TWO-YEAR CONSERVATORY
ACTING FOR FILM PROGRAM

This class trains the actor to develop a gestural vocabulary drawing upon the influences and principals of Jerzy Grotowski, Tadashi Suzuki and other pioneers of the physical theatre. The actor is trained to trigger subconscious impulses through the exploration of image and commitment to strong physical action. Students will develop a solo performance piece in which the actor integrates original text, sound design, lights and music. As the actor explores this work he will strengthen his instrument and find a greater awareness of the body and voice.

To complement the Meisner technique training that was introduced in the first year, students will explore “Method” acting in great detail. Method Acting, mainly associated with the teachings of Lee Strasburg at the Actors Studio, was made popular in the United States in the 1940’s and 1950’s, and was practiced by revered actors including Dustin Hoffman, Marlin Brando, Robert De Niro and James Dean. As is the work of Sanford Meisner, it is based on the research of Konstantin Stanislavsky who revolutionized the way we approach acting today.

This class will focus on giving the student a deeper understanding of what makes a character. Through a series of interdependent exercises based on the acting principles of Sanford Meisner and Konstantin Stanislavski, students will learn a variety of practical vocal, physical and psycho/emotional techniques which can be used in the transformation from their everyday self into an invented self, a unique theatrical creation with distinctive traits that are forged from personal experience, observation, imagination and textual interpretation.

In this class the student will learn an acting technique that is specific to working as a voice-over actor. Voice-over work can be lucrative, especially in the commercial/promo market and the world of animated films, and requires skills that are unique to performing in front of a microphone. This class will build on the skills developed in the first year program (text analysis, recognizing beat changes, understanding given circumstances and pursuing objectives with actions, etc) and give the student the tools to create believable images in the minds of the audience through voice acting.

Students will work with the instructor in adapting to film the one-act play performed at the conclusion of the first semester. As they will have knowledge of their characters from the play, they will now be challenged with the task of not only collaborating in the adaptation, but in calibrating their performance to a size appropriate for the screen. This class will culminate in a screening of the film at semester’s end.

This class will continue to build on the first semester’s Advanced Acting Technique class by challenging the student with more advanced exercises designed to stretch emotional range and deepen emotional access. In addition, this class will bring the actors back to the improvisation work they started during the first year, now marrying their strengthened instrument and greater emotional capacity with the sense of spontaneity required in scenes improvised at an advanced level.

The students will continue production on the episodic series started during the first semester, shooting one full day per week. Well into the routine of performing on a TV show as a recurring character, the actors will continue watch and critique their performances and explore nuances as story arcs develop and unfold.

Actors explore changes in physical and vocal identity to that of a character suggested by a mask. The work involves moving, improvising, dancing and looking into a mirror to inspire character evolution. This work fosters a connection to the actor’s impulse and encourages risk-taking through extreme physical and vocal choices. This class moves into character-based clowning work where the actor gets in touch with his/her primal self by stripping away layers of social conditioning. They find their personal sense of humor as they knock down their walls of inhibition. They will create sketches and performances for their clown. In addition, students will receive training in basic ballroom dancing.

More and more films today require physical action. In this course, actors will learn the invaluable skills and fundamentals of stunt work and fight choreography for the camera. Students will learn to safely use prop weapons such as guns, knives, rapier-daggers, broadswords, and quarterstaffs. This class will culminate in the production of an elaborate fight sequence-based short film developed specifically for the students.

Students will revisit the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and apply that learning to the acquisition of convincing regional U.S. dialects and international accents. They will study audio speech samples, transcribe text using IPA, and present monologues and/or scene work to demonstrate mastery of an accent or dialect.

Auditioning is a special skill requiring specific techniques. Actors will again learn and practice the essentials of a good audition and focus on the set of skills required to handle “sides” for film and television. The goal is to help actors make quick, specific, action-oriented choices and to develop strong listening skills and flexibility in taking direction. This class will also cover the business considerations of approaching the film industry as an actor, defining the roles of casting directors, agents, managers, producers, the unions and reintroduce the marketing tools necessary for survival in the film acting industry.