OPEN HOUSE SCREENING AT THE GATEWAY - JOIN US!

Halla Jones and Ben Goff in a scene from the
ACTING FOR FILM CLASS

You are invited to attend Acting in Columbus' OPEN HOUSE SCREENING at the GATEWAY FILM CENTER featuring students from our winter sessions. We will be presenting:  

• ACTING FOR TEENS: Commercial and SitCom Clips
• ACTING FOR FILM: Final Scenes
• ADVANCED ACTING FOR FILM: THE JURY - a short film based on the original Teleplay, 12 ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose

WHEN: April 14, 2013 3:00pm

WHERE: Gateway Film Center, 1550 North High Street. 

Tickets are $6.50 - Seating is limited. 

For more information call us: 614-455-0881

UPCOMING AUDITIONS

FILM

STUDENT FILM: GODLESS

It will be filming the week of May 2nd-9th (not every day will be filming that's just how long the whole shoot will run- each role will be scheduled during periods of time during that week)

More about the short film:
Godless tells the story of a group of people trying to find their faith-in each other, in God, and in the great Water Tower that watches over their town. Clinging to moments of ecstasy, running from fear, and tumbling into summer nights in pickup trucks, bedrooms, and open fields- arms open and eyes closed.

The story begins and ends with the disappearance of Aiden Truscott. A teenage boy, blond haired and full of wonder, who is longing to find himself.  Aiden is changed forever after becoming involved with a group of boys who worship the water tower in their town. Life bursts into color for him afterwards. Things once expansive feel close and feel tangible. He is guided on his spiritual journey by the group leader, Lucas Grey. Aiden throws everything else aside for the Tower and for Lucas, including his friendship with good-girl and God-loving, Becky. His disappearance leaves those close to him lost, and left searching for a meaning of what it means to have faith and what it means when that faith is tested.

BREAKDOWN:

JOSHUA: (Actors who can play 16-18) Becomes the driving force of the group when he realizes that the leader, Lucas Grey, might not have his heart in it like he used to.

BECKY ALSTON: (Actors you can play 16-18) Brown curly hair and proper. She is the typical God-Loving good girl, who begins to notice Aiden's decent into his newfound faith and becomes suspicious.

I'll also be looking for 2 other boys for smaller parts (age 16-18) so if there would be anyone interested in being on set for a day and seeing what the whole process is like, but may not have a lot of experience, that could work also.

Send Headshots and Resumes (snapshots ok) to: Director Zeshawn Ali at zsa209@nyu.edu

INDEPENDENT FEATURE: Wings of the Wind

We would like to begin by first saying a big "Thank You". In the summer of 2011 you helped us get the word out to actors in the area about auditions for our independent feature "The Light of Freedom". The cast for the film was made up entirely of Ohio area actors, many of whom came from a direct result of Acting in Columbus. We filmed in the spring of 2012 and editing is complete. 

We are preparing to hold our first round of auditions on March 22nd and March 23rd for our next independent feature, "Wings of the Wind", which will be an inspirational family film set in the time era right after World War II. We will be auditioning for both primary roles and day actors/extras. We will also have a round of auditions in April.

Men and women of all ages and ethnicities are welcome to audition. More information and our audition registration form can be found at www.kicksflicks.org - We would greatly appreciate your help in spreading news about this upcoming audition! We look forward to filling another great cast with excellent Ohio area actors.

Thanks!

Tony Robinson
Executive Director
KICKS Flicks
--------------------
www.kicksflicks.org

THEATRE








We still have available roles in this summer's 2013

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, dir. Jocelyn Wiebe
BIANCA- female, 20s, ingenue, experience with verse and comedy. 
THE WIDOW- female, 30s-40s, verse and comedy

HENRY IV, PART ONE, dir Robert Behrens
LADY PERCY- female, 20s, wife of Hotspur, experience with verse
LADY MORTIMER- female, 20s, experienced singer, dialects (Welsh)
MISTRESS QUICKLY- female, age flexible, bawdy mistress of the Boar's Head Tavern.
SIR WALTER BLUNT- male, 20-30s, experience with stage combat

All positions are paid. Rehearsals begin May 7. Season runs until July 30 with a possible extension to August 4. Please send a headshot and resume to info@newplayers.org.


Columbus Children's Theatre

OPEN Auditions for CCT's Summer Youth Conservatory

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR

When: April 14 & 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM - Callbacks are April 16 at 7:00 PM

Where: Columbus Children's Theatre's Park Street Theatre 512 Park St. Columbus, OH 43215   

CCT’s Summer Youth Performance Conservatory is a six week in-depth ½ day training program for musical theatre actors ages 10–15. Each day begins with acting and dance classes followed by rehearsal for a very special two week run of Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. on the CCT stage. Audition does not require registration. Roles will be assigned the first week on conservatory.
CCT is hoping to bring this production to the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta January 17-20, 2014. More details will be announced as they are received. 

Actors should come with a one minute cutting of a Disney or musical theatre song and sheet music. Accompanist will be provided (no tapes or CDs). Please bring a current resume and a photo (snapshot is fine). Dress comfortably and wear shoes you can dance in (flip-flops, sandals or bare feet will not be permitted).

Conservatory Schedule: Monday – Friday, 1:00 – 4:30 PM, beginning June 24 
Performance Schedule: August 7 - 18, 2013 
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Fridays at 10:00 AM and 7:30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 and 3:00 PM

Tuition: $300 

Performed by CCT’s Summer Youth Performance Conservatory (ages 10-15) and adapted from Disney’s 2008 Broadway production, Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. features the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She’s in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea." 

WEEKEND ACTING BOOT CAMP

Friday/Saturday/Sunday 
March 22-24, 2013 $350

Click here to REGISTER

Weekend Acting Boot Camp is designed for the beginner who want intensive training over a short period of time or the rusty actor who needs to get back on top of their game. Boot Camp will give you a strong foundation in acting techniques as well as a firm grasp of the nuts and bolts of scene work and audition skills.

Your Boot Camp will consist of no more than eight students who will discover together that acting is probably the most challenging and thrilling thing they have ever done. You will learn that if  indeed this is for you and you stick with it, you will not only acquire a skill, but you will do something quite extraordinary with your life.

FRIDAY 7-9:30pm: Orientation Students will learn how to actively pursue objectives, creating character, and making choices based on the Super-Objective of the character.

SATURDAY 10am-6pm: Acting for Film/Scene Study - Begin work on subtext and objectives, gaining an understanding of the basic mechanics of playing a scene truthfully.

Audition/Cold Reading Techniques: Learn audition techniques that will help you get the part. Understand the audition process and learn what a casting director is looking for in an audition.

Getting a scene "cold", making powerful acting choices, listening and answering in the  moment as you fully commit to your acting partner and your objective in the scene. Your auditions will be filmed and you'll receive feedback from the instructor.

SUNDAY 1-8pm: Acting for TV Commercials: Learn how to audition for and break into the local  commercial and industrial industry. Experience with the actual audition process:  You'll work on-camera all day doing both prepared and cold readings, and receive  plenty of feedback from your instructor.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

In their own words, Brent Hampson, currently in the MFA program at the ACTOR'S  STUDIO in New York and Hanani Taylor, currently in LA for Pilot Season, gives us an update on what's happening with their careers now. 

BRENT HAMPSON

Hey Rick,

I can't believe I've been out here this long and haven't checked in with you yet, time seems to be moving so much faster now, but I apologize.

School is absolutely amazing. I finally feel like I'm where I belong and with the right people. I love everything I get to do each day and feel like I'm learning more than I can keep up with. My basic technique class is has been a life changing experience. They're really focusing on opening us up and freeing the artistic expression. We've done animal work, private moments, tons of sensory work of course, and effective memories. We're moving into character work now, then we'll start preparing for our festival performances. 

I was cast in a directors piece so I will be in two performances at the end of the year. The work I'm doing in my voice class is helping me greatly. Its Linklater work, which I'm really enjoying. I've found a lot of places in my body where my voice was being blocked and working on ways to free it. We're moving into resonator work this week. Theater History is a  very interesting class, even though I'm probably the least well read person in the program, its great to live and breath this stuff every day. 

Being in New York is really just the icing on the cake. Its so great to be able to pop into a random off-broadway theater on any given night and see a quality show. I've seen a few shows on Broadway so far; Grace, with Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon. Glenn Gary Glen Ross, with Al Pacino. Once the musical and Peter and the Star Catcher. So far we've had Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Liam Neeson and Tina Fey visit our school. The most exciting moment for me though was meeting James Lipton. He's a hero to me, so being able to shake his hand was so surreal. Once again Rick, I can't thank you enough for kicking my butt and pointing me out here. I can't remember a time in my life when I was so excited to get up every morning.

Hope all is well with you

Brent 

HANANI TAYLOR

Hey Rick

We are doing lots of things in LA. 'Nani sang the soundtrack and was a part of a music video that was presented in February at the Pan African Film Festival in LA. The video ran in the Rave theaters in LA during the festival. This is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUN1UUtcj8. 

'Nani also had 6 producer call backs in 2012 in LA for Nickelodeon, Disney, ABC Family and the Martin Lawrence sitcom which was to be on CBS. At the Martin Lawrence sitcom audition she was among the six finalists to play his daughter and son. The group included Conner Cruise (Tom's son), Tequan Richmond (Everybody Hates Chris), Paige Hurd (Everybody Hates Chris) and Sydney Park (That's So Raven). It was quite an honor for her to be in a group of finalists, and sitting in the same waiting room, that included these well known young actors.

In LA, Hanani studies acting under Carnetta Jones. Carnetta is coach to Megan Goode and many other celebrities. Check her out at http://carnettajones.com/. Everyone (coaches, casting directors and producers) is amazed at Hanani's acting skills, energy, interpretation of characters, cold read abilities, ability to follow instructions, etc. As her first acting coach, we thank you for teaching her and sticking with her. There were some tough moments but you knew how to bring out the best in her. She wouldn't be the actor that she is if not for you. Last week she had a 3 hour casting director workshop with Pam Frazier. Pam was so impressed with Hanani that she told her that she would be looking for something for her. Check out Pam athttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0996878/. She did casting for "Stomp The Yard" and "Notorious" among others.

    We've got lots of irons in the fire for 2013. Last week, Nani recorded at Studio City Sound in Studio City, CA. Rod Stewart was recording in the room next to her. And by the way, Nani is also Miss Columbus Teen 2013. Check her out at http://www.misscolumbusteen.com/#!

Robin Stith (Hanani's Mother)

IMPROV CLASSES AT THE FUNNYBONE

Introduction to Improvisation Class

with JEFF GAGE

Starts: Sunday April 14^th From 1 to 3:30PM

This class is for beginners or those with little to no prior improvisational training. As always the class with conclude with a class performance for invited friends and family on May 21^st

           

CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED SO SIGN UP NOW!

To Register call Jeff Gage at 614-638-8711 

or email me at: MCTDshow@Hotmail.com  

Visit our website at www.improv-Columbus.com

CRAFT NOTES by Ed Hooks

THE CAREER VIEW FROM 35,000 FEET

One of the most useful advantages of having been in show biz for so long is the broad view of the industry you get. If you liken an acting career to the flight of an airplane, the early years are crop-dusters. You are trying so hard to stay aloft and not choke on the dust that you can only see the rows of new plants growing down there. Later in your career, if you manage to make enough money to refuel the aircraft on a regular basis, you start flying the New York - Los Angeles route. Now you can see the changing landscape, mountains and fields and cities, each one inviting you to land and try the local fruit, but you can't do that because you are committed to the east coast - west coast red-eye. You are getting small roles on TV shows now, in addition to commercials and the occasional play. There is not going to be a revision to the flight plan at this point.

If you are lucky, the red-eye schedule eventually transitions into international trips, and the view becomes more global. From 35,000 feet, which is where I fly these days, the curve of the earth is occasionally visible, and you notice that there are relatively fewer aircraft at this altitude.  That's because most of the pilots simply run out of fuel somewhere along the way.

Air travel may be a silly metaphor for a career in the arts, but it works for me because I think a lot about the challenges facing a new career-oriented actor trying to get herself off the ground, launched.  How exactly does an actor make a living and graduate from crop dusting to flying the red-eye?  The entire income model for an actor in the U.S. is changing and is barely recognizable to actors of the previous generation. Just a few years ago, SAG members were earning more from commercial residuals than from television and movies combined, but an actor today cannot count on that.  Advertisers are migrating from the TV networks to the Internet, and the pay-for-play residual format is not going to work.  It is virtually impossible to track advertising on a per-use basis in this digital age that includes pop-up ads and "dynamic (airline style, revise hourly) pricing".  Some Internet giants, such as Amazon.com, Netflix and Hulu, are starting to look similar to the 1950's commercial model in which an advertiser is the actual producer of a show.

Check out Texaco Star Theater and Kraft Music Hall for examples of what I am talking about. Nobody can reliably predict where this is heading, but we do have a few pieces of the puzzle clearly visible. Upwardly mobile actors should take heed.
1. Television networks are modern day dinosaurs.  Pay-for-Play is endangered.  Advertising is moving to the Internet.  Union contracts on Internet use are still primitive to non-existent.
2. The big movie and television studios are losing their monopoly control of production and exhibition.  It is possible now for you and three like-minded friends to make a movie in your garage.  If you have a script,  two or three Apple computers and some digital equipment, you are good to go.  Need financing?  Check out Kickstarter.com.  Need distribution?  Talk to the folks at Netflix.
3. Motion Capture technology is maturing, and actors are going to have to live with it.  Acting schools will soon be including instruction about what to do in the odd-looking mocap suit.
4. Unusual and innovative forms of entertainment are sprouting, often hybrids of several forms, like re-mixing music and bringing Tupac back to life at Coachella. Take a quick look at this 2009 Israeli-made video that turned up on YouTube. Don't you love it? Cool! Here is how it was made. But there are no established pay scales for this kind of work. Until and unless the performing unions get contracts in place, the actor is pretty much on her own in negotiations.
5. Acting on stage never changes. It is life blood for an actor, and it is almost impossible to make a decent living by doing it. You do it because you love it.

The career view from 35,000 feet indicates that Shakespeare got it right in As You Like It: "All the world is a stage." Everything changes, and nothing changes, right? There never has been a rational reason for pursuing a career in the arts. Acting more closely resembles religion than a profession. You jump in and then figure out how to pay the rent. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  Amen.

BOOKS OF THE MONTH

Acting: A Handbook of the Stanislavski Method by Toby Cole (Compiler), Lee Strasberg (Introduction)
Reset and redesigned to offer a fresh look, this is an essential, comprehensive guide to the art and science of acting, as taught by the creator and great teachers of the Stanislavski Method.


Acting for the Camera: Revised Edition by 

Tony Barr 

Culled from Tony Barr's 40 years' experience as a performer, director and acting teacher in Hollywood, this highly praised handbook provides readers with the practical knowledge they need when performing in front of the camera. This updated edition includes plenty of new exercises for honing on-camera skills; additional chapters on imagination and movement; and fresh material on character development, monologues, visual focus, playing comedy and working with directors. Inside tips on the studio system and acting guilds make it particularly helpful for people new to the business, and numerous anecdotes from actors such as Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins and examples from current movies illustrate its many lessons. It is perfect for acting classes, workshops, all actors who work in front of the camera -- and all those who want to.