Catalyst Does Michelberger Hotel’s PEOPLE Festival / Summer at Funkhaus

Level up your skills this Summer in our 4-Week Short Courses

Posted on 2022-02-17T23:00:00+0000 in Catalyst

This summer, join us in vibrant Berlin to set your creative career in motion. Find out more about our beginner and advanced short courses taught by industry veterans. 

Did someone say summer? If you’re hearing the call to be in Berlin in its greenest and greatest season – chilling at the riverside, partying in the parks, and connecting with one of the most vibrant communities in the world – then we’ve got the perfect excuse for you to visit. We offer a range of beginner and advanced summer short courses to kick-start or level up your creative career. 

Four intensive and transformational weeks of music production, studio recording, mixing and mastering, filmmaking or screen acting – taking place from the 20th of June to the 16th of July. By the time you pack your bags, you’ll not only be full of good vibes, but the skills and attitude to push forward into the next exciting chapter of your life. 

catalyst Berlin Welcome Day 2021 by Dico Baskoro

Guiding you on this exciting journey will be our passionate tutors, all practising professionals in their own industry and veterans of the local creative scene. Combining impressive vintage studios with state-of-the-art spaces and equipment, our iconic Funkhaus campus is the perfect place to inspire the imagination, make connections and, at the end of a hands-on day of learning, enjoy a riverside pizza!

If you wish to progress to a degree programme, but lack the formal educational requirements to apply through standard entry, our free Primer Workshops run alongside the summer short courses. As a bonus, we offer a 500€ discount for taking any short course in combination with a long course.

Don’t wait to create: Apply by our Priority Deadline of the 29th of April to secure your spot. Great news for non-EU residents: for this short stay in Germany, you won’t require a visa. Scroll down for our overview of each course.

Filmmaking

Beginner

Film Production shoot with Screen Acting students at Catalyst

Now’s your chance to throw yourself in the filmmaking deep end and shapeshift on set. Budding writers, directors, cinematographers and editors will learn the fundamentals of audiovisual storytelling, pre-production, working with actors and post-production. Begin to build a portfolio as you write, develop, shoot, edit and screen your own short film, and experience a range of other roles as you crew on the films of your peers. Our mentors have seen all sides of the industry – from directing experimental short films, commercials and documentaries to working in cutting-edge visual media.

Screen Acting 

Beginner

Catalyst Berlin Screen Acting students rehearsing by the Spree river at Funkhaus

Get in front of the camera, embody your character and grow your confidence in this hands-on crash course taught by our wildly experienced teaching cast of performing artists. From starring in films and theatre productions to voice and choreo, they’ve mastered it. Go deep into the script, hone a variety of techniques, collaborate on set and film a monologue in this contemporary acting springboard. Walk away with recorded material to produce your unique showcase. 

Electronic Music Production 

Beginner

Electronic music workshop | Signals Festival 2021 at Catalyst Berlin | Photo by Rita Couto

From Berghain regulars to modular synthesis nerds, learn from some of the Berlin scene’s most original veteran artists in this crash course in electronic music production. Covering all of the essentials – including the basic principles of sound, Ableton Live, recording instruments and operating hardware synths – the programme is the ideal launch pad for aspiring producers.

Advanced Sound Design

Intermediate/Advanced

Electronic music workshop at Signals Festival 2020

Know your way around a DAW, but interested in diving deeper into the nuts and bolts of sound design to develop a stronger sonic identity? Fluency in analog equipment and dynamism in digital make our tutors the perfect mentors for those aspiring to master production technology and go beyond into original artistry. 

Studio Recording

Beginner

K4 studio shoot

Immerse yourself in the highly technical and creative world of sound engineering in this foundational four weeks, taught by sound artists who have rocked the world’s most prestigious studios for decades. Get to grips with the technical basics and discover the art of recording bands, soloists or electronic artists in a professional vintage recording studio environment.

Mixing and Mastering Electronic Music 

Intermediate/Advanced

SSL shoot in Catalyst Berlin's K4 studio | Photo by Isabelle Schmitz

Trust genre-straddling veteran producer Christopher Jarman, aka Kamikaze Space Programme’s pro skills and infectious enthusiasm to demystify the world of mixing and mastering and unveil the potential of sound. Develop a deeper understanding of the tools, techniques and thinking behind a well balanced, professional finished product and apply that knowledge in both commercial and home studio environments.