awards. Karen has also written scripts for SYFY and Netflix, including Van Helsing and Ghost Wars.
THOMAS BILLINGSLEY
Thomas Billingsley is a Vancouver-based director of photography specializing in cinematic digital capture for theatrical, broadcast, and online productions. His work on the feature Lucille’s Ball earned him a Leo Award nomination for Motion Picture Cinematography, while his Bravo!FACT short Pilgrims screened at Cannes’ Not Short on Talent Film Corner.
VANESSA GILES
Vanessa Giles is a professional makeup artist and instructor with extensive experience in film and television. Her credits include Watchmen, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Sucker Punch, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Once Upon a Time, and The X-Files. She has also worked as personal Makeup Artist to Charlize Theron on Tully. She currently shares her expertise with the next generation of makeup artists.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE BOOTCAMP
Register as a Participant (actor, writer/director, or makeup artist) OR as an Observer (no hands-on work). On Saturday, Participants will attend a personalized, hands-on workshop. Writers/directors write their version of the scene, actors audition for lead role(s), and makeup artists learn to apply horror makeups. One scene, select actors, and one writer/director (to shadow Karen) will be chosen for the final production.
Sunday is production day! Makeup artist participants will help apply makeups, while all other participants who weren’t selected will gain valuable insight by assisting throughout the production process. The completed scene will be edited after the event and shared at a later date for Participants to add to their portfolio.
AMA INDUSTRY TALK: MAKING GREAT HORROR
Karen Lam and Thomas Billingsley will lead a fireside chat on what it takes to make successful horror. Hear behind-the-scenes stories and practical advice on developing compelling concepts, collaborating on set, overcoming production challenges, and building a career in film and television. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask their own questions
Register: https://VFS_IN-PRODUCTION_Horror2026.eventbrite.ca/?aff=CommCalendar
