Acting and directing actors is a craft that can be taught, but first we must understand the language and the tools of our trade.

There is no truth in “BEING”- actors must be active in "DOING" for the performance to be believable. Each participant will learn and practice the same Sanford Meisner “OBJECTIVE” and “AS IF ” principles used by Diane Keaton, Peter Falk, Tony Randall and David Mamet. You will develop skills for hitting marks, managing emotional energy and cheating to the camera. You will also learn techniques for active listening, improving for character truth and making the most of your close-up.

Take it from a director: "if you get an actor that Sandy Meisner has trained, you've been blessed."

Elia Kazan

 Who should take this workshop?

This is a solid foundation for those new or unfamiliar with on-camera protocol including TV commercial, corporate communication short and feature film production. The workshop is also open to directors who wish to learn a "craft" for directing actors and real people. 

9:00AM

• Inside the Audition
• The Big Picture – You’re not the only nervous one.
• The first read
• Asking the right questions
• Relaxation and warm up techniques

• Getting Comfortable in a Production Environment.
• Who’s Who - Video
• What’s going on in the directors head

• Stage Acting vs. Film & Television
• Blocking
• Cheating
• Close up vs. wide
• Continuity

• Finding Truth
• Nine Questions of Character
• On camera acting from “Objective” and “As If” principle
• Make a choice and avoiding result acting

6:00PM