COURSE DETAILS

Welcome to Catalyst!

Storytelling is our global currency. It's how we learn, connect, inspire, and shape our world. Catalyst aims to provide storytellers, actors, writers, directors, producers, podcasters, gamers, and more with the knowledge and opportunities they need to create and share their creative visions.

Our Story Institute program is a step-by-step pathway of meetings, classes, workshops, festivals, and social events designed to develop your story producing skills, showcase your work, advance your career opportunities, and grow your professional network. Previous students have gained jobs, signed with agents, sold projects, and made career partnerships.

Who Can Register?

Everyone is welcome! No previous experience is required.
For ages 5-16, please visit our Youth Class page.
Ages 17+ are welcome to attend our professional level classes detailed on this page below.

Institute Registration Includes:

Access to in-person classes & events in Tirana, Albania
Access to our virtual library of over 100+ educational seminars & virtual events from the United States
A general meeting with our industry team to discuss your career path, goals & projects
Your career profile & project info listed in our content database for global industry executives to discover
Potential inclusion in our production lab program where a teams of Albanian storytellers will produce projects to be screened at events and festivals in Albania and the United States

Types of Courses

Catalyst is not a traditional film school. Our courses focus on practical production knowledge and career experience. We currently offer four in-person courses in Tirana: acting, writing, producing, and business. Each class is 2 hours in length.

The Class Teachers

Catalyst teachers are industry professionals from the United States who each have over 20+ years of experience working for major networks such as HBO and Netflix, as well as smaller independent projects and social media content. All teachers will be present in-person in Tirana.

Cost

$25 for 1 adult per class (ages 17+). Each class is 2 hours.
Buy class tickets online here or email us at albania@catalystories.com
For ages 5-16, please visit our Youth Class page here.

Location

In-person classes are held in Tirana. The venues change on a rotating basis.

Schedule & Class Length

Each class is 2 hours.
Writing classes are currently held on Thursday nights from 7-9pm.
The schedule for Acting, producing, and business classes are determined based on your availability. Please let us know what the best days and times are for you and we will try to accommodate your request.

Language

All classes are taught in English. This includes all scripts, communications, and interpretations.

Video Recording

Classes are not recorded and no videos are made of any acting scenes or script readings.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a limited basis to those who can demonstrate a financial need. To request a scholarship review meeting, please fill out the scholarship request form here.

Class Topics

The following topics will be covered:

ACTING

Practical acting (how to take direction, the craft, how to read and prepare for your role – how to study the script)
Auditions (virtual, in person, getting accepted to audition, where to find, know your role)
Working with Directors
TV vs film vs theatre acting
Acting for social media
How to breakdown a scene and determine the character arc
Scene work (the actors can choose the type of scene they want to do)
When and when not to improvise
Creating a backstory
Finding your personal sense of self in your craft
Where acting fits in the bigger picture of the industry process
Voice and movement exercises
Emotional grounding & trust of your craft
How to listen in a scene
Cold reading

BUSINESS

How to invest in TV and film
Why investing in TV and film can be profitable
The risks and challenges of investing in TV and film
Cultural benefits of having a self-sustaining production industry
Working with creators to help them achieve their goals
When to take control of a project and when to be hands-off
How to group projects together to minimize risk
Creating a sound stage
Creating a production studio
Working with film commissions
Working with governments
How to promote your investments
Legal, contracts & intellectual property issues

PRODUCING

Working with Agents, Managers & Lawyers
Budgeting for production, contract basics, IP & fiscal responsibility
Working with Guild & Unions
The differences between Studios vs Networks
How to collaborate with creatives
How to tell a director how to shoot it without telling a director how to shoot it
Line producers make the world go round; everyone needs to understand what this role does and how what they do will relate to this role
Production overview (walkthrough of all jobs on a production)
Storytelling 101
Producing short form and social media content
The set versus the production office (how to run both, chain of command, how to make the tough decisions, delegation, etc.)
How TV Really Works
Pitch decks
How to pitch
How to write grant applications
Showrunning
How to raise money

WELLNESS

How to maintain a healthy creative lifestyle balance (discipline, schedule, rent, etc.)
Dealing with harassment (long hours, food on set, sexual, emotional, etc.)
How to critique/give feedback
Professional development (expectations, behavior on set, maintaining connections, marketing yourself, how to say no to people [knowing when the answer is no and how to make as few people hate you as possible])
How to deal with social media content and feedback
What notes are, how to interpret them & how to deal with feelings of being attacked emotionally
Your support team (manager, agent, etc.) and tips how to grow your career

WRITING

Attention to detail in writing your story
Breakdown scenes in a film & breaking a series
Character development
How to “kill the baby” & letting go of ideas
What are loglines and how to make one
How to write short form and social media content
Script coverage
Script formatting
Pitch decks & summaries
How to write a treatment & synopsis
The basic structure of storytelling
The process of story drafts (what to do with them? action lines, silent movie, visuals, dialogues, character breakout, etc.)
Tricks for breaking through writers block
What an assistant director does with your script
What happens to your script after you're doing writing it. How does it end up on screen?
How to begin your story notes and script
Agents, managers & lawyers
How to sell your script

CLASS CHECK-IN

CLASS CHECK-IN FORM

OUR TEAM

Pamela Cederquist

Pamela is a multitalented writer/director who has written for Mindhunter (Netflix) and been an assistant director on Law & Order (NBC), among many other projects in her 50+ year career.

Skilled in theatre, film production, and television, Pamela graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film in New York & studied at Polakov School of Design.

She now loves living in Tirana and is excited to work with Albania's upcoming generation of TV and film storytellers.

Migi Jaku

Migi Jaku is a distinguished Albanian director and producer in Tirana, Albania. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking and Television from the University of Arts in Tirana.

Migi’s work delves into themes of cultural identity, memory, diversity, and self-expression, reflecting her deep commitment to storytelling that resonates with a broad audience. Her extensive experience includes serving as a First Assistant Director and Production Manager on numerous projects across Albania and Kosovo.

In 2022, Migi produced and directed her debut short film, "Everyone is Invited." Currently, she is working on her upcoming short film, "E-Albania."

Additionally, she has been selected to develop her future documentary, "The Last Women," at the Varan Verité workshop, which will take place between Mostar and Tirana in 2024.

Migi remains an active and influential figure in the film industry in Albania and Kosovo, continuously contributing to its growth and evolution.

Lidion Kulla

Lidion Kulla is a journalist, author, and anchor man at Scan TV in Albania. With 18 years of experience in the media industry, he has built a reputation for insightful reporting, compelling storytelling, and authoritative anchoring. His work reflects a deep commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content to his audience.

Philip Gilpin, Jr.

Born in Boston, MA, Philip started his 20+ year creative career exploring theatre & film while earning his BS in Physics and Mathematics at Boston College.

Philip moved to Los Angeles and learned the inner workings of the industry as a business affairs analyst at HBO where he worked with on major series including “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City”, and “The Wire”.

Philip has also served on the Board of Governors of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences.

Ana Veseli

Ana Veseli is an Albanian film director and producer. Her passion for filmmaking blossomed at a young age when she was part of the young jury at the Rozafa Film Festival 2013 when she was just 16 years old.

Ana graduated from the Academy of Film and Multimedia Marubi, where she studied film directing and editing. She has worked extensively in the industry since her student days, contributing to films, animations, documentaries, commercials, and TV shows for Albania's top networks.

One of Ana’s standout works is her short film "I Am Eva," which explores women's perspectives and issues they face in the modern society. She was also awarded "Best Cinematography" at the 48 Hours Film Festival Tirana in 2020 for the one-shot film "The Last Minutes."

In addition to her filmmaking achievements, Veseli has gained valuable experience working with young people on various projects, bringing a unique perspective to her work.

Lueda Alia

Lueda is a creative producer who combines art and psychology to help individuals find and express their voices. This approach underscores her belief in the power of imagination as a tool for personal development. Lueda helped introduce music streaming to the public in the mid 2000's in an effort to enhance the connection between artists and their audiences. Her success led to the creation of the multi-media platform Made of Chalk, including the acclaimed Chalk TV studio in Chicago for video productions that were featured on NBC, MTV, AV Club, The Onion, and Exclaim!.

Other noteworthy collaborations include Rashida Jones on "Hot Girls Wanted," Mark Webber on "The Ever After," and Sun Glitters' film "It Will Be Forever." As a creative mentor, Lueda continues to work with award-winning talents like Arnor Dan, Ayishat Akanbi, and Matthew Daniel Siskin. Her dedication to storytelling and nurturing artistic voices remains at the forefront of her impactful career.

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