Learn how to create a visually captivating, DIY music video from initial concept to the big screen. This hands-on 10-week collaborative production course gives you the chance to work directly alongside an experienced film professional while learning how real productions move from an idea through pre-production, shooting, post-production and final screening.

Throughout the course, Petr Maur acts as the production’s creative director, guiding the student crew through concept development, pre-production, location work, practical effects, camera techniques, production days, dailies and creative review. This is a working collaborative production rather than a traditional lecture course, and students will take on different responsibilities both during class and between sessions.

Working with a local musical artist selected for the project, your student crew will select a track, develop the creative concept, scout real-world locations, build and source production elements, direct two live 6-hour production shoot days and guide the creative direction of the final edit. The course culminates in a big-screen screening of the completed music video at the Mayfair Theatre.

Meet Your Creative Director: Petr Maur

You’re not learning filmmaking from a textbook. You’re making a music video alongside someone who has spent decades working on real film sets.

Filmmaker, cinematographer, photographer and Mayfair Theatre co-owner Petr Maur brings a deep mix of professional production experience and Ottawa DIY filmmaking into the course. His career spans major international productions and some of the city’s strangest and most beloved cult films.

Petr’s Film Experience Includes:

• Directors: Neill Blomkamp, Jon Watts and Lee Demarbre
• Actors: Walton Goggins, Kiernan Shipka, Mel Gibson, Peter Stormare, Shane West, Stephen McHattie, Michael Berryman and David Hess
• Major Productions: Fatman, The Day, Clown, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Awakening the Zodiac and Smash Cut
• Ottawa Cult Cinema: Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter and Enter the Drag Dragon
• Mayfair Theatre: Co-owner of one of Ottawa’s most iconic independent cinemas

What That Means For You

• Learn how professional film crews actually solve problems on set.
• Get direct guidance on camera work, visual storytelling, practical effects, lighting and production design.
• Learn how to turn ambitious ideas into shots you can actually pull off with an indie crew and budget.
• Work through real creative decisions, compromises and production challenges instead of hypothetical classroom exercises.
• Have Petr act as the project’s creative director from first concept through production, dailies and the final cut.

See more of Petr’s film and photography work: petrmaur.ca

Course Schedule (10 Weeks)

Week 1: Music Video Analysis & Visual Style

• Analyze visually engaging music videos across camera styles, direction, production design and mood.
• Explore practical in-camera tricks, low-budget visual effects and lighting styles.
• Review student-submitted music video references and discuss techniques, aesthetics and ideas the crew would like to explore.
• Review a selection of tracks sourced by Petr from local bands and artists to begin developing visual concepts.

Week 2: Concept Pitching & Song Selection

• Pitch visual concepts in a collaborative group setting and begin establishing crew responsibilities.
• Select the final track as a team and develop a shared creative direction.
• Identify realistic visual techniques, practical effects, and production ideas the crew can achieve.

Week 3: Pre-Production & Scene Planning

• Organize production requirements, shot lists and scene geography.
• Evaluate potential shooting locations and match visual scenes to the music track.
• Identify props, wardrobe, set pieces, practical effects and other production elements that need to be sourced or built.

Week 4: On-Location Scouting

• Meet on location to assess physical logistics, natural lighting, spatial limits and site possibilities.
• Finalize location permissions and plan power, equipment and staging areas.
• Adapt the creative concept to the location's real possibilities and limitations.

Week 5: Set Dressing, Props & Shoot Schedule

• Build master shooting schedules, allocate timing per scene and assemble prop and wardrobe lists.
• Dress the location set and test music playback, camera moves, practical effects and performer direction.
• Finalize production responsibilities and prepare the crew for the shoot.

Weeks 6 & 7: Production Shoot Days

• Step on set for two dedicated 6-hour live shooting days with the participating musical artist or performers.
• Execute the shooting schedule, direct performance, manage lighting and operate camera rigs under real production conditions.
• Collaborate across camera, lighting, art department, continuity, production and directing responsibilities.
• Review footage throughout production and adapt as creative or logistical challenges arise.

Week 8: Dailies, Edit Planning & Creative Direction

• Review production footage as a crew and identify the strongest takes, performances and visual moments.
• Break the song timeline into clear visual beats and decide how to structure the footage.
• Build detailed director and editor notes to guide pacing, clip selection and story structure.
• Focus on creative direction and communication with the editor rather than technical NLE instruction.

Week 9: Rough Cut Review & Crew Feedback

• Review the initial assembly cut as a crew and provide collaborative creative feedback.
• Refine scene transitions, shot selection, pacing and overall narrative flow through clear editorial notes.
• Identify any pickups, titles or simple visual effects needed before the final cut.

Week 10: Final Cut Review & Finishing

• Review the completed edit and provide final creative notes as a production team.
• Evaluate colour, titles, effects and overall presentation.
• Prepare the completed music video for release and the final cinema screening.

Final Showcase: Mayfair Theatre Premiere

• Celebrate the completed music video with a Saturday afternoon screening on the big screen at the historic Mayfair Theatre.

By The End Of This Course, You Will

• Understand the complete end-to-end music video production pipeline from concept through final screening.
• Collaborate as part of a working film crew across directing, camera operation, lighting, art department and production responsibilities.
• Develop visual concepts that balance creative ambition with real production limitations.
• Scout locations, resolve site limitations and construct achievable production schedules.
• Gain hands-on experience executing two extended production shoot days with a working musical artist.
• Use practical effects, camera techniques, lighting and production design to create strong visuals on an indie budget.
• Review dailies, develop an editorial plan and communicate clear creative notes to an experienced editor.
• Contribute to an original music video culminating in a Mayfair Theatre screening.

What We Provide

• Production Gear & Studio: Studio workspace and access to production equipment used throughout the collaborative filmmaking process.
• Creative Direction: Hands-on guidance from Petr Maur throughout concept development, pre-production, production, dailies and final creative review.
• Local Artist Collaboration: The opportunity to develop a real music video with an Ottawa-area musical artist selected for the project.
• Cinema Screening: A final Saturday afternoon screening of the completed project on the big screen at the Mayfair Theatre.

What To Bring & Requirements

• Pre-Course Submission: Before class begins, submit 1–2 links to music videos you love and prepare a short explanation of what draws you to their visual style, direction, aesthetic or camera techniques.
• Recommended Background: Strong interest or experience in camera operation, lighting, set or prop design, performance, storytelling, directing, editing or production coordination.
• Collaborative Production Commitment: This is a working group production rather than a traditional classroom course. Students will take on crew responsibilities and should expect some project work between sessions, which may include creative meetings, sourcing props or wardrobe, building production elements, location research, testing ideas or capturing additional footage.
• Editing & Post-Production: This course does not teach video-editing software. Students interested in taking on an editing or post-production role should already have working experience with an NLE such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro. The class will review dailies, plan the edit, and provide creative notes on cuts.
• Team Environment: Students should be comfortable sharing ideas, receiving feedback, compromising and working collaboratively toward a single finished production.

Event Details

• Dates: Starting Saturday, October 3rd from 1 to 5 pm
• Format: 10 weekly sessions, including two 6-hour production shoot days, plus a Saturday cinema screening
• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa and on location (final screening at Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank Street)
• Instructor / Creative Director: Petr Maur (Mayfair Theatre)
• Level & Audience: Intermediate / Collaborative Project (filmmakers, videographers, artists, musicians, performers and production crew members)
• Maximum Capacity: 12 attendees
• Minimum Enrolment: 6 attendees required