Hands-on Intensive 8-Week Acting for Film Workshop

OVERVIEW

The Eight-Week Acting for Film Workshop is a full-time intensive immersion workshop that takes students from the basic principles of the craft through a broad working understanding of the aesthetic and technical aspects of the medium.

The basis of this and all other NYFA programs is learning by doing, using a hands-on, practical, experiential approach. Acting for Film and Scene Study are the two principal areas of concentration in this intensive program. These areas coincide in the creation of short, filmed scenes in which students act. The edited scenes are the main projects of the workshop. Monologues, Voice and Movement, and Improvisation serve as support classes. Audition Technique exposes students to cold reading techniques and a discussion of the business of acting and its essential tools. Film Craft exposes students to the roles of the director, cinematographer and editor, the language of film and how films are made, and the effects that these roles have on the choices an actor makes.

The program is constructed to deliver a great deal of content in a short time, and is an exceptional opportunity for a total immersion experience for eight weeks. Students who wish to continue their studies have the opportunity to apply credit towards and transfer to a longer program at any point.

No significant prior experience or knowledge is assumed. The program brings everyone to the same level very quickly, beginning with the fundamentals while also filling the inevitable gaps in the understanding of those with some prior experience.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Discuss film as a visual medium.
• Break a scene down into beats and assign an action to each beat: create an emotional arc; establish an objective and develop strategies to overcome obstacles to achieving the objective; play an action.
• Modulate a performance to fit the framing of shots, from establishing to close-up; put to use dramatic action, observation, and characterization through scene work; apply text analysis to scripted material.
• Prepare two contrasting monologues; connect the body and voice to scripted material; increase flexibility through body awareness and physical exercises; refine listening skills and ensemble playing through improvisation; recognize the essential choices needed for effective execution of cold readings, making effective use of physical and emotional life.
• Examine the roles of the director and cinematographer with an emphasis on how these roles effect the choices an actor makes in performance.

Course Description

Acting for Film Scene Study Monologues Voice and Movement

Improvisation Audition Technique Film Craft: Directing, Cinematography, and Editing

Acting for Film

Students learn the basics of film acting: calibrating performances based upon shot size and angle, eye line, hitting marks, emotional and physical continuity, and strength and imagination in acting choices. Students are assigned scenes from produced screenplays, which are then shot and edited together.

Scene Study

These sessions build a foundation of acting through the execution of a written scene. By working on sections of published plays and screenplays, actors will learn the basic concepts of scene study: defining objectives, breaking the scene down into beats, understanding the arc, pursuing the objective, playing actions, and working to overcome obstacles. Students first begin with silent scenes and/or short dialogue scenes. Once the foundation is in place, longer dramatic or comedic scenes are explored.

Monologues

These sessions develop the student’s understanding of the delivery of the monologue: a technique that can be applied to everything from auditions to stage readings to film work. Screenplays oftentimes incorporate monologues into their dramatic structures—but more importantly actors must learn the self-discipline to work individually, without relying on a scene partner for inspiration. The class will focus on choosing monologues that are truthful, meaningful, and revealing; performing script analysis on monologues; staging and directing oneself; and developing both outer and inner focal points.

Voice and Movement

An actor’s body is his or her instrument—it must be tuned to perform expertly whenever and however needed. In addition to expanding body flexibility and developing the actor's ability to relax and tense when needed, movement sessions focus on breaking down inhibitions, building ensemble spirit, and providing the necessary tools to bring physical dimension to all roles. A primary tool for the actor is an expressive and free voice. Therefore, the actor’s voice must train to be heard (through volume adjustments), understood (through articulation) and also felt (through expression). Students gain insight into the power of how to nurture and control their voices by exercising various resonators and muscles, enabling them to release emotional impulses. In addition to breath work, voice sessions focus on singing, relaxation, phrasing, and posture as a way of nurturing the actor's instrument. Using text, students learn to identify key words, and learn how to link intention with the voice and speak clearly and powerfully through the end of a line.

Improvisation

The ability to improvise can never be underestimated when it comes to acting, especially on camera where there is usually very little rehearsal. Whether in comedy or drama, actors improvise well when they are fully engaged, listening to their partners, and releasing their inhibitions about failing. Through games and exercises, students learn how to let their imaginations run wild, how to play well with others, and how to live “in the moment”—free from anticipating or planning what to do next.

Audition Technique

Acting is as much of a business as it is a craft. In addition to training, successful actors must develop strong marketing skills in order to build a career. These sessions focus on such topics as feeling comfortable at cold readings, preparing a resume, choosing a headshot photographer, and developing a career strategy. Additionally, actors will have the opportunity to get live auditioning experience both in class and during an open casting call with directors from the NYFA Filmmaking program.

Film Craft: Directing, Cinematography, and Editing

In this series of classes, students will learn directing, editing and cinematography from the actor’s perspective. Learning the roles of all the players on a film set dramatically increases the actor’s ability to collaborate with the filmmakers in developing dynamic performances.

Dates & Tuition