Producer/Director of ‘Psych’ to Bring Second Year of Film Workshops to WWU this Summer

Veterans of the big and small screen will take up residence at Western Washington University for the second Cascadia Film Workshop starting June 22 to lead courses in directing, acting for the camera, special effects, make-up, and screenwriting.

Courses will be offered both as for-credit or no credit, and admission to Western is not required.

The Cascadia Film Workshop is the realization of a 20-year dream of writer/director/producer Mel Damski. After wrapping eight seasons as the executive producer-director of the television series “Psych” in 2014, Damski will again gather colleagues to the Western campus to share their combined expertise with students and community members alike. After last year’s warm reception, Damski is mounting the second season of the workshops between bi-coastal directing gigs, including upcoming episodes of “</scorpion>” and NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura” starring Debra Messing of “Will and Grace” fame.

In addition to Damski’s two-week intensive “Directing Bootcamp” (July 6-17), instructors include Mike Pavone, a screenwriting veteran of popular shows like “Prison Break” and the WWE; special effects expert Andrew Orloff, known for his work on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and HBO’s “True Blood;” director Peter Werner, whose decades-long career includes “Moonlighting,” “Medium,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and “Grimm;” and Liz Zilka, a make-up and hair specialist with 30 years of hands-on experience prepping people to look good on camera.

For more information about the workshop, visit cfpa.wwu.edu/cascadia-film-workshop, or call (360) 650-3308. Space is limited, and registration is open until May 15. Classes are one or two weeks beginning June 22. On-campus accommodations are available during the workshops.