6-Month Acting for Film Workshop with China Film Group

China Film Group Corporation

China Film Group Corporation, abbreviated as CFGC, is the largest and most influential state-run film enterprise in China. The predecessor China Film Corporation was established in 1949. In 1999, it became the conglomerate China Film Group Corporation built to develop and distribute films in the Chinese industry. It is also the only importer of foreign films in China and a major exporter of Chinese films.

BEIJING

Beijing is an exciting and bustling city with a history of culture and power that extends back thousands of years. Visitors to Beijing will be inspired by the Forbidden City and Summer Palace which were homes of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.



Near Beijing, the Great Wall of China can be visited, one of the world's wonders and also other attractions such as Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, Hutongs, Tian'anmen Square, Beijing Opera, Panda House among many great places to visit. Modern Beijing is a city with a vibrant night-life and world-class restuarants. It is the center of a burgeoning entertainment industry where hundreds of films and television shows are produced.

CLASSES

ACTING TECHNIQUE
This class is an introduction to the various well-known acting techniques of the Master Acting Teachers.

The classes begin with basic ensemble acting games and warm-ups. Students first explore the work of Konstantin Stanislavski, then move to the Method, briefly discussing the role of Sanford Meisner, then continue to the work of Lee Strasberg (sense and emotional memory), Stella Adler (absolute belief in given circumstances), Michael Chekhov (the psychological gesture), Jerzy Grotowski (physical approach/"outside in"), Anne Bogart (viewpoints) and Tadashi Suzuki.

The classes also include a brief historical background of each of the Masters, as well as a discussion of the development of each of his/her techniques. Students are introduced to specific exercises attributed to each Master and asked to work on them outside of class and to perform them in class. Students progress to "Open Scenes" and monologue work to begin to utilize the different concepts learned. A final "Presentation" of monologue (or open scene work) is performed at the end of the semester.



Speech
An extension of the Voice work, Speech focuses on the elimination of foreign accents and regional dialects by developing Standard American Speech. Using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the actor learns to correct habitual speech problems and prepare for future dialect study. The results include greater ease, clarity, and expression with text, and the ability to undertake a wide variety of roles.

VOICE AND MOVEMENT
In both film and theatre, a character's objective is often illuminated by the playing of strong physical actions. In other words, what a character does, more than what he or she says, is what defines his or her true desire. Movement, in addition to strengthening body posture and contributing to an actor's ability to relax and prepare to play a role, also focuses on breaking down inhibitions, building ensemble spirit, and giving the necessary tools to bring depth to the physical dimension of assigned roles from dramatic texts. Additionally, in the Voice portion of this class, students gain insight into using their voices safely and effectively by freeing themselves of tension, maximizing vocal resonance, and discovering the extent of their playable pitch range. This vocal freedom leads to emotional freedom, complete character development, effective storytelling and powerful presence.



SCENE STUDY
Students need to break down scenes into "beats" (i.e. moments of emotional transition) and then assign specific psychological actions, physical actions, and obstacles to each beat. They incorporate various acting techniques including Stanislavsky's System and Strasberg's Method, as well as the skills learned in the Meisner Technique class. Additionally, students learn how to build a comprehensive scored script that includes: a lengthy character biography, description of the dramatic arc, as well as how environment impacts the character's overall objective. Scene Study class culminates with a showcase presentation for classmates, faculty, and an invited audience at the end of the semester.