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Inside the Notes: How Music Works in Film. In-Person Workshop. 67 Nicholas St. June 18, 2025. 7 PM - 9PM. A yellow background with music notes overlayed in a lighter shade of yellow.

Inside the Notes: How Music Works in Film

June 18th, 2025

7 PM - 9 PM

Instructor: Jack Hui Litster

Register

Through an exploration of how music is used in 10+ film scenes from the past 65 years of international cinema, Inside the Notes: How Music Works in Film will give filmmakers, musicians and film lovers new tools to interpret film music. By understanding the categories of sound and types of musical instruments heard in film, and unpacking the eight common functions of music in film, you’ll gain new ways to hear how and why film music is so emotionally powerful. 

Examples to be experienced and analyzed in this lecture will be drawn from films including: Ben Hur (1959), The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1967), Malcolm X (1992), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), The Lord of the Rings (2001), Slumdog Millionaire (2009), If Beale St. Could Talk (2018), Black Panther (2018), Bootlegger (2021), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), Conclave (2024) and more.

Instructor

Jack Hui Litster

Jack Hui Litster is a music performer, composer and producer, who, over the past two decades, has composed and recorded over 75 songs in many genres. His music has been featured in videos, podcasts, and in performance. As Composer-in-Residence for OperOttawa, Jack has composed two operas: The Day You Were Born (2021) which deals with the range of emotions that accompany pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood; and What Is Love?, which sets to music the poetry from Kahlil Gibran’s beloved book The Prophet.

Jack holds an MA in Music and Culture from Carleton University, a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Ottawa, a Professional Certificate from Berklee College of Music (music business and film scoring), and a Diploma in Jazz Performance from St. Francis Xavier University. From 2010-2020, Jack worked in nonprofit organizations as a fundraiser and community organizer, most recently with Ottawa-based social justice organization Inter Pares.

Accessibility 

All doors at DARC have accessibility buttons to press for automatic entry. DARC is located on the main floor (one story above ground) of the Arts Court building. DARC’s main entrance is located at 67 Nicholas Street which is fully wheelchair accessible. Alternate wheelchair-accessible entry is available through 2 Daly Ave at the Arts Court main entrance or the Ottawa Art Gallery. Elevator access is available from 9AM – 11PM.

DARC staff are available and happy to assist with all inquiries and requests regarding physical access.

We also welcome inquiries, feedback, and resources regarding accessibility and accessibility improvement by phone (613.238.7648 x. 6) or by email at access@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca.

Visit https://digitalartsresourcecentre.ca/access/ for information on how to get to DARC, language barriers, fragrance policy, and access to programming.

Cancellation Policy 

DARC is unable to provide course attendee refunds for cancellations. DARC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule courses if necessary.

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About DARC's Workshops

Digital Arts Resource Centre (DARC) provides training in a varied range of disciplines related to filmmaking and media art while making a dedicated effort to create a pathway to an intersectional education. We aspire to be a platform for creative support and community building through active participation and exchange of knowledge. Our workshops and courses explore the ways in which technical and conceptual frameworks can be used as tools to improve your creative practice. DARC’s educational offerings are open to members and the general public engaged in the creation of non-commercial, independent productions and work.

Who Is Eligible to Register for Workshops?

Workshops are open to Digital Arts Resource Centre members and the general public engaged in the creation of non-commercial, independent productions and work (Non-commercial, independent productions are productions for which the director retains copyright and artistic control, and for which the production is neither being produced for a client nor for the purpose of advertising or promotion).

Who Is Ineligible to Register for Workshops?

Digital Arts Resource Centre does not offer our workshops to persons employed by any government body or any major corporation if the resources are being used to facilitate benefit for one’s employer or for corporate professional development within one of these kinds of organizations. Our workshops are heavily subsidized as they are available only for independent artists/learners who cannot typically afford to take corporate rate workshops. You can find non-subsidized workshops from our friends at SPAO or Henry’s.

Workshop Pricing

A reduced or waived fee is available if workshop fees present a financial barrier. We understand that everyone’s situation is different. When registering for workshops, we ask that you honestly examine your privilege (i.e. education, generational wealth, parental or community support, partnership status, and other circumstances that may provide a safety net when financial setbacks occur). For more information please email us.

Accessibility

All doors at DARC have accessibility buttons to press for automatic entry. DARC is located on the main floor (one story above ground) of the Arts Court building. DARC’s main entrance is located at 67 Nicholas Street which is fully wheelchair accessible. Alternate wheelchair-accessible entry is available through 2 Daly Ave at the Arts Court main entrance or the Ottawa Art Gallery. Elevator access is available from 9AM – 11PM.

DARC staff are available and happy to assist with all inquiries and requests regarding physical access. We also welcome inquiry, feedback, and resources regarding accessibility and accessibility improvement by phone (613.238.7648 x. 6) or by email at access@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca.

Cancellation

DARC is unable to provide course attendee refunds for cancellations. DARC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule courses if necessary.