One-Year Hands-on Conservatory Acting Program

While many people are born with natural acting talent or catch the “acting bug” performing in productions on stage, the ability to excel as an actor in front of a camera requires considerably more training and experience. After all, not many people can simply go onto a set and deliver a convincing performance again and again while contending with the innumerable distractions and demands of a film or television set. At New York Film Academy South Beach, we have created a concentrated program designed to train aspiring screen actors in the skills and professional know-how required to achieve their acting goals while getting the opportunity to study in the beautiful city of Miami.

The One-Year Acting for Film Program at New York Film Academy South Beach held at our Miami location is divided into two semesters. The first semester concentrates on building a foundation in the acting craft, and the second semester works on applying it to screen acting. During the first semester, students participate in a broad array of class work that introduces them to, and trains them in, the leading acting techniques.

First semester courses include Acting for Film, Technique and Scene Study, Voice and Speech, and Movement. These courses build towards a fully realized performance in a staged production. In the first semester, students are armed with the techniques and confidence they need to create believable performances for the camera in the second semester and beyond.

In the second semester, in addition to attending classes, students apply what they have learned to a series of on-camera exercises, both in-class and on-location film shoots, as well as collaborative work with filmmakers. The camera exercises are designed to develop their screen acting ability. Second semester courses build on the work done in the first semester. At the end of the semester each student in good standing performs in a digitally taped production, which will be edited and can become a part of his or her acting reel. In addition, students will participate in a presentation performed in front of an invited audience, instructors, and classmates.

In short, students not only master the technical and aesthetic demands of acting on film, but are also trained in the audition and networking skills that will be essential to succeeding in a highly competitive industry.

Learning Objectives

The educational objectives of New York Film Academy South Beach’s One-Year Acting for Film Program are to instruct students in the art and craft of acting for film and television by offering a strict regimen consisting of lectures, seminars, and total immersion workshops designed to help them excel in the creative art of acting.

Skills learned as a result of successful completion of this program include:

• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a high pressure creative environment.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with the art and craft of acting for film.
• Experience with multiple modern and classical approaches to performance, script interpretation, and character formation.

In order to successfully complete the One-Year Acting Program, students must study and perform scenes that demonstrate that they have gained a working knowledge of the following skills:

• Acting for Film
• Voice and Speech
• Movement
• Filmcraft
• Scene Study
• Meisner
• Improvisation

Semester One Objectives

From the first day of classes, students are immersed in a hands-on education. They rapidly learn the fundamental creative and technical skills they need to act in motion pictures. All students participate in an intensive sequence of classes in Technique and Scene Study I (plays), Acting for Film I, Voice and Speech I, Movement I, Film Craft, and Introduction to Film.

Learning Goals:

• Understand the fundamental principles of acting for film.
• Grounding in classical scene study and acting techniques.
• Fundamentals of script and text analysis.
• Survey and examination of film studies from a film actor’s perspective.
• Exposure and practice in a variety of vocal and movement techniques.

Production Goals:

• Perform in a live monologues or scene presentation.
• Shoot in-class on camera exercises for weekly critique.
• Participate in a Film Craft shoot.
• Participate in a shoot with filmmaking students.

Semester Two Objectives

The second semester of the One-Year Acting Program enables students to continue developing as actors by challenging their range and moving beyond their “comfort zone.” The second semester consists of a sequence of classes in Technique and Scene Study II, Acting for Film II, Voice and Speech II, Movement II, and Improvisation. Acting for Film II students will also have the opportunity to collaborate with film students on Sync Sound Production Workshop projects, and shoot a short film project on location with professional staff. All instruction and film exercises are geared towards helping students complete their individual projects and production goals. A series of Special Lectures by industry professionals will also be held at our Miami location.

Learning Goals:

• Intermediate training in acting principles.
• Grounding in intermediate scene study and acting for film.
• Intermediate training in vocal, movement, and improvisation work.
• Exposure to basic visual media production.
• Experience working in a collaborative environment with filmmakers.

Production Goals:

• Perform in a short film.
• Perform in a film directed by student filmmakers.
• Perform in an in-class taped Improvisation presentation.
• Perform in a taped, year-end, in-class live presentation.