CT Story Labs — Learn Filmmaking by Making Films

What CT Story Labs Is

The Story Lab Is the Set.

CT Story Labs is not a collection of disconnected classes. It is a learn-by-making production model.

Students learn by participating in the actual creative process: developing stories, planning productions, directing, working with equipment, shaping edits, and helping finished work reach an audience.

Professional filmmakers provide the structure, guidance, and technical support. Students do the creative work.

A CT Story Labs crew gathered around the camera on set, working a shot with an instructor

Learn→Collaborate→Create→Share

Ava G, CT Story Labs student — Student · Senior
“CT Story Labs gave me the opportunity to work with a team. If you want to get that experience, go for it and don’t be scared — because everyone is kind, and it’s going to be okay.”
**Ava G**

The #FareLife Connection

Built From Real Production.

CT Story Labs grew directly out of the production model behind #FareLife, our independently produced web series. Today, that same model gives emerging filmmakers a place to learn by doing real work beside experienced creatives.

CT Story Labs grew out of the way we already make #FareLife — learn the craft by doing the work.

A #FareLife crew filming a red-lit night driving scene in a parking garage — an operator on the hood-mounted camera with a car, monitors, and crew watching — Behind the scenes on a *#FareLife* production day.

The 2026–27 Slate

Find Your Way Into the Lab.

From writers’ rooms to full productions, each Lab puts students inside a different part of the process and gives them real creative work to do.

Small by design

Every program is capped at just 15–20 students so each filmmaker gets real hands-on time. Enroll early to lock in early-registrant pricing while spots last.

A crew member watching a take on the monitor as a slate marks the shot

December 28–30, 2026

Shoot a Horror Movie in 3 Days

Filmmaking IntensiveAges 15+ · NORFIELD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Plan, shoot, and wrap a horror short in three immersive days.

Explore the Horror Intensive →

A student holding a slate on set while a camera operator lines up the shot

January 5–February 9, 2027 | 6 Tuesdays

TV Writer’s Room

Winter Craft LabAges 15+ · LOCATION TBD (Fairfield County)

Spend six Tuesdays pitching, breaking stories, building TV ideas, and creating inside a mock writers’ room.

Explore the Writers’ Room →

An instructor showing a student how to hold a boom microphone on set

March 9–April 27, 2027 | 8 TUESDAYS

Script to Screen in 8 Weeks

Spring Production LabAges 15+ | LOCATION TBD (Fairfield COUNTY)

Take one original short film from first idea through writing, production, editing, and its first audience.

Explore the Production Lab →

A crew gathered around the camera on set, watching a shot with an instructor

July 12–16 & July 19–23, 2027

Make a Movie in 2 Weeks

Summer Immersive ClinicAges 15+ | LOCATION TBD (Fairfield COUNTY)

Spend two immersive weeks developing, shooting, and finishing one original film with a real student crew.

Optional Bonus Day — Wed, July 28: observe a live #FareLife production day from the process trailer.

Explore the Summer Clinic →

Michaela C, CT Story Labs student — Student · Junior
“CT Story Labs really helped me work with a team. Definitely more confident. Definitely do it — it’s worth it. Just be confident enough to make friends when you get there, because it makes it so much better.”
**Michaela C**

Collaborations

Bring Story Labs To Your Community.

CT Story Labs brings interactive storytelling and filmmaking experiences to schools, libraries, community centers, arts organizations, youth groups, and other shared spaces. Choose the experience that best fits your audience, goals, and gathering.

All three experiences can be adapted for different audiences, age groups, budgets, and community settings.

VISUAL STORYTELLING ON A BUDGET

The Shootable Story

An engaging experience where participants learn 5 fundamental screenwriting shifts so you can actually make the movie. Using the 5 components of professional Hollywood scene coverage you will be able to turn the dramatic (or fully, or action-packed) scene in your head into something you can actually shoot. There is also a short screening and filmmaker Q&A.
Great for high school students.

Inquire →

A director's monitor showing a scene being filmed while the crew works behind it

DIRECTING ACTORS & CAMERA

Directing 101

A fun, interactive workshop on directing actors, covering a scene, and getting a story on its feet. Participants work collaboratively in teams to create a scene of their own from circumstances created on the spot. Skills include understanding how directors shape performance, make camera choices, and engineer story through practical exercises. There is also a short screening and filmmaker Q&A.

Inquire →

Brian Hogan mid-talk with an engaged town hall audience, hands raised

TALK + TOWN HALL MEETING

Creativity As Activism:Being Creative in Troubled Times Is a Radical Act

A 25–35 minute talk on why making something is a radical act when the world feels uncertain — followed by ~20 minutes of curated screenings (the full first season of #FareLife plus student-made work) and a facilitated town hall discussion. Built for mature teens, college students, young adults, and community audiences. No creative experience needed.

INQUIRE

Not sure which experience fits your group best? Tell us who you’re gathering and what you hope they’ll experience, and we’ll help you choose.

Start a Conversation →

Carlos A, CT Story Labs student — Student · Junior
“I realized you don’t need to be a genius to make something great. It’s a lot more collaborative than I thought — and that’s what made it fun.”
**Carlos A**

Our Mission

Why CT Story Labs Exists.

We believe young filmmakers learn best when their ideas matter, their responsibilities are real, and experienced creatives are working beside them rather than doing the work for them.

CT Story Labs exists to create more inclusive places where young storytellers make things together, take creative risks, develop real craft, and bring finished work back to the communities that helped make it possible.

A CT Story Labs instructor teaching story fundamentals — investment, curiosity, and conflict — at a whiteboard during a session

Real ResponsibilityCollaborationCreative Risk-TakingWork That Reaches an Audience

The Production Model Explained

Powered by #FareLife.

CT Story Labs not only produces original content, it trains emerging filmmakers through live on-set experiences and puts college and grad students in paid crew roles — with many going on to become key cast and crew.

1

Train Emerging Filmmakers

Hands-on, on-set learning where high school filmmakers build real craft.

2

Hire College & Grad Students

Paid crew roles that turn training into professional experience.

3

Produce Future Seasons of the Show

Original content that keeps the production engine running.

4

Build Creative Community in CT

A lasting network of storytellers rooted right here in Connecticut.

#FareLife — A Web Series. Official poster. The ride of life is better with a buddy. — The *#FareLife* web series — the engine behind the Lab.

Watch the Web Series →

Get Involved

Become a Producer on #FareLife.

CT Story Labs runs on the same engine as our independently produced web series, #FareLife. If you'd like to support the show's central mission to elevate marginalized voices while choosing radical hope over despair then you can learn more about becoming a producing partner and making a tax deductible donation here.

EXPLORE Partnership →DONATE NOW →

A #FareLife crew filming a red-lit night driving scene from inside the vehicle, with a projector and monitors rigged above the actor — Rear projection process-trailer set for *#FareLife* season 1.

The Team

Meet the Filmmakers Behind the Lab.

Brian Hogan

Writer / Director / Educator

Writer, director, educator, and filmmaker focused on helping students turn ideas into finished creative work and understand how story choices translate to the screen.