The lovey folks at Dragon*Con have inveigled me to teach an acting workshop in Atlanta this year. I have never been to Dragon*Con before so this should be very, very interesting. I think this will be my chance to really get to know Slave Leia this year.
Below is all the info on the workshop. You will be stuck with me for like 8 hours each day and for that I apologize!
DragonCon Acting Workshops 2012
DragonCon
is
pleased to offer a unique acting workshop over a two day period
by acclaimed actress,
director, and author Amber Benson.
If
you are interested in a career in acting either on the stage or
screen or just
want to polish up your professional skills, here is your chance
to gain
insights, learn skills, and gain insights from the successful.
talented, and
knowledgeable Amber Benson.
Amber Benson is a writer, director and
actor. She
currently writes the CALLIOPE REAPER-JONES paranormal romance
series for
Ace/Roc and her middle grade book, AMONG THE GHOSTS, came out in
paperback this
past fall from Simon and Schuster. As a director, she
co-directed the
Slamdance feature, DRONES - which was picked up for distribution
by Phase Four
Films - and directed (and co-wrote) the BBC animated series, THE
GHOSTS OF
ALBION. Her acting work includes the Steven Soderbergh film,
KING OF THE
HILL, and the indie feature, RACE YOU TO THE BOTTOM, for which
she won the Best
Actress Award at Outfest. She spent three years as Tara Maclay
on the
television series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER.
Dragon*Con is
pleased to offer a
two-day Actor’s Workshop with actress and director Amber Benson. A veteran actress with over
twenty years of
experience, Amber most notably played the character Tara Maclay
for three
seasons on the hit show Buffy
The Vampire
Slayer. As a
director, her films
have played at various film festivals (including the Slamdance
Film Festival in
Park
City) and
her latest film Drones is
available on Netflix streaming
and on Showtime.
This two-day
workshop will include:
BREAKING INTO THE
BUSINESS
We
will talk
about the business aspects of becoming an actor. This will include ‘Getting
an Agent’, ‘The
Audition Process’ and ‘New Media: Using YouTube and The Internet
To Create Your
Own Celebrity’.
AN IMPROV PRIMER
Good Improv skills
are imperative
for any would-be actor. Learn to listen to and interact with
your fellow performers
by playing Improv Games that bolster your confidence in your own
instincts and
help you to relax and enjoy the process of being creative.
CHARACTER BUILDING
Learn to create a
back-story for
your character. This
also includes developing
accents, physical characteristics, etc. that can give you a real
insight into
your character’s internal motivations.
SCENE
BREAKDOWN
Breaking into pairs,
you will work
on two character scenes that will then be performed in front of
your fellow workshop
participants. Each
participant will also
receive a copy of an ‘audition scene’ or ‘sides’ that we will
work on together
during the course of the workshop.
On
Sunday afternoon, each participant will have a ‘mock audition’
that will be recorded
on video and then watched and critiqued. (After the workshop has
concluded, participants
will get a copy of their audition tape via email.)
And a chance to get
personal advice
and ask your questions.
The Workshop
The workshop will
take place on
Thursday, August 30, and Friday, August 31, 2012 from 9AM to
Noon and then from
1PM to 5PM. The cost for
attending the
workshop is $250 per student. This
is a separate
fee from Dragon*Con Membership (also required) and will cover
the cost of the
class. Space is limited
to twenty participants. No
videos of the workshop will be permitted. Space is limited for each workshop. First come, first served. Dragoncon will keep a list
of those who have
applied for admittance once it is filled in case any later
choose to drop
out. Accepted attendees
are asked to
please notify Dragoncon if you find you will unable to attend.
If you
have further
questions, please contact David A. Cherry at dcherry88@tx.rr.com.
I think your class will be excellent Amber as you are incredibly talented and will ahve much wisdom to impart to your students.
ReplyDeleteWow those students are going to be very lucky indeed they couldn't ask for a better teacher! I mean that sincerely your course sounds really interesting. I always wanted be actor. There was something in me that wanted to entertain people and the idea of wanting to be someone else for a while appealed too. Does that make any sense? I never had the courage to try it's too late for me but I'm betting you really help someone to make their mark in the future. I hope you enjoy teaching Amber and I wish I was in your class!
ReplyDeleteI'm going! So excited!
ReplyDeleteSo Amber, what's next? A job at RADA? :-)
ReplyDeleteTo be serious for a minute... the best story-tellers are often the best teachers..... and combining the two would be kinda cool....
Oh, how I wish I could attend. I was at the last three Dragon*Cons, but I won't be there this year. Good luck with the class.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that'd be awesome! Unfortunately, there's no way I could afford that - don't have that kind of money, and can't take that much time off from work.
ReplyDeleteI was in drama for four years in high school, and loved every minute of it! Even getting typecast in my first role.
One year we did a tribute to Dr. Suess, and I was the grump in "Green Eggs & Ham" to open the show (It was a stunt night, so there were performances from the community, as well) and then played Max, the Grinch's dog, at the end. Everyone who came up to me afterwards told me what a fantastic dog I was, but hardly any of them realized I opened the show! And I was the very first thing they saw when the curtains opened, sitting in a chair in the middle of the stage reading "Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine" as Sam I Am paraded by.
Good luck to those lucky 20 people, and have fun, Amber! This sounds like it should be a fantastic learning experience for everyone involved.
I'm quite excited for this class. Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteJoe: Burt Mustin didn't start acting til he was in his 60s.
ReplyDeletePersonally, while I have some real knack for it, I'm basically too inhibited and self-conscious/self-conceited to really do it effectively, plus I know I could never love it enough to do the dues-paying aspect.
But if you ever do a film using Italian social-realism style casting and need a middle-aged fanboy type, call me.
DaddyCatALSO