The Blue Door Theatre  is partnering with the Spokane Film Project to bring you this exciting filmmaking course. 

This course is a five-part workshop series designed to take you from idea to a production-ready 5–10 minute short film.

Over five two-hour sessions, you’ll develop your story, understand performance, learn essential filmmaking tools, and create a clear plan to bring your script to life. Each workshop builds on the next — guiding you step-by-step from concept to shoot.

1) Getting Your Story on the Page
Learn how to structure and write a compelling short film script.

2) Acting for the Camera
Understand the fundamentals of on-camera performance, how acting shapes your story, and how to collaborate effectively in front of the camera.

3) Camera, Lighting & Sound Basics
Don’t let technology hold you back. Learn the practical tools that make filming feel manageable.

4) Show It, Don’t Tell It
Script review and discussion focused on strengthening visual storytelling.

5) Breaking Down & Scheduling Your Script
Turn your script into a practical production plan and prepare for your shoot.

No experience required — just a story you’re ready to tell.

Dates: May 2 - June 6 on Saturdays (no class on Saturday May 23)
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Cost: $125.00

Instructor Bios:
Ira Gardner is the faculty program lead for the Digital Filmmaking program at Spokane Falls Community College. He teaches documentary and narrative storytelling with an emphasis on cinematography and film editing.

Jennifer Gatts is a film and television professional with extensive experience in Assistant Directing, production, and coordination. A passionate, detail-oriented collaborator, she is known for helping productions run on time, efficiently, and with clarity. She is a current member of the Directors Guild of America and IATSE Local 488, and has worked primarily as a Key 2nd Assistant Director on a wide range of feature films and television projects, including Supermassive, Dreamin’ Wild, Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox, and Three Busy Debras (Adult Swim).

In addition to her on-set work, she served as Production Coordinator on the Academy Award–nominated Train Dreamsand has also worked as a producer and in casting, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the filmmaking process. She is deeply committed to film education and industry leadership, serving on the Film Leadership Council for Washington Filmworks and as a Board Member of the Spokane Film Project, where she is Co-Chair of the Education Committee, and she is pleased to bring her practical experience to teaching Script Breakdown and Scheduling for Film 101 at the The Blue Door Theater.

Rebecca Cook has been involved in the Spokane area entertainment industry in many aspects throughout her life and career. Her roles include director, producer, actress, voice over artist, costumer, makeup artist, assistant director, stage manager, instructor and community leader. Currently, she serves as the President of IATSE Local 488, the union covering the film crews of the PNW. As an actress, she’s had a prolific voice-over career in commercials and audiobooks, as well as being a Living History actor at the Campbell House for 15 years. You can even find her teaching acting for the camera and directing for stage & screen at Spokane Falls Community College.

Malcolm Pelles is an award-winning filmmaker and theater director, his staging of Pass Over will represent the U.S. at Mondial du Théâtre 2025. He’s a Humanitas New Voices Finalist, a CBS Diversity Showcase alum, and has written for the U.S. Army, NFL, and Ubisoft. His work has appeared Off-Broadway, at the Kennedy Center, and across film festivals nationwide. He holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He teaches screenwriting at EWU. 



Spokane Film Project
Spokane Film Project exists as a cooperative resource, providing support, education, promotion, and networking for the Spokane digital-filmmaking community.

Spokane Film Project's mission is to promote and raise awareness of the Spokane area's creative digital craftspeople and their work by making the digital community a relevant part of the arts community and the creative economy of eastern Washington and northern Idaho.

We do this by creating original digital content through public events, workshops, and projects, fostering collaborations with other art forms, venues, and organizations, and by operating as a resource for content creators in the area, complete with databases for crew and local vendors. 

*This class is being held at the Blue Door Theatre. The photos above are from a class at a different location.

Refund Policy
Students may cancel their course registration and request a full refund up to seven days prior to their course's start date. If students request a refund within three to six days before the course's start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Refund requests made after these cut-off times will not be issued. Please note, service fees are not refundable.

You may request a transfer to the next session of the same course. One transfer will be made. No refunds will be offered when a student transfers to another course. If the Blue Door Theatre/Spokane School of Improv cancels a course, refunds will be issued.

If you have any questions about our refund policy or would like to request a refund, please email [email protected]