Acting for the Camera Intensive

This transformational four-week class is fully integrated with the Filmmaker’s Program and allows beginning and advanced actors to deeply immerse themselves into the process of acting in the film world.

Week One starts with fun and relaxing exercises to open up the summer camp vibe. Then the actors are given monologues tailored to their personality and marketing through which they can explore their feelings, find their strengths and get past their fears. Usually these monologues are shown to the filmmakers as they start the writing process to jump start their character development and understand their talent pool. The actors then dive deep into acting on camera with memorized scenes, cold reading, frozen reading and auditions to build connection and understand the intimate and personal level of performance that is required for film.

Week Two is all about the actual films that are going to be made. The scripts that are chosen from the filmmakers are broken down into auditions and the actors prepare to show their stuff. Actors are allowed to audition for any role and can audition for as many as they want. After the roles are cast, with a healthy desire to make sure every actor gets to get their screen time, the actors start preparing to bring the roles to life on camera.

Week Three is filming week where students get to test their new skills and take the risks that they have gained confidence to take. When not in the cast, actors have a chance to try their skills at supporting the filmmakers, which can be anything from make-up to holding the boom. Actors time on set also allows them to get used to the rhythm and processes so that it no longer is intimidating or mysterious.

Week Four is when some of the filmmakers go into the editing process and some float into the actor program for more learning and fun. This is the time where students learn how the acting business works and how to market themselves as actors. We also dive deep into the parallel process of character development known as personality mapping so that actors understand the nature of how characters are created from a psychological perspective.

Culmination: On camp’s final Saturday we get to see the end result of all the work and fun,… the films and the process of making them. The whole family gets to experience what these actors and filmmakers went through, what they were able to create in just 4 weeks and the long term friendships that have been forged.

Make sure to schedule your departure in the afternoon or evening so that you can be there for the Saturday Culmination.