Workshops
Get an actor’s perspective on directing. Discover how to get to a character’s core.
There are no available registration dates at this time.
Guided by two accomplished actors who have worked with many of today’s greatest living directors, learn the language that can make you an effective director.
What does an actor need from a director in order to deliver the best performance? Communication and collaboration are essential. 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.
Learn how to get what you need from your actors to make your scenes as powerful as possible. Within the crushing time constraints of a working set, it is vital that communication is clear and effective in achieving a mutual understanding, as opposed to becoming an obstacle between the actor and the director. We will explore the most effective modes of communication.
New directors often carry anxieties, inhibitions and false assumptions about how to best talk with their actors. We break down the myths to dispel the anxieties of this relationship and to allow you to get the most from your actors.
The actor’s initiative is a valuable commodity that can add real dimension and heighten the potential of your scenes. Learn how to communicate with your actors in clear language that opens the door to collaboration, initiative and brings powerful dimension to your material.
Through discussion, scene study, character investigation, exercises, rehearsals, improvisation, and review of on-camera work, participants will arrive at a richer understanding of the actor/director relationship and their material. Once participants have explored a scene, it will be put on camera for analysis and discussion. 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.
By the end of the week, you will understand the common language that leads to honest and powerful work.
In addition to being offered on an individual basis, this workshop is also part of the 8-Week Directing intensive.
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Instructor:
Guided by two accomplished actors who have worked with many of today’s greatest living directors, learn the language that can make you an effective director. What does an actor need…
Instructor: Ewen Bremner
Ewen won the BAFTA Scotland Best Actor award for his performance in Trainspotting 2. His many other credits include Wonder Woman, Trainspotting, Snowpiercer, and Black Hawk Down. Ewen has worked with many of the most respected directors in world cinema, including Danny Boyle, Mike Leigh, Ridley Scott, Bong Joon-ho, Woody Allen and Werner Herzog. In 1999, Bremner received critical acclaim and awards for his performance in Harmony Korine's Julien Donkey-Boy. Ewen has also worked extensively in theatre and his credits include God of Hell (Donmar Warehouse), Damascus (Traverse), Trainspotting (Bush Theatre), The Present (Bush Theatre), Gormenghast (Lyric Hammersmith) and The Conquest of the South Pole (Traverse/Royal Court).
