| First Year Courses |
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Acting Fundamentals
Acting Fundamentals I, II and III: This 3 semester class helps the inexperienced actor develop his/her skills through physical warm-ups, proper vocal technique, and theatre games. Students will learn to perform comedic, dramatic, classical, and contemporary monologues and scenes at the most basic level. Emphasis is on moment-to-moment spontaneity, the understanding that real doing creates real life, active listening, emotional preparation and the personalization of simple dramatic texts.
Actor's Voice Workshop I
Actor’s Voice Workshop I: This class focuses on all the physical aspects of speech. Emphasis is placed on how to make sounds properly, effectively use the muscles of the tongue and lips to build words and communicate through text. This class is perfect for international students who would like to work further on their English pronunciation and American students to improve diction and enunciation.
Accent Reduction I
Accent Reduction I: Introduction and proper production of all the sounds of American English. Focus on individual pronunciation problems. Text work includes short poems, readings, and tongue-twisters. Introduction to the importance of the musical elements of American English (i.e., rhythm, phrasing, intonation, rate of speech, pitch, pauses, word stress, reductions, liaisons, ellisions, etc...)
Movement for Actors
Movement for Actors I: This class gives an overview of various styles of dance: tap, ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and salsa. Students will also learn techniques for being comfortable on stage based on postures and stance. First year acting students learn the expressive potential of their bodies while learning simple dance steps
Essential Cinema Studies I
Essential Cinema Studies I: This class presents films that represent all eras of Hollywood and independent film making. By watching the films, students learn about historical events that shaped the movie industry. Through readings of published works, students gain a deeper understanding of the history of film.
Singing Fundamentals
Singing Fundamentals: This class is designed for beginning students to understand basic singing technique. The focus is on body alignment, posture, and breathing exercises in order to create a natural singing and speaking voice. Vocal exercises and group songs will be used to promote healthy phonation and train the voice for musical preparation. Emphasis is placed on creating acting scenes with music.
Accent Reduction II
Accent Reduction II: Review and perfection of all the sounds of American English. This class shifts focus from the production of the individual sounds of English to connected speech. More advanced text is used to address issues of rhythm, phrasing, intonation, rate of speech, pitch, pauses, word stress, reductions, liaisons, elisions, etc...
Yoga for Actors
Yoga for Actors: This class teaches freedom in the body and focus in the mind, based in vinyasa or flow based yoga. Actors gain a basic knowledge of beginning poses, including Sun Salutations, forward and back bends, balancing poses, and inversions. A yoga sticky mat is required.
Beginning Music Theory
Beginning Music Theory: This class is designed to teach students how to prepare for musical auditions through a basic knowledge of music theory and singing. Students will learn to read music, build basic intervals and chords, and gain an understanding of simple chord progressions. Two exams, Mid-term and Final, will be given to assess the students’ progress throughout the semester.
Stage Combat
Stage Combat: This class teaches students how to perform fight sequences on stage and in film in effective and harmless ways. Students learn to use props, such as staffs and swords, to further their acting abilities through combat. Gymnastic skills, tae kwon do, and karate will also be included.
Jazz Performance
Jazz Performance: This class focuses on the contemporary style of hip-hop and jazz dance, challenging students with club moves, breaking, and modern interpretations of dance. Proper dance shoes are required.
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| Second Year Courses |
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Scene Study I
Scene Study I: This class is designed to move the actor forward. Monologues will be performed in different ways by the actor, exploring behavioral and character choices. Scenes will be limited to contemporary theatre with no classical/stylized writing. The actors will work on scenes in which he/she might be cast, and will deepen with intense analysis through the breakdown of beats, entrances, personal needs of the character, playwright and individual actor’s experience. Relaxation exercises will prepare the actor to focus on all required tasks of getting on stage in front of an audience or in front of the camera.
Vocal Performance Workshop
Actor’s Voice Workshop II: This class applies the work from Actor’s Voice I to scenes and short plays. Actors explore how to use their voices correctly through the written word, putting into action all the physical and emotional work learned and explored.
Script Analysis
Script Analysis: This class seeks to improve upon a student’s ability to assess and interpret copy in various formats. Texts are examined word by word to discover the underlying meaning behind the phrases on paper. Students learn to build upon the higher stakes of the dialogue and further enhance the characterization of the copy. Teachers use film and television scripts as well as plays and scenes written by the students as tools for the analysis
Advanced Music Theory/
Advanced Music Theory: This class builds on the students’ knowledge of basic music theory at an advanced level. Students will learn more complicated chords and chord progressions, transposition skills, basic composition, and part-writing. Two exams, Mid-term and Final, will be given to assess the students’ progress throughout the semester.
Hip Hop Performance Class
Hip-hop Performance Class: This class focuses on the contemporary style of hip-hop dance, challenging students with club moves, breaking, and modern interpretations of dance. Proper dance shoes are required.
On Camera Workshop I
On Camera Workshop I: This acting class allows the student to work on scripts from TV and film in front of the camera. Emphasis is placed on the moment-to-moment listening, taking directions, and working with fixed points and marks. Various genres of camera acting will be explored including sitcom, soap opera, romantic comedy, and action or police drama.
Dramatic Literature
Dramatic Literature: This course covers the origins of Theatre up to today and beyond. It will attempt to give the student a concise knowledge of the history of theatre and the methods to perform it. Starting with Greco-Roman drama and leading up to the 21st century, the student will learn why, even today, plays from two and a half millennia ago are still being performed.
This course is a practical representation of the past and students will be expected to work on scenes and movement.
Film Maker's Workshop
Film Maker’s Workshop: In this class, students learn to write a 3 minute camera ready screenplay, fully create a shooting script, and produce, cast, and direct their project. Both the creative and business sides of film-making are studied, including how to cut corners and work within a budget without sacrificing artistic needs. This class is taught at the school and also at various shooting locations in the LA area.
Stage Make-Up
Stage Make-Up: This class will allow students to learn the basics of applying theatrical make up for stage productions and still photography. Within this class students will learn how various styles of makeup application can enhance and define character portrayals. The technical aspects that are explored here are aging a character, lighting efficacy, and some special effect work.
Actor's Voice Workshop II
Vocal Performance Workshop: This class is for the more advanced singer/performer. Students will build on their existing vocal technique and be challenged with vocal exercises and solo performances. Based on the idea of a musical performer as a singer, actor, and dancer, this class emphasizes movement, character development, vocal technique and performance
Essential Cinema Studies II
Essential Cinema Studies II: This class is a continuation of Essential Cinema Studies I and presents more films that represent all eras of Hollywood and independent film making. By watching the films, students learn about historical events that shaped the movie industry. Through readings of published works, students gain a deeper understanding of the history of film.
Comedic Acting
Comedic Acting/Improv: This class is specifically for students to drop their inhibitions and learn to take risks in comedy to find out what makes one funny. Students learn to play off each other, discover new techniques to use to help elevate a scene to a comedic peak and take risks in a situation that they may not know what to do with. Class content may vary each semester, focusing on Comedic Acting, Improvisation, and Sketch Comedy.
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| Third Year Courses |
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Scene Study II
Scene Study II: This class is by audition only. The most advanced actors are challenged to develop one person shows, based on personal experience and/or imagination. Scenes, involving 2, 3, or 4 actors on stage together, range from classical to contemporary. Actors also get the opportunity to direct each other in scenes that are written in class. Actors are expected to know how to completely break down, research, and analyze any stage play and movie script.
Scriptwriting
Scriptwriting: This class teaches the proper way to format a script, combining correct craft with talent. Students learn how to power through writer’s block and how to differentiate between rewrites and a polished script, through a step-by-step approach. Many Hollywood actors got their start as screen writers first, including Sylvester Stallone, Chazz Palmantieri, and Nia Vardalous!
Business of Acting
Business of Acting: This class covers every aspect of the business side of an actor’s life. Topics included are union vs. non-union, headshots and resumes, the right agent or manager, interviews, casting directors, organization, marketing, networking, budgeting, taxes, grooming, wardrobe, and much more.
Audition Technique
Audition Technique: This class teaches the student how to audition for professional work. Students learn what is expected at the audition, how to bring quick preparation to cold readings, monologues, on-camera, and callback situations. Emphasis is placed on bringing art to any material, making bold choices, and creating lasting impressions in the minds of the auditors.
Showcase Performance/
Showcase Performance Workshop: This class is for the advanced student who is ready to showcase his/her abilities to agents, managers, and casting directors. Each student performs monologues and scenes, to develop a product in which to present to industry professionals. All aspects of marketing for the show, booking the theatre, performances, and networking are included in the class. Additional fees apply.
Shakespeare Performance Workshop
Shakespeare Performance Workshop: This class allows students the chance to study the works of “the greatest playwright of all time.” Starting with sonnets and continuing with monologues, scenes, and plays, students learn the language, style, and performance practice related to Shakespeare. Students perform their work at the end of each semester.
Musical Performance/
Musical Production Workshop: This class teaches students how to prepare and perform musical showcases which feature ensembles (as opposed to solo singing). Throughout the semester, the students will be able to use their talents to create characters, learn repertoire, and work with their fellow students in order to present a final performance. Additional class fees may apply.
Play Production Workshop
Play Production Workshop: This class is by audition only, all levels are encourage to audition. One-act plays will be picked that range in comedic and dramatic themes by the finest playwrights. The teacher will direct the one-act play, but sometimes will also have a student director for a second one-act play in the same semester. Plays are cast from auditions, and additional positions of stage manager and sound designer will be assigned. Agents and casting directors will be invited to performances.
Commercial Acting Technique
Commercial Acting Technique: This class focuses all necessary elements of being a commercial actor. Students learn how to get a commercial agent, how to improvise at an audition, the business of commercial acting, and how to book paying union work.
On Camera Workshop II
On Camera Workshop II: This acting class allows the student to work on scripts from TV and film in front of the camera. Emphasis is placed on the moment-to-moment listening, taking directions, and working with fixed points and marks. Various genres of camera acting will be explored including sitcom, soap opera, romantic comedy, and action or police drama.
Demo Reel
Demo Reel: Getting work in Hollywood can be very hard. What is having talent if you have no forum to show it off? How many times have casting/managers/agents asked to see a video of your work? Demo Reel class gives students the ability to showcase their skills in DVD/video format. Every student will have at least one scene created for their own professional demo reel.
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