London Film School, offer full-time MA Degree courses in both Film Making and Screewriting.

Continual advances in technology are radically reshaping the process of modern day filmmaking. More and more sequences involve the use of green screen and heavy postproduction work, all of which is helping to bring breathtaking images to today's audiences. However with this new method of working comes very big challenges to the modern actor, challenges that some of our best actors are having real problems with.

How do you act well with things that aren't there? How can you give spellbinding performances immersed in a world that you can't see? How do you not 'fake it'? How does a director help an actor that is really struggling in this environment?

Over the last two years Teresa Grimsditch has devised a simple and highly effective set of tools to empower actors, directors and VFX supervisors. These unique tools dovetail into any acting/directing technique and are designed for the sole purpose of helping extract incredible performances from actors in this difficult environment whilst maintaining the high degree of technical precision this medium requires.

Course Content

• Understanding what demands are placed on actors when performing in this medium (ie technical skill + characterisation, emotional content, vocals and visualisation).
• How to best prepare an actor physically, mentally and creatively.
• Imagination: What it is and how to use it.
• Helping an actor to visualise imaginary props, landscapes, CG scene partners...
• Scaling up images from descriptions, sketches, miniatures, CG visuals.
• Helping actors to work with visual representation.
• How to maintain performance during a technically demanding action sequence.

Course structure

• Preparation
• The Technique (Creative Visualisation)
• Application Of The Technique Through Practical Exercises
• Filming Against Green Screen
• Recap, Trouble Shooting And Q&A

 

This is an intensive one-day workshop where you will be required to participate in the practical acting exercises in order to understand the technique from within. The final part of the workshop is a green screen shoot where you will get a chance to apply the technique in a working environment.

 

Fee: £120

Maximum Participants: 14

 

WORKSHOP TUTOR PROFILE

Teresa Grimsditch studied on the 3yr Acting course at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, on the 4yr Acting and Directing course at The Academy of the Science of Acting and Directing under Sam Kogan (a pupil of Maria Knebel, one of the last pupils taught directly by Stanislavski) and on the 2 yr MA Actor Training and Coaching course at Central School of Speech and Drama.

Over the years Teresa's acting and directing has taken her to London, America (Spiletto International Festival), Edinburgh (Assembly Rooms Edinburgh Festival) and Moscow (Podium International Festival). During that time she noticed that actor training was predominantly based in theatre whereas more and more actors were working professionally in TV and Film.

Keen to research this more, Teresa enrolled at Central on the MA Actor Training & Coaching course. She set about interviewing producers, directors and casting agents, who all spoke of a lack of specific screen training in new graduates. Further research unveiled a specific area where actor training was needed. Many actors, whether new graduate or seasoned performer (including Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Helena Bonham Carter.), have been finding difficulties when acting in a green screen environment and with CGI.

Using all of her experience and knowledge, Teresa set about developing an imagination based technique, accessible to all which could be delivered in a workshop format. Similar workshops for actors and students are currently run at RADA, NFTS, Bristol Old Vic, Central School of Speech and Drama, East 15, Drama Centre, The Actors Centre and at talkbackThames. The LFS is the only course specifically for professional directors

Teresa's workshops are designed to bridge the gap between training and the industry and as a trained actor, director and teacher, she is in a unique position to deliver them.

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How to apply

Please submit the following application materials:

• Application Form
  (click to download)
• Ethnicity and Disability Monitoring Form
  (click to download)

Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk

Postal Address:
Workshops Admissions,
The London Film School,
24 Shelton Street,
London, WC2H 9UB, UK

Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642

Fax us:
+44 (0)20 7497 3718

 

Skillset Funding

Successful applicants for this workshop may be eligible to apply for a Skillset Screen Bursary to cover up to 80% of their workshops fees.

For full details visit www.skillset.org/screenbursaries or contact Hal Sinden at Skillset: 020 7713 9888 / hals@skillset.org.