Shady Business with Holowka: How to Flag, Bounce, and Control Light
Dates: Wed, October 28, 2026
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Instructor: João Luiz Holowka
Location: The Black Lodge, Winnipeg Film Group
100 Arthur Street (Artspace Building), 3rd Floor
Cost: $30 Members | $40 Non-Member
Seats: Limited to 25 registrants
Intro
Cinematic lighting isn’t just about turning on a bright light—it’s about controlling where that light doesn’t go. Great cinematography relies on shadow, texture, and shape.
About Class
Shady Business with Holowka is a 3-hour hands-on workshop that introduces core tools, safety protocols, and techniques of lighting and grip (LX/Grip) for film sets. Led by veteran IATSE Local 856 Gaffer João Luiz Holowka, the session offers a judgment-free environment where beginners can learn through trial, error, and direct equipment handling.
What You’ll Learn
- Grip Gear Fundamentals: Safe handling and setup of C-stands, sandbags, grip heads, arms, and mounting hardware.
- Lighting Basics: Fundamentals of continuous lights, hard vs. soft light, color temperature, and basic key/fill/backlight placement.
- Shaping Light: Techniques for controlling light using flags, diffusers, bounced light, and scrims.
- On-Set Cable & Power Safety: Proper cable wrapping, weight placement, and set safety etiquette.
Who Should Attend
- Aspiring filmmakers, videographers, or crew members looking to build foundational set skills.
- Independent creators wanting to improve the visual quality of their short films or videos.
- Absolute beginners seeking entry-level, practical knowledge of camera support and lighting gear.
What to Bring
- Questions, curiosities and genuine interest!!!
About Instructor
João Luiz Holowka is a local IATSE Local 856 Gaffer, and he’s been an IA member for more than 26 years! For over 15 years, he’s been teaching lighting and grip at FTM Film Training Manitoba. Plus, he also teaches at local technical schools and high schools. His hands-on approach usually makes learning more comfortable, creating a judgement-free space where students can make mistakes and learn from them. This helps everyone, including the instructor, grow. His philosophy is pretty straightforward: learn the basics by studying where we’ve been, which will really help us appreciate where we are now. Learn lighting and grip by mastering the tools of the trade.
Refund Policy
| Notice Given: | Eligible for: |
|---|---|
| Less than 48 hours prior to start date |
No refund |
| 7 days to 48 hours prior to start date |
Full refund – 20% admin fee |
| At least 7 days prior to start date |
Full refund |
The Winnipeg Film Group reserves the right to cancel any course where the minimum registration has not been met. Anyone registered for a course that has been cancelled is eligible for a full refund. Cancelled course fees may also be used towards any other Winnipeg Film Group training programs.
Assistance and accommodations are available to participants with different disabilities. Please call or email us for more information: ben@winnipegfilmgroup.com
