Summer Acting Training Program Curriculum

The program offers two levels of instruction, based on your experience. Each level is four weeks long and the workshops meet from approximately 9am to 6pm, five days a week. Class size is limited to maximize individual time and attention.

Technique Level

The technique level lets the beginning performer explore the physical, emotional and vocal life necessary for an energized, focused, creative camera performance. The curriculum for the workshops include:

ACT112

ACTING TECHNIQUE

This course introduces the ideas of Stanislavski and the foundation of acting through script analysis, monologues, exercises, and scenes.

1.0 Credit

COM110

COMMERCIAL BASICS

Achieve awareness of one's potential for a professional acting career. Work on commercial copy through improvisation, on-camera copy, discussion of student's type, and how student will fit into the acting profession.

1.0 Credit

DAN114

STAGE COMBAT 1/ACTORS MOVEMENT

In Stage Combat 1, students apply basic principles and safety factors to unarmed stage combat. Students engage in exercises to illustrate various concepts, such as body centering and grounding, slaps, punches, chokes, kicks, and reactions. In Actors Movement, students engage in movement explorations to build a foundation of awareness and freedom of physical motion in solo, group and ensemble.

1.0 Credit

FIL110

FILM AND TV BASICS

Discuss basic film acting technique; lay a foundation for the audition process and for more advanced training in film and TV performance. Students engage in exercises in auditioning, breaking down a scene, and exploring basic acting technique.

1.0 Credit

IMP110

IMPROVISATION

Achieve spontaneity and freedom through improvisational techniques, using body, gestures, and emotion, for use in aspects of on-camera performance. Engage in group scenes, two-person exercises, and solo work, emphasizing spontaneity, listening, making and committing to choices, agreement, and working with others.

1.0 Credit

SPE110

VOICE I

Work toward fully supported forward placed sound that is responsive and flexible; gain awareness of clear speech and articulation. Students engage in exercises in breathing and posture, breath and emotional connection, connection of breath to sound, articulation, resonance, applying good voice and articulation to demands of the text.

1.0 Credit

Performance Level

The Performance Level offers the more experienced actor a challenging workout as they make the transition from stage to screen. The curriculum emphasizes on-camera technique in both single and multi-camera performance. The curriculum for the workshops include:

COM201

COMMERCIAL COURSE

Handle basic demands of a variety of commercial auditions. Engage in exercises in MOS (without sound) commercials, tasting, eating, one-line auditions, and spokesperson auditions, and gain familiarity with cue card usage. Professional behavior and decorum in auditioning is emphasized.

1.0 Credit

DAN224

STAGE COMBAT 2/MICHAEL CHEKHOV TECHNIQUE

In the advanced level of Stage Combat 2, students continue to focus on the principles and safety factors of stage combat. Students engage in exercises to illustrate various concepts, such as body centering and grounding, chokes, slaps, punches, kicks, and reactions. In Michael Chekhov Technique, students explore Michael Chekhov's "psycho-physical" approach to acting, through the basic principles and exercises outlined in Chekhov's book, To the Actor, including psycho/physical exercises, character work and ensemble improvisation.

1.0 Credit

FIL212

SCENE STUDY

This class gives the more advanced students in the Summer Program an opportunity to review his/her craft and begin to learn how to apply the actor's work to the camera. Students will learn how to prepare scenes chosen from film and television scripts on their own and show up to the set camera ready. Technical skills such as memorization, hitting marks, finding your camera, acting in specific shots, and on-set behavior are also part of this syllabus.

1.0 Credit

SPE210

VOICE SHAKESPEARE WORKSHOP

Appreciate and handle classical text material, particularly in verse; apply basic skills in breath, articulation, resonance, and pitch. This course explores blank verse, Shakespearean texts, and vocal technique.

1.0 Credit

SPE211

VOICE-OVER/MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE

Act and speak specifically in voice-over microphone work; prepare the moment before; apply subtext to meaning and inflection; identify key words; work with a partner.  Students engage in exercises in physical alignment, inner dialogue, breaking down texts, styles, tags, slating, accents and character, focus, breath awareness, and broadcast jargon.

1.0 Credit