2 YEAR ACTING

FOR

FILM

CONSERVATORY PROGRAM

T
through

he Film Academys Two-Year Conservatory Acting for Film Program is a unique opportunity

for students to further explore and master the differences and similarities between stage performance and acting in front of a camera. Students deepen their knowledge of the craft learned during the One-Year Acting for Film Program and gain invaluable experience advanced scene work and production experience in their second year of study. This two-year conservatory program is offered at our New York City Campus. Students interested studying at our Los Angeles campus should consider our two year MFA in Acting for Film degree program or two-year AFA in Acting for Film degree program.

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An acting for film student prepares for a shot on the backlot of Universal Studios.

IN V A AILABLE
LOCATIONS NEW YORK CITY TUITION $13,500 PER SEmESTER

The first year follows the curriculum of the One-year Acting for Film Program, and the second year is comprised of the following:

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Students shoot a scene on Old West Street on Universal Studios backlot.

SEMESTER THREE CLASSES

ACTING FOR THE CAMERA: EPISODIC STYLES I ADVANCED SCENE STUDY: STAGE TO SCREEN I
Actors direct their scene study towards more challenging material and are expected to break down and analyze scripts for performance. Students rehearse a one-act play to be presented at the end of the semester. This same one-act play is, in the second half of the year, adapted into a screenplay and filmed, affording students the opportunity to modify their performance technique between stage and screen. Refining the skills and techniques necessary to master the specific needs of daytime drama and situation comedy. We look at the history and evolution to current style, structure and function, as well as the particular demands both of these television formats makes of actors. We establish a technique for analyzing text and a method to approach characterization. The student will learn the stylistic differences between one soap opera and another or one sitcom and another. We discuss the differences of under-fives, day players, and contract roles, as well as learning on set decorum, contract and union issues, and functions of creative and technical staff.

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Two-Year Acting for Film

PHYSICAL THEATRE
This class trains the actor to develop a gestural vocabulary drawing upon the influences and principals of Jerzy Grotowski, Tadashi Suzuki and other pioneers of the physical theatre. The actor is trained to trigger subconscious impulses through the exploration of image and commitment to strong physical action. Students develop a solo performance piece in which the actor integrates original text, sound design, lights and music. As the actor explores this work he strengthens his instrument and finds a greater awareness of the body and voice.

ADVANCED ACTING TECHNIQUE: THE METHOD

To complement the Meisner technique training that was introduced in the first year, students explore Method acting in great detail. Method Acting, mainly associated with the teachings of Lee Strasburg at the Actors Studio, was made popular in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, and was practiced by revered actors including Dustin Hoffman, Marlin Brando, Robert De Niro and James Dean. Like the work of Sanford Meisner, it is based on the research of Konstantin Stanislavski who revolutionized the way we approach acting today.

CHARACTER STUDY
This class focuses on giving the student a deeper understanding of what makes a character. Through a series of interdependent exercises based on the acting principles of Sanford Meisner and Konstantin Stanislavski, students learn a variety of practical vocal, physical and psycho/emotional techniques which can be used in the transformation from their everyday self into an invented self; a unique theatrical creation with distinctive traits that are forged from personal experience, observation, imagination and textual

ADVANCED MOVEMENT I
This class focuses on exploring the different possibilities that the body offers for expression. This involves making best use of their unique physical characteristics to gain full command of their instrument. Once this is achieved, students explore the specific behavioral demands of physically challenging roles as they learn to differentiate between how behavior reads on stage and how it must be adjusted for the camera.

interpretation.

VOICE-OVER ACTING
In this class, the student learns an acting technique that is specific to working as a voice-over actor. Voice-over work can be lucrative, especially in the commercial/promo market and the world of animated films, and requires skills that are unique to performing in front of a microphone. This class builds on the skills developed in the first year program (text analysis, recognizing beat changes, understanding given circumstances and pursuing objectives with actions, etc) and gives the student the tools to create believable images in the minds of the audience through voice acting.

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Two-Year Acting for Film

SEMESTER FOuR CLASSES
MASK AND CLOWN
ADVANCED SCENE STUDY: STAGE TO SCREEN II
Students work with the instructor in adapting to film the one-act play performed at the conclusion of the first semester. As they have knowledge of their characters from the play, they are now challenged with the task of not only collaborating in the adaptation, but in calibrating their performance to a size appropriate for the screen. This class culminates in a screening of the film at semesters end. Our mask and clown work is a study/practice in imagination and playfulness. Imagination: Students begin with mask work. The mask replaces your self-image in your physical psychology. It replaces pedestrian images of oneself with stronger, more freeing images. Masks clean the house. They break through the actors judgmental mind and create an opening for inspiration and imagination. Playfulness: Clowning is a state of playfulness that brings us to experience a child-like, nave and vulnerable state of being. Paradoxically we grow, learn and are strengthened through reconnecting playfully with what makes us most vulnerable. This approach to clowning is not a technique (tricks, gags and routines) but a personal journey towards finding ones own unique way of being a clown, by listening and being receptive, essential skills for any creative and imaginative expression.

ADVANCED ACTING TECHNIQUE: METHOD, IMPROVISATION

This class continues to build on the first semesters Advanced Acting Technique class by challenging the student with more advanced exercises designed to stretch emotional range and deepen emotional access. In addition, this class brings the actors back to the improvisation work they started during the first year, now marrying their strengthened instrument and greater emotional capacity with the sense of spontaneity required in scenes improvised at an advanced level.

ACTING FOR THE CAMERA: EPISODIC STYLES II

Continuing with the same format as Semester One, actors will further refine their episodic TV savvy by focusing on the specific needs of TV Procedurals (ie Law & Order, CSI, House etc.), TV Dramas (ie Lost, Prison Break, Mad Men etc.), and TV Dramedies (ie Life on Mars, Scrubs, Trust Me etc.) We look at the history and evolution to current style, structure and function, as well as the particular demands both of these television formats makes of actors. The student will further synthesize subtle stylistic differences from one genre to another. A student performs for the camera on Jaws Lake on the backlot of Universal Studios, Hollywood.

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BALLROOM DANCE
This course is designed to introduce the actor to ballroom dance. The class explores several different dance styles, spanning many years, music styles and traditions. Ultimately, by the final dance presentation, the student focuses on finding relaxation and creativity in set choreography, matching breath with movement, and finally, speaking while dancing.

ADVANCED COMBAT FOR FILM

In this course, actors build upon the skills and fundamentals learned during Year One of the Conservatory training program by learning advanced stunt work and fight choreography for the camera. This class culminates in the production of an elaborate fight sequencebased short film developed specifically for the students.

ADVANCED AUDITION TECHNIQUE AND BUSINESS SKILLS

Advanced Audition Technique and Business Skills class builds on techniques covered in the first year that are designed to help prepare audition sides for feature films, episodic television, theatre, soap operas, on-camera commercials and industrials. The class explores the importance of strong choices, taking risks and making a positive and memorable impression. In addition, we again cover the monologue audition, prepare a specific type of monologue to be performed for prospective agents, discuss self-starting, and review the business behind the acting profession.

ADVANCED SPEECH: ACCENT AND DIALECT

Students revisit the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and apply that learning to the acquisition of convincing regional U.S. dialects and international accents. They study audio speech samples, transcribe text using IPA, and present monologues and/or scene work to demonstrate mastery of an accent or dialect.

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