WEEKEND WORKSHOP

"ACTING FOR THE CAMERA"

With Linda & David Laundra and Terri Cole

 

The following is a suggested schedule that can be adjusted to fit the number of students and available facilities.

 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE:

 

DAY ONE:  Friday Evening    6:00 to 9:00       

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

This evening we explain how each day will work and what everyone should expect for the next 48 hours.

We will talk about the differences between Theatre, Film and Television from the actor's point of view; including what to expect when working on a film set, location shoot, drama, (daytime or episodic) and sit com or soap opera.  This over-view of the business explains the need to shoot multi-camera live on tape in this workshop.  We discuss the differences between multi-camera and single camera shoots.  Our concentration is on television.

 

Then we discuss some "Rules of the Camera".  We review on-camera auditions and touch on how to prepare when you're hired to work on camera.  We urge everyone to take notes and refresh their memory prior to either situation.  Questions and feedback are encouraged.

 

Terri joins the program on Saturday, but there may be handouts for students to prepare in advance.  At this point we ask if there are any questions about the scenes we have sent ahead and urge everyone to review their preparation and continue to work throughout the weekend. 

 

 

DAY TWO:  Saturday 10 am - 5 PM   

 

     Blocking and Rehearsal on camera

     Commercial/Casting Session

                  Building a Career and Identifying your "type"

 

We will emphasize the importance of being on time.  The whole group will gather for their introduction to Terri Cole and her plan for the weekend and a brief "blocking" lecture with us.  After discussion and some demonstration of the basic positions and blocking moves, we divide into two groups.

 

Group one meets with the Laundras to block and rehearse their scenes.  In order to accomplish a large number of scenes in the limited time available and without a full crew, we will use a group of two character scenes that will be assigned to multi people.  Being able to block the scenes with a group and then rehearse it with each couple saves valuable time and gives the actors an unusual opportunity to see how different individuals approach the same scene.

 

The actors are encouraged to spend at least part of their day observing the blocking process.  Each scene demonstrates a different set of problems to be solved and valuable information can be learned by watching others address these situations.

 

Group Two meets with Terri Cole to discuss career building strategies, how to identify your "type", how to market yourself and they rehearse a commercial for camera.   She spends detailed time on "setting yourself up as a business", how to deal with agents and casting directors so you can make the most out of every meeting and organizing and balancing your life and your career.

 

Terri also reviews everyone's picture and resume and discusses the auditioning process.  If the actors don't have pictures and resumes she will discuss how to select a photographer, how to prepare for the "shoot" and how to create an effective resume.

 

If there is time at the end of the day, there are always questions to be answered.

 

 

DAY THREE  --  Sunday  10 am - 5:00 PM    

 

         Dress rehearsal and taping of all scenes

         Final review and individual wrap-up

        

Now the scenes must be completely memorized and prepared.  Everyone should be dressed and made up for the camera. 
It is taping.  The schedule MUST be something like this:

 

    10:00 - 12:00    Rehearse and tape Group 1

                            Group 2 meets with Terri

 

    12:00 - 2:00    Rehearse and tape Group 2

                          Group 1 meets with Terri

 

     2:00 - 3:00    Lunch break

 

     3:00  - 4:00   Playback and review of Group 1 scenes with comments

                         Group 2 finishes with Terri

 

     4:00  - 5:00   Playback and review of Group 2 scenes with comments

                         Group 1 finishes with Terri

 

     5:00 - 6:00 or so Review and Questions

 

Needless to say, time is scheduled very tightly.  It is possible that the workshop may go later each night.  As it is a test of stamina and challenging mentally and physically for all, it is urged that we focus on the work and limit social time at the conclusion of each evening.  It is very important that time and energy be expended conservatively. It is important to remember that you will be given a lot of information to digest in a very short period of time.  That is how television works.