Film Actors' Studio

From the theoretical to the practical, and everywhere in between, FAST offers instruction for actors at all levels of skill and experience.

Subtextual Film Acting
Through a combination of lecture and scene work, students will learn the basic principles of organic feature film acting.

Film acting subtext, its history, evolution, and application to the individual is explained and discussed. Students then perform on camera in coached scene work.

Through information, instruction, exercises, and scene work, students are given a comprehensive, individual, and organic acting technique for approaching roles in film, television, and the theatre in a graduate-school style class.

* The Subtextual Film Acting Class is a prerequisite for Technique, except on approval. Please consult your instructor.

Studio - Advanced
An ongoing scene study workshop. This invitation only studio focuses on independent scene selection and rehearsal and continued use of performance techniques learned in earlier classes. Scenes are video-taped so the student has an ongoing record of progress.

Exploration of Voice and Movement
The foundation for the committed actor This class focuses on ways of allowing authentic speech and movement in rehearsal and performance. Explore the ways to prepare the body and mind. Marilyn Carter and Bill Mazzella lead students on exploring these paths. Classes will be physically active and related to text. Please bring excitement for exploration, a willingness to work, and dress comfortably.

Business of Acting
This class will focus on how to get cast in commercials and how to market yourself. The majority of class time is spent working commercial copy in a "real" audition scenario. After each audition, the spot will be cast followed by discussion that will allow the student to begin to understand how to break down copy and make the strongest audition choice.

Real World Acting
This class is for the actor who is ready to start auditioning for TV and Film. Class time is spent in "Real World" audition situations and learning how to deal with sides and cold reads. By the end of the class, the actor will be able to successfully take any scene into the audition room with a minimal rehearsal period.

Voice Over
The Voice Over Class will give actors with and without experience in film, commercial, corporate video and especially theatre the opportunity to utilize their skills in a different industry medium normally reserved for broadcasters and radio DJ’s. The six week class will focus on You the voice over actor, the opportunities locally and nationally and how to break into the market. Each session will be geared towards covering the broad range of areas of voice acting including the straight announcer, the real person voice actor, the hard and soft sell, interactive and character voice acting and corporate narration.

Course length: 6 weeks

Instructor: Brian LaFontaine

Teen Acting
Students will develop the reach of an actor’s tools to create character and depth as well as knowing what they want in the given relationship. This program is an opportunity for young adults who want more confidence on stage or in front of the camera. This introductory course will allow students to build self-assurance and move forward to the next level of acting.

Shakespeare
You will learn about the unique challenges of doing the Bard's work.

Other Classes
The Film Actors' Studio occasionally offers screenwriting classes, career workshops, and other specialty classes.

ACTING CLASSES