Toronto Film School Blog

It’s a big decision, deciding which film school to go to. Here we’ll give you an overview of five of the country’s top film schools. To simplify your search, we’ll also hook you up with a handy cheat sheet of key things to look out for in the schools that have captured your interest.    aa …

As a film school, the Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF) is our version of Christmas. We stay up the night before, filled with anticipation, but instead of rushing to unwrap presents under the tree, we hit the town to catch our most anticipated screenings and soak in the red carpet buzz. Set to kick off …

Ever felt like we’re living in a science fiction film? If that question has been racing through your mind lately, don’t worry, you’re not alone. With the recent US Congress hearing on UFOs and whistleblower David Grusch’s claims of government cover-ups and non-human ‘biologics’, life is starting to resemble the opening act of a Spielbergian …

Let’s get real. It’s no coincidence that you’ve landed on this blog post. It’s safe to assume that you’re passionate about storytelling, you’re brimming with creative ideas, and you’re now wondering if a career in the film industry might be your calling.  It’s also likely that you’re wrestling with one critical question: should I go …

Creative industries are exciting, challenging, dynamic and competitive. For many graduates, the leap from education to your first or next step in the creative sector can feel dizzying and, oftentimes, family and friends don’t quite understand. Who does? Toronto Film School alumni.  TFS graduates who have gone before you understand your path. They know the …

Each time you apply for a job, you have the chance to be a standout or a star and position yourself as a unique candidate with a string of talents, skills and experiences that fit the role at hand. But most job seekers do not see themselves that way, or don’t know how to position …

  I honestly never imagined I’d be scriptwriting for videogames. But since graduating from TFS I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write on four of the biggest AAA videogame franchises in the industry.   My dream was to be a scriptwriter on an animated television series. In fact, thanks to TFS, I was able …

  “This…is The Sparrow Academy.” – Sir Reginald Hargreeves   “This … is The Sparrow Academy,” declared Sir Reginald Hargreeves, to his shocked and confused children.   So begins the third season of The Umbrella Academy, which tells the story of the Hargreeves, a family of adopted super-powered former child heroes who have drifted apart …

March 31, known as International Transgender Day of Visibility, is a day that means a great deal to me and millions of people across the globe. International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people’s contributions to society and raising awareness of the discrimination faced by …

Ask Paula Shneer about the driving force behind her nearly 20-year leadership tenure with Toronto Film School and its predecessor, and she answers without hesitation – it is, and always has been, all about the students.   “For me, helping to support our students’ goals and solve their problems has always been, from the start, energizing and …

What better time than now?   Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has forced many female creatives to take a step back from their daily grinds, take stock of what’s really important to them, and take action to achieve their dreams.     For many – like Zoey Poulsen, Jill King and Carol Snow – …

There are many time and task management systems, all geared at helping you be more productive and, ultimately, more successful.   None of these systems are perfect and many will require an investment of time and effort to get them to work to full effectiveness, which can feel counterintuitive. Your first step is to do …

Ever since she was a teen, Alex Duz has been a huge proponent of mindfulness, meditation and “the art and practice of being in the here and now of this present moment.”   So, when the Mississauga born-and-raised Yorkville University student was offered the chance to launch her very first podcast centred around that very …

We know that being in self-isolation can be a stressful time, so we here at Toronto Film School have compiled a list of free tools to help you stay creative, active, and informed during these difficulties.   FREE SOFTWARE – Adobe Creative Cloud – Adobe is currently offering students and teachers 60 per cent off …

In light of the current climate of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand that many of you in our Toronto Film School community have questions and concerns – many of which we’ve attempted to answer here:       CURRENT STUDENTS      1. What preparations has Toronto Film School made to ensure the safety of all students, staff …

From runways and red carpets, to ad campaigns and accolades – with a new year fast approaching, we here at Toronto Film School wanted to take time out to reflect back on some of the most memorable moments of 2019 for our students and alumni.   Here are our Top 10:     1) 2019 …

  Poly emerged as the big winner at this year’s Toronto Film School Festival of Films (TFsFF).   The seven-minute short film, which chronicles the fallout of a toxic polyamorous relationship, took home three of the 2019 festival’s top prizes during an awards ceremony at the Yonge-Dundas Cineplex on Aug. 22 – including Best Director …

Stress. Ask any student if they’ve experienced it, and the answer will most likely be a resounding yes.   Defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances,” stress is prevalent affliction students can oftentimes fall susceptible to – especially if they aren’t yet equipped to cope with it, said Talia Singer, a mental health …

Whether it is through film, social media, entrepreneurship or improv, students in the Toronto Film School’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Pathway Program are getting out into the city of Toronto to explore and learn English through some unique arts-based activities and experiences.   “Each Friday we have a fun weekly activity: photography workshops, …

TIFF’s Higher Learning has announced a packed fall schedule of presentations, which are open to students and faculty of the Toronto Film School. The Higher Learning initiative by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is an ongoing program that provides Canadian college and university students and faculty a forum in which to examine film, television, video, …

Toronto Film School went BIG for its 20th anniversary celebrations over the weekend – rolling out the red carpet to students past, present and future for an inspiring event that shone a spotlight on just how possible it is to start a career doing what you love. The TFS Showcase: A Journey in Motion event, which …

Ahh, the production artist – a vital yet often overlooked role in the world of graphic design. These detail-oriented designers step in during the final stages of a project and they thrive on balancing, refining, ordering, and color-correcting visual designs that have already received a first draft.  If you’re unfamiliar with the role, it’s because …

Creative professionals require powerful computers to do their best work. Unfortunately, this means their set-up costs can run notoriously high.  But fear not! If you’re creative you can still get yourself a new computer that delivers exceptional performance at an affordable price. The solution? An i7 Windows laptop! Ranking among the finest laptop CPUs on …

  For Parmpreet Kaur Gill, the decision to enroll in Toronto Film School Online’s Designing for Fashion program was one that gave her the skills to creatively express her passion for her Punjabi heritage.   “I come from a traditional Punjabi household. Since my culture-rich upbringing has been such as large part of my identity …

  “Stay curious, stay open, push yourself, and be kind.”   That, in a nutshell, is Julia Colley’s message to her fellow graduates as Toronto Film School Online’s 2022 Graphic Design & Interactive Media valedictorian.   True to her own advice to stay open, Colley was working in a university setting when she decided to …

  “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”   It was those aspirational words from Walt Disney that Naveen Kazmi credits with motivating her to enroll at Toronto Film School in pursuit of her dream of becoming a graphic designer.   “My dreams began when I attended the …

It took Carolina Balderas nearly a decade of craving a more creative career to finally chase her passions, but her leap of faith paid off – and quickly.   Before even finishing her Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media studies at Toronto Film School, the Monterrey, Mexico native landed herself a new job in her …

From her childhood passion for drawing, painting and writing, to her university studies in Visual Arts, English and Sociology – Jessica Angelevski’s creative calling has been a lifelong one.   It wasn’t until discovering Toronto Film School, however, that this year’s Class of 2021 Davisville Campus valedictorian found a career path upon which she could …

Just two months after graduating from Toronto Film School’s Graphic Design & Interactive Media program, basketball superfan Zach Hirshberg recently landed his dream job with an NBA team.   The 25-year-old Toronto native was hired on by the Orlando Magic in September as a Graphic Production GA – a design job he credits his TFS …

“Always evolve.”   That was the advice Jason Durham handed down to Graphic Design & Interactive Media (GDIM) students during this term’s virtual installation of Meet the Designers.   Hosted by GDIM Program Director Pheinixx, the once-a-term event presents a unique opportunity for Graphic Design students to gain insight into the real world of creative …

Since graduating from Toronto Film School’s Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media in 2019, Amber Reesor has thrived at being her own boss.   As founder and owner of Amber Reesor Design, she gets to set her own hours, pick her own freelance gigs, and let her own creative vision be the driving force behind …

From the Cloud Nine logos in Superstore, to the reception desk signage in The Grand Budapest Hotel, to the space-age props in The Expanse – Graphic Design & Interactive Media students were recently introduced to some of the innovative ways design is incorporated into film and television productions.   “When we’re talking about graphic design …

Two recent graphic design grads recently made a virtual return to the Toronto Film School classroom to share their experiences and offer advice to current students.   Dami Osoba, an alumnus of the on-campus Graphic Design & Interactive Media program, and Melissa Milks, an Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media graduate, were the latest guests …

What is female empowerment and why is it so important? What is the best piece of career advice given to you by another woman? What does it mean to be a ‘boss lady’ in the creative industries?   Those are just some of the questions that will be answered during a special upcoming panel discussion …

“Nothing makes me feel more connected to myself and to life than when I create.”   It wasn’t until Emily Lemire discovered Toronto Film School’s Graphic Design & Interactive Media program at her choice of post-secondary studies began to reflect her true passions in life.   “Despite always being drawn to the creative, I found …

For Zach Derbecker, it took three go-arounds at post-secondary studies to find his right fit.   “After years of play in Adobe’s Creative Suite and a keen interest in critical thinking and psychology as a hobby, one day it just clicked—graphic design,” said the 34-year-old Kitchener native.   “It wasn’t long after enrolling in Toronto …

“Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.”   In times of crisis, it’s those words from award-winning Canadian graphic designer and author Robert L. Peters that sum up just how significant a role design can play in leading the way forward to a brighter tomorrow.     And it’s precisely that sentiment …

When Alex Dorward picked up her first-ever copy of Chirp Magazine as a kid, the prospect of one day designing the pages she was excitedly flipping through never even occurred to her.   Fast-forward more than two decades later, and the 27-year-old Toronto Film School graduate is now working full-time for Owlkids – heading up the …

For the first time, Toronto Film School’s Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media and on-campus Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre programs have teamed up on a cross-country collaboration.   Online Graphic Design students Brit Boyd and Rachel Stefan from British Columbia, and Samantha Diluciano of Toronto were recently selected to design the promotional play …

Toronto Film School’s Chanel Martineau will have plenty of options when she goes to raise a glass in celebration of her latest design project in the new year.   In January, the Ottawa-based Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student will be whisked off to Montana to toast the launch of the brand new winery …