Acting for the screen

Acting for the screen and film-making course

The aim of the course

To provide students with experience of:

·       acting for camera

·       writing a short script 

·       core aspects of film-making

·       working in a film-making team

Who it is for?

Minimum of 8 maximum of 12 students, school years 10 upwards, who already have acted at school or are in a drama group.

Duration

5 full days (plus a possible evening on the 5^th day), commencing Monday 19^th August through Friday 23^rd

There will also be some work required to prep for the next day

Students would need to be able to attend all of these days without exception.

Location

Bell House in Dulwich 

Cost

£350

Application

Please apply here:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bellhouse/1644686

If you require any further info please  email:

[email protected]

Schedule

Students on the course will have a few things to prepare prior to the start date

The group will be split into two: A & B. Each will elect a lead-writer whose responsibility will be to collate the ideas of the group and write a short script. The idea is that the number of scenes in each film will be a multiple  of the number in each group. So if a group has 5 members there will be 5,10 or (even 15) scenes, and each member will have a chance to direct 1 or 2 scenes. 

Day 1.                     Getting to know each other. Acting on camera workshop. Compare and contrast acting on stage to acting on camera. Understanding the medium. 

PM: Script discussion and plotting. Workshop with a script writer.

Day 2.                     Acting on camera workshop continued. Workshop with an actor.

PM: Script discussion and plotting. 

Day 3.                     Filming workshop. 

Learning basic film skills: Planning. Story-boarding. Rehearsal. Blocking. Cinematography. Continuity. Filming protocols. Learning key filming roles. Practical exercises in acting and filming. 

Rehearsal of scenes. Shooting scenes, reviewing, followed by discussion, notes and shooting again and reviewing again

PM: Story discussion, and finessing. Planning the shoot. Assigning of roles for filming. 

Day 4.                     Filming Story 1. Group A will film group B. We would switch roles (camera operator, director, etc.) so students enjoy as broad a range of experience as possible.

                                 PM editing of Film 1 by a film editor

Day 5.                     Filming Story 2. Group B will film group A (same parameters as Day 4).

                                PM editing of Film 1 by a film editor

Day 5 eve              We will discuss what we have learnt, or on Saturday pm if everyone can make it.

                                Watch and discuss the films. 

 Overview

 This is a highly ambitious course and schedule, and the hope is that students will learn a lot in a week.

 The key skills in which each student should gain some experience:

 Acting: The differences between acting on stage and acting for camera. Learning to act on camera. The power of the close up. 

 Story creation: Planning a story in a group. Plotting. Turning points, and characters arcs.

 Filming: Directing, planning, set discipline, continuity.

About me - Sven Arnstein

I have worked in the TV industry most of my  life. I did a BBC directors course, after which I directed TV drama for 5 years. I have run a few courses for the BBC and the National Film school. I have run this course once before, and this is the new improved version!