| On Film Acting: A Lab for Actors, Directors and Writers

Spend a week with one of Hollywood’s most in-demand coaches for actors and directors. Dare to take your work to the next level.

Find out why Catlin Adams is the secret weapon of many A-list stars and directors.

This week-long workshop will focus on scene study, exercises and techniques to take actors and directors more deeply into the dynamics of film acting. Writers wishing to learn powerful tools that will equip them with a more profound way to understand character and dialogue are also encouraged to participate.

What does an actor need from a director in order to deliver the best performance? How do actors, directors and writers embrace the freedom to risk that can lead to breakthroughs?  Preparation sets the stage for compelling and inspired work. Only when you’ve done the work of fully investigating your story and characters can everything else fall into place. Confidence. The willingness to make fear your friend – it’s not magic. It’s craft.

Through scene study, character investigation, exercises, rehearsals, improvisation, and review of on-camera work, participants will arrive at a richer understanding of their material and craft, learn to be present in the moment, and communicate constructively.  By the end of the week, you will understand the common language that leads to honest and powerful work.

The workshop will also cover sensory work, film acting exercises, identifying a character’s core, the value of incorporating physical tasks, and much more.  Once participants have explored a scene, it will be put on camera for analysis and discussion. Students may take their recorded work with them at the end of the week.

To allow the instructor to make recommendations for your preparatory work prior to the workshop, please submit a sample of your work two weeks in advance. If you are an actor, submit a two minute monologue on video (one that you think suits you). Directors should submit a five minute excerpt from their work. Writers should submit a five to ten page excerpt from a script they’ve written, preferably a scene that they wish to investigate more deeply.  

While this workshop may be taken on its own, if you are taking the 8 Week Directing Intensive or staying for the Directing Master Class the following week, you will be able to explore scenes more deeply before shooting them in that workshop.  

When Catlin last taught at Maine Media Workshops, this is what her students said: “The best teacher I have ever had”… “My life, mind, heart, and spirit have been forever changed by your insights and teaching”… “You can’t get an experience like this anywhere else.”… “Every push is necessary, honest, and purely to help. Your giving 100% makes me want to do the same.”

*****

“She is my secret weapon though I do hate to share her.”   

                 Zoe Saldana, actor (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy)

“Catlin demystifies the process, breaks it down, and teaches how to transform technique into art.”

            Darren Aronofsky, director (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, Pi)