PREREQUISITE:

This session is open to newer actors, as well as more experienced actors in need of an inspiring tune up. Scene partners will be paired up according to their level of experience.

 

DESCRIPTION:

This is an opportunity to work with 8 of Haven Acting Studio's veteran teachers and guest instructors. We’ll explore specific genres and various techniques on-camera, with the ultimate goal of bringing more knowledge, tools, and confidence to your process. Now is the time to break through your creative blocks, refine your process, and amaze yourself with what you are capable of when you fully commit to your growth as an artist. This challenging, yet always safe and supportive 8 week intensive is open to both newer and experienced actors. Scene partners will be paired up according to their level of experience with new material assigned each week.

Actors will receive a link to their on-camera work which they can use for promotional purposes such as when submitting to agents, adding to their Casting Workbook profile (if they don’t have a demo) or simply sharing with their reps to show their development.

WEEK 1:  

AUTHENTICITY ON CAMERA with BEN IMMANUEL

Haven Studio founder/director/teacher BEN IMMANUEL has a 4-decade spanning career as an award-winning actor and filmmaker. His feature films Moving Malcolm and Down River were both released theatrically, played at festivals all over the world, and won numerous awards for the actors who performed in them under Ben’s direction. His upcoming feature film, Are We Done Now? features many of his acting students in lead roles, and will be premiering in 2024.

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In this workshop, Ben will work with actors to discover more about your perceived strengths and challenges. Through a series of exercises one-on-one and with the group, Ben will guide you toward the vital steps of opening up, dropping in, and letting go. This first class is not about delivering text:  It is about listening, watching, thinking and breathing to be completely present, alive, and authentic in that magical time between “action!" and “cut!"

WEEK 2:

IMPROVISATION FOR ACTORS with VEENA SOOD

This class will focus on using improv exercises to create dynamic relationships and stay completely present in the work. 

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Veena will use the first part of the class to do improv exercises with the group, then for the second half, actors will apply those techniques to text-based scenes, on-camera.

WEEK 3:

DOMINATING DIFFICULT DIALOGUE with NATALIE MOON
Natalie will be teaching how to tackle tech talk. With specially curated scenes from local shows that challenge your brain, your intonation and your articulation. Whether medical terms, a news report or sci-fi tech talk, you will not only be confident in handling jargon but also the technical aspects of these difficult auditions to help you tape with confidence.

WEEK 4:

EMBRACING THE MOW with ALISON WANDZURA

As an experienced on-camera performer, Alison has appeared in over 20 Hallmark and Lifetime television movies, and received the 2019 Leo Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie. She is well-versed in the archetypes and performance style required for the MOW. While Alison has played a handful of buoyant best friends on Hallmark and poker-faced detectives on Lifetime, her extensive credits also include So Help Me Todd (CBS), Blockbuster (Netflix), The Good Doctor (ABC), The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix), Van Helsing (SyFy), and most recently CBC's new procedural drama series Allegiance.

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Using television movie scenes from Hallmark and Lifetime scripts shot in Vancouver, Alison will work with students to make practical choices that align their performance with the expectations of the MOW world. By learning about the archetypes found in MOWs and how we each uniquely fit within them, as well applying specific audition “do’s and don’t”, we make ourselves more castible in this staple genre that is a prominent source of work for Vancouver actors.

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WEEK 5: 

BRAVE CHOICES FOR INDIE FILMS with Writer/Director CARL BESSAI

Carl has a twenty five year career directing feature films.  He has directed some of the world's leading acting talent including Sir Ian McKellen, the late Cory Monteith, Bruce Dern, Carrie Ann Moss and Tantoo Cardinal.  He has made 25 feature films, won numerous awards, critics and jury prizes and has played some of the world’s leading film festivals. His unique approach to filmmaking harnesses elements of collective creation and improvisation where the one and only truly special effect is the actor and the performance.

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WEEK 6: 

SELF TAPE SUCCESS with NELSON WONG

This high-energy class is focused on the professional demands of the casting process from cold reads to zoom callbacks. After the class you'll be given footage for review, with Nelson will also share his personal audition check list, created after many years of coaching, taping and teaching countless actors to successfully take charge of their audition choices.​

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WEEK 7:

COMEDY with DAVID MILCHARD

Find your funny with David Milchard! David is an award-winning professional comedian touring across Canada and the United States. David has performed in 1000’s of shows and international festivals. Currently, David tours his improvised musical comedy act, Citizen Hurricane. He studied at the Vancouver Film School, with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, and worked extensively with Keith Johnstone, one of the pioneers of improv from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

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WEEK 8:

BE SET SMART: How to Anticipate and Overcome Challenges on Set

with TOM STEVENS

Tom Stevens is an award-winning Vancouver-born actor.  He graduated from Douglas College and quickly built his resume as a film and TV actor here at home while studying intensively with Ben Immanuel at Haven Acting Studio. With several series regular and lead roles under his belt, including Wayward Pines, The 100, and Moonshine, his resume is a reflection of his hard work and persistence.  He lives by the motto: “Nobody will ever outwork me”.

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Tom has spent hundreds of hours in front of the camera as a series regular on TV, and as a lead in films and MOWs. In this class he will utilize challenging scenes from contemporary television shows to closely recreate the fast paced experience of being on set.  From blocking to finals, learn to expect the unexpected and stay focused while delivering your absolute best performance.

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AUDIT POLICY:
To maintain the safest and most focused atmosphere for the students in class, drop-in audits are not available. If you want to speak with an instructor before signing up for a class, however, we are glad to arrange that.

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SCHEDULE:

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THURSDAYS ALL INCLUSIVE (IN PERSON)​

Jan 16 - Mar 6 | 6:00pm - 10:00pm  (Max 10 students)

Total $600 including gst for 8 weeks of class