Diploma Program - Course Outline
Film Acting Diploma
THIS PROGRAM IS APPROVED AS A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM UNDER THE ONTARIO CAREER COLLEGES ACT 2005
FULL-TIME IN-PERSON FOUR MONTH PROGRAM
Month One:
Screen Acting Basics • Emotional Flexibility • Script Analysis • On-Set Protocol
Toronto Academy of Acting for Film & Television Inc. students will be introduced to Screen acting. Coursework emphasizes training for the naturalist portrayal of character, the most frequent style in film. Students throughout months one to four will learn to work within the confines of a tight shooting schedule, how to effectively gauge performance levels from the Master shot to extreme close-Ups while maintain emotional and physical continuity, become proficient in hitting multiple marks within a shot set up and come to understand the rules of onset etiquette and protocol.
Students will also be introduced in the first month to Acting Fundamentals & Script Interpretation. Part of the training will have the students focus on emotional embodiment for the actor. The biggest trap for actors is to avoid emotions or push emotions in a scene. Students will learn to express authentically using themselves, trusting themselves and allowing themselves to be an emotional reservoir. In order to work as an actor in the entertainment industry one must have 100% emotional flexibility. An actor must be emotionally available on camera, otherwise they will not appeal to directors, casting directors or producers. Students will gain the tools to analyze a script, build a character that honors the script writer’s intention and stay true to the story while shooting their scenes. Students will learn a number of ways to access any emotions with ease. A series of fun and intense exercises will teach students to open up and live in the given circumstances of the character. Students will learn to become comfortable revealing vulnerability, as well as how to regain a sense of wellbeing after difficult scenes.
Month Two:
Method Acting Skills • Emotional Memory • Voiceover Techniques
Toronto Academy of Acting for Film & Television Inc. students will now be introduced to film scenes that incorporate Method Acting. The technique, to achieve realism in acting by relying on sense memory, imagination, personal life history and personal emotions and triggering their effective emotional memory. It is one of the many ways we teach students to bring depth into their portrayal of a character and make their performance jump off screen.
Toronto Academy of Acting for Film & Television Inc. students will also be introduced to Voice for the Camera “Voiceover” Students will learn the essential element foundation in the art of voice action for commercials, animations and various other genres. The course will also cover vocal health, understanding how the instrument works for microphone, script analysis, vocal technique, vocal placement, the audition process and animation/commercial demo creation.
Month Three:
Business of Acting • Resumes & Headshots • Scene Shooting • Demo Reel Prep
It is imperative for actors to understand the business side of their careers. This course “The Business Management of your acting career” will present a series of special guest speakers who will provide an overview of the Canadian film & television industry. Guests will include talent agents, film/television producers/directors, professional film actors, industry photographers, casting directors and an accountant. Students will learn how to prepare a resume that stands out, what is a good head shot, the difference between non union and union film & television projects, what to wear to an audition and may other valuable information every actor who is starting out needs to know.
In month three students will now apply the full spectrum of skills they have learned by practicing the on location shoot exercises as students increase their knowledge of the filming process, and where physical and emotional continuity is needed to fulfill the technical requirements of a role. Students will learn to work within the confines of a tight shooting schedule, how to effectively gage performance levels from a Master shot to extreme close-ups, how to become proficient in hitting multiple marks with a shot set up and come to understand the rules of onset etiquette and protocol. Each student will be directed in a scene from a feature film script of their choosing. Four scenes from the program chosen by the student & Director will be professionally edited to present to potential talent agents, casting directors, producers and film directors.
Month Four:
Self-Taping Auditions • Commercial Acting • Cold Reading • Mock Auditions
Students will train and understand the different types of commercials, learn scripted material in a timely manner as well as work on improvisation techniques. Students will also learn how to do auditions by self-tape, learn how to upload their audition and sent to their agent as well as learn what equipment an actor needs to do self-tapes. A mock audition will also take place in the studio with a potential guest (i.e. professional actor, Director) watching the mock audition.
From time to time our students have an opportunity while training to work on a non union set if the opportunity presents itself during training.
Students will wrap up the fourth month with training in “How to audition for Film & Television”. Students will learn what works and what doesn’t, and get to create their own tool box of techniques learned from the instructor, and other drop in guests, handouts and integrating the 12 guideposts of Michael Shurtleff based on his bestselling book : Audition “. Students will be exposed to cold reading techniques, audition etiquette and protocol with a mock audition set up for the last day in class. Students will also learn what technical equipment and editing “apps” they need in order to produce a professional self tape for their talent agent and casting director.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Toronto Academy of Acting for Film & Television Inc. reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
Step Into the Spotlight
WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO LEARN IN PERSON OR ON LINE IN OUR PART TIME FILM ACTING CLASSES, Our film acting courses are designed for adults who want to dive deep into the craft of on-camera performance. Whether you choose to learn in person or online, our classes provide a hands-on, immersive experience that focuses on key acting techniques and audition skills for film and television.