Start with a strong foundation, add the tools that are needed, build as you grow, let passion be your guide to give you strength to persevere, be patient, and true. Be the best you!
Foundation 1 & 2, Phase I, II & III are courses that reflect MSOPA’s philosophy of providing actors with training that best helps them to develop and enhance the skills of their craft. Each level of Phase work moves in a natural progression, challenging actors to take the next step in their training. We aim to instill in our students a sense of professionalism while allowing them to grow as creative actors within a safe, encouraging environment.
Foundation is an introductory acting class where actors are introduced to basic techniques and skills. Emphasis is placed on developing an initial set of tools, including improvisational skills, inner monologue, body and sensory awareness. Students will work with short monologues which will encourage them to make choices, begin developing character, and to use their imaginations. The focus of the Foundation course is to begin building a basic set of skills that will be further explored.
IN STUDIO 7 weeks – 18 hrs. (Last 2 classes /3hrs per)
Techniques will become more specific as students continue to develop an initial set of acting skills and tools. The techniques introduced in the Foundation 1 course will be applied and built upon, and increased emphasis is placed on making choices, developing character, and using the imagination. Student will work on contemporary scenes for Film, TV or Stage, utilizing imagination, breaking down the thought process behind the lines, improving on emotions and intuition.
Students will also be introduced to Movement and Vocal work. The well-trained actor is able to use his/her body and voice to communicate effectively with an audience.
IN STUDIO LIMITED SPACE 8 weeks – 20 hrs.
Phase I grows out of the Foundation courses. Technique will become more specific as students continue to develop an initial set of acting skills and tools. The techniques introduced in the Foundation courses will be applied and built upon, and increased emphasis is placed on making choices, developing character, and using the imagination. Students are encouraged to begin thinking independently, creating an individual work ethic which allows them to grow as self-motivated actors. These skills will be used as students work to create characters through monologue work.
Students will continue to incorporate Movement and Vocal work. In Phase I, students will be given physical exercises designed to make them actively aware of their bodies, and giving them the opportunity to explore circumstance through physical movement. Voice work will consist of becoming aware of the breath, and learning to sustain vocal energy on stage through various vocal exercises.
In the last class, MSOPA will host a “Mock tail” party. During the evening the actors will mingle with an invited audience from the acting community in an improvisational setting, present their written monologues, and then conclude the event with a Q&A period.
9 weeks – 25 hrs. + 3 shows
Drawing on the skills already acquired in Foundation – Phase I students will be introduced to more sophisticated and specific techniques of acting by Work on a one act play (s).
students will work on how to use the story of a play to develop in depth character, analyzing scenes, follow stage and on camera direction.
In this workshop the Short plays will be performed over a weekend for a live paying audience.
LIMITED SPACE (10 MAX) 4 weeks – 6 hrs.
Finding your own voice, Style, Technique, Delivery Commercials (Hard Sell- Soft Sell) Corporate Narration, Animation, auditions, and marketing yourself.
LIMITED SPACE (10 MAX) 4 weeks – 6 hrs.
VOICEOVER II is a continuation of the VOICEOVER I workshop which will cover: – Making a demo, how to find voice work, and more voice tips and techniques, for long form commercials, narration, video games, etc.
In- Studio
LIMITED SPACE (10 MAX) 4 weeks – 10 hrs.
IN STUDIO LIMITED SPACE 6 weeks /15 HRS
Have you ever wanted to perform in a Broadway show? Have you ever inquired whether you have “the chops” to sing? This workshop students will be exposed to proper vocal technique, diction, basic acting for singers and movement.
Students are required to come to class prepared to sing a song. by the fourth week the class will have an accompanist to play along in order to give you the proper vocal experience. A recital will be performed by the students at the end of the session.
IN STUDIO 8 weeks – 20 hrs.
Musical theatre 2 will continue to work on proper vocal technique, diction, movement, and basic acting for singers.
Students will prepare and choregraph from a selection of Broadway’s musical songs, Singers will have an accompanist to play along to give the proper vocal experience.
A Tribute to Broadway performance/ production Showcase in the final class
IN PERSON– LIMITED SPACE (MAX 10) 4 weeks – 8 hrs.
Improvisational comedy covers all the basics: listening, making offers, accepting offers, character work, scene building, and much more.
LIMITED SIZE (8 MAX.) 4 CLASSES – 4 HRS
Cold Reading is an essential skill for an actor and voice over actors. Being able to quickly prepare for a role as well as being flexible and following modifications or suggestions shows casting directors that you can take direction and able to adjust your performance as required.
Thirty minutes before the workshop students will be sent a selection of short monologues. Each student will choose one monologue to prepare and then perform it during that class.
IN PERSON LIMITED SIZE (max 10) 4 wks. 10 hrs
Unique Workshop in Montreal since 2012
Saturday Night Live…Baroness Von Sketch Show… The Second City Project…Key and Peele!
Final showcase performance at a Live venue or recorded and streamed live!
Learn the skills and techniques of both improv and sketch comedy. Learn to create memorable scenes and characters, whether they be improvised or scripted.
SCHEDULE / REGISTRATION
LIMITED SIZE (max 10) 6 wks. 12 hrs.
Comedy for actors is a specialized course for those with previous acting or performance experience to acquire and/or brush up on the craft of comedic acting. The course will focus on a variety of specific comedy performances skills: improv comedy, sketch comedy performance and mastering comic monologues and scenes for stage and screen.
Intermediate – Advanced
IN STUDIO 4 WKS/10 HRS
ONLINE 4 WKS/6 HRS
LIMITED SIZE (MAX. 8)
This class is perfect for the actor who has been away from the craft for a while or the actor who wants to refine their auditioning skills.
Actors will work intensively on various scenes with different acting partners each week. Your ability to make active, personal choices is essential for dynamic auditions and performances.
Limited space (max 8) 5 weeks-7.5 hrs.
Learn how the online audition process works for casting film, television, and commercials, as well as what the Casting Director and/or Director expects of you. Actors will receive a text for them to prepare 2-3 days in advance of each class. Sessions will be recorded as a learning tool. Gain practical experience so that you can improve your audition skills, confidence and learn how to make yourself stand out in your online auditions and self-tapes.
LIMITED SIZE (MAX. 8) 4 weeks 8 hrs.
Movement for actors will free and strengthen the body, to enliven the imagination, to enable you to create a character’s physical life and to have a range of specialist skills to perform. Stage combat is a specialized technique to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers.
students will be given physical exercises designed to make them actively aware of their bodies and giving them the opportunity to explore circumstance through physical movement.
with Casting Director /Acting Coach Josa Maule & Invited Guest Directors
5 weeks -12.5 hrs. (limited Max 6-8)
The Art of Audition & Auditioning On point
This workshop will focus on understanding how the audition process works, what the Casting director / Director expects of you. Gain the confidence that will allow you to overcome your nerves and give you the practical experience that can help you stand out.
Actors will work on improvisation, non-speaking, the one liner to 2+pages, film, TV, and commercial auditions. Actors will receive Audition instructions, and/ or original text, in advanced (1-3 days) to prepare for the class, camera footage will be reviewed for constructive criticism .
***NOT FOR BEGINNERS***
IN-PERSON 6 WEEKS – 15 HRS LIMITED SIZE (MAX. 8)
Learning the art of acting for the camera, see how your performance translates.
Learn camera terms: play to the lens, adjusting for shots, continuity dynamics, rehearsals, hitting marks, tempo, off camera acting, dialogue changes, lead versus supporting approach the edit multiple takes …and more.
Students will have the opportunity to see for themselves what the camera sees and learn how to work with the camera to enhance their performance.
Explore blocking, challenges on set scenarios, explore diverse chemistry, objectives, choices, review, critique and challenge the actor
**The footage gathered throughout this course will remain private and is for learning purposes only.
LIMITED SIZE (MAX. 8) 6 weeks – 15 hrs.
This class is designed for stage actors making the transition for on-camera work and actors refine their audition skills. This workshop will cover the dynamics of working on camera with scenes from original film & television scripts. Each week we will review, critique and challenge the actor.
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