Upcoming Events
Essentials of Filmmaking (Pilot) - SOLD OUT
Learn With Your Hands
Every workshop and course is built around real tools, real sets, and real creative problem‑solving, giving participants the practical experience they need to step confidently onto any film set.
Essentials of Filmmaking is a nine‑week, hands‑on introduction to the craft, creativity, and collaborative spirit of filmmaking. Designed for emerging filmmakers ready to take their first real step into the world of visual storytelling, this course blends practical instruction with the grassroots, community‑centered ethos at the heart of Cascadia Media Lab.
Participants will move through the full production pipeline — from idea to final cut — while learning the essential skills that shape compelling, authentic stories. Each week builds on the last, combining workshops, guided exercises, and small‑crew production labs that mirror real‑world creative environments. By the end, the cohort will have created a short film project that reflects their voice, their vision, and the region they call home
Week 01: June 23 - Loglines & Screenwriting
Week 02: June 30 - Introduction to Camera Operation
Week 03: July 7 - Introduction to Sound Mixing
Week 04: July 14 - Introduction to Lighting
Week 05: July 21 - Introduction to Producing
Week 06: July 28 - Casting
Week 07: August 4 - Advanced Camera Techniques
Week 08: August 11 - Rehearsal
Week 08: August 16 - Filming
Week 09: August 18 - Footage Review and Next Steps
Collaborate with local professionals.
Workshops will be led by DJ Walker (Director), Angie Bernadoni (Cinematographer), Tara Munoz (Sound Mixer), and Mike Astle (Gaffer).
Cascadia Media Lab uses a sliding‑scale registration model to keep high‑quality film education accessible to emerging creators across the Pacific Northwest. Participants choose the fee that best matches their financial situation, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to learning or participating in our programs.
$800 - Full Price. Supporting us at this level allows us to continue to offer our amazing programs and allows us to provide scholarships to other community members who need it.
$650 - Your support is essential to our success. Supporting us at this level allows us to compensate our instructors at industry levels.
$500 - Your support keeps us going. Your support helps us maintain our office space and provide industry level equipment for all of our programs and participants.
$350 - Your support allows us to maintain our programming. Supporting us in this way allows us to continue to offer amazing programs!
$200 - We are grateful for your participation. We are excited to have you participate in the program!
Cascadia Media Lab offers a limited amount of scholarship seats for all programs. If you are interested in applying for scholarship, please reach out to derek.edamura@gmail.com.
Cascadia Media Labs also offers various payment plans for participants that are in need of financial assistance.
Proudly Supported by 4Culture Grant Programs
Launch Party and Open House
We are excited to be officially launching Cascadia Media Labs - a new community resource focused on empowering emerging filmmakers through hands-on education, mentorship, and community building in the Pacific Northwest.
We are inviting all filmmakers, artists, neighbors, and curious minds to step inside, meet the team, and experience what we’re building together. Explore our space, learn about upcoming workshops and mentorship programs, and connect with the community shaping the next generation of Northwest storytellers.
Essentials of Post-Production (Pilot)
From script to screen
Spark curiosity, build confidence, blend creativity and technical skill‑building, while building a real‑world filmmaking practice
Essentials of Post‑Production is a dynamic nine‑week series that empowers emerging filmmakers to shape their very first short film from the inside out. Designed for emerging filmmakers seeking meaningful, skill‑building opportunities, this course demystifies the entire editing and finishing process in a supportive, creative environment.
Participants learn how to organize footage, craft a compelling story, refine picture and sound, and prepare a polished final cut they can proudly share. With hands‑on projects, guided instruction, and collaborative feedback, participants build confidence, technical skills, and a deeper understanding of how films truly come to life in the edit.
Week 01: September 15 - Project Setup and Proxy Workflows
Week 02: September 22 - Building a Scene
Week 03: September 29 - Assembling Your Film
Week 04: October 6 - Review and Feedback
Week 05: October 13 - Motion Graphics and Animation
Week 06: October 20 - Color Correction and Sound Mixing
Week 07: October 27 - Export Settings
Week 08: November 3 - Final Feedback and Review
Week 09: November 10 - Community Screening
Collaborate with professionals
Students learn in a collaborative, supportive environment where questions are encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and every participant is treated with respect
Cascadia Media Lab uses a sliding‑scale registration model to keep high‑quality film education accessible to emerging creators across the Pacific Northwest. Participants choose the fee that best matches their financial situation, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to learning or participating in our programs.
$400 - Full Price. Supporting us at this level allows us to continue to offer our amazing programs and allows us to provide scholarships to other community members who need it.
$300 - Your support is essential to our success. Supporting us at this level allows us to compensate our instructors at industry levels.
$200 - Your support keeps us going. Your support helps us maintain our office space and provide industry level equipment for all of our programs and participants.
$100 - Your support allows us to maintain our programming. Supporting us in this way allows us to continue to offer amazing programs!
$50 - We are grateful for your participation. We are excited to have you participate in the program!
Cascadia Media Lab offers a limited amount of scholarship seats for all programs. If you are interested in applying for scholarship, please reach out to derek.edamura@gmail.com.
Cascadia Media Labs also offers various payment plans for participants that are in need of financial assistance.
Proudly Supported by 4Culture Grant Programs