SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Calendar Fall 2015 Please remember: - All SAG-AFTRA Conservatory workshops are free for members in good standing. - To attend a workshop, you must register in advance. No walk-ins are allowed. - To register, log in to https://www.sagaftra.org/welcome then go to the Washington-Mid Atlantic local page and click on Workshop Registration. - Space is limited and schedules are subject to change. If you must cancel, please do so at least two days before the workshop by clicking on the link in your confirmation email. This allows us to notify those on the wait list that they may attend. Most workshops take place at SAG-AFTRA office, 7735 Old Georgetown Road, Ste. 950, Bethesda, MD 20814 SEPTEMBER Saturday, Sept. 26 The Beginner s Guide to Setting up a Home Studio on a Budget 10 am-12:30 pm Presented by Craig Klein Are you missing out on voiceover work because you can't audition or record sessions from home? Are you clueless about how and where to start the process of creating your own home studio? Awardwinning voice actor and radio creative director, Craig Klein, will guide the beginning and budgetconscious voice actor in setting up a studio at home. The workshop will help guide you in choosing equipment and setting up a voice over booth without breaking the bank. OCTOBER Wednesday, Oct. 7 Meisner for Cold Readings 7-9 pm Presented by Robert Epstein Meisner Technique is known for its ability to produce truthful, improvisational behavior, and yield compelling performances. In this latest of his cold reading workshops, Robert continues to apply the principles of Meisner Technique to the challenges of film and TV auditions. On-camera auditions are often difficult and intimidating. It is difficult to do an inspiring read for a camera or disinterested reader. And it's hard to get a good sense of the material and decide how to play a scene or character when you only have a few minutes to go over your sides. In this workshop we will explore a technique for doing quick breakdowns of a scene and role with limited time, and a way of working off of the lines and suggestions in the script to bring the material to life, making your cold readings both fun and effective. Robert Epstein, known as DC's resident Meisner expert, has taught his long-term program for actors, The Complete Actor's Training, for over 25 years. Robert has performed roles on Cable & Network
TV, has directed DC film & theatre projects, including Adams Morgan: The Movie, and has taught many workshops for the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory and the Actor's Center. Saturday, Oct 17 Narration: Finding the Writer s Voice 1-3 pm Presented by Ty Ford Ty Ford provides clues for deciphering a script to bring the writer's voice to life. He also points out some of the simple mechanics that help make you sound like you know what you're talking about. LOCATION: Ty s home/studio in Baltimore. Directions will be provided after sign-up. Wednesday, Oct 21 Forget Perfect! Managing Time 7-9 pm Presented by Abigail Wurf, M.ED, PCC Are you having trouble meeting deadlines, structuring your time, and pursuing your creative goals? If so, you may simply be struggling with the all-too-common feeling of being overwhelmed with the effort required to keep your acting career on track. In this workshop, Abigail Wurf, M.ED, PCC, helps you manage your time and your life more effectively, through wonderful methods and techniques that she has developed in her training, research, coaching, and her life. You don't have to have ADHD to benefit from her approach -- most of us in the creative fields struggle with many of the same issues. Abigail Wurf is a former professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, as well as the author of Forget Perfect! How to Succeed in Your Profession and Personal Life Even If You Have ADHD. In this workshop Abigail provides approaches and exercises that can help you enhance your life and career, even the basics of getting out of the house on time! Saturday, Oct 24 The Art of the Self-Taped Audition 10 am- 1 pm Presented by Jana Allen With many roles being cast straight from tape these days, it is crucial for an actor to understand the art of the self-tape. In this workshop, we will explore what CDs and producers expect from a selftaped audition, how to execute a self-taped audition that is of booking quality, and how to begin selftaping from home. As an actor who has been self-taping auditions since 2009, Jana understands the art of the self-tape explicitly. Jana also works as an agent s assistant, and has viewed thousands of self-tapes from actors across the country. During the workshop, she will cover the dos and don ts of self-taping and how to tape, edit, and submit a self-tape. Jana will also talk about the history of self-taping, how the process has evolved, and why it is here to stay. Participants will have an opportunity to tape a scene during the workshop following the guidelines learned, and Jana will review the self-tapes with the group.
If you want to start taping yourself at home, need pointers on self-taping, or simply have an interest in learning more about the entire process of self-taping, this is a workshop that will benefit you. Sunday, Oct 25 Let Me Tell You a Story Commercial Audiobook Narration 3-5 pm Presented by Sean Pratt In this workshop, Sean covers the many facets of recording audiobooks for commercial publishers. As much of this work is done at in-home studios, he'll discuss the technical requirements you need to be able to do the work. Other areas detailed by Sean include: resources for finding audiobook publishers; the art, effort and attitude of narrating audiobooks; and the general state of the audiobook industry and where it's headed. An audiobook narrator since 1996, Sean Pratt has recorded over 800 audio books in almost every genre and is an eight-time winner of AudioFile Magazine s Earphones Award and a four-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award. NOVEMBER Thursday, Nov 5 Cold Read Auditions 7-9 pm Presented by Cheryl Felicia Rhoads Actors will focus on audition technique, cold readings with both monologues and scenes through a storyteller's perspective. Cheryl Felicia Rhoads is a Hollywood veteran and award-winning actress. Her special workshop will focus on how actors can best prepare for a variety of audition scenarios and in addition she will share tips for smart marketing and successful networking. At the beginning of her career in Chicago, Cheryl was a member of The Second City National Touring Company. She worked for 20 years in Hollywood as a professional actress, comedy coach, assistant voice casting agent, voice-over artist, director and producer of comedy shows. Cheryl's comedy classes for kids and teens were rated as "Best in L.A." by the news weekly magazine, New Times Los Angeles. Cheryl has been known to thousands of children since the late 1980's and through-out the 1990s for her starring role as Mother Goose in The Mother Goose Video Treasury. She has also appeared on several network TV programs including as a series regular in the NBC show Against the Grain with Ben Affleck. She was also both a regular actor and a writer for The Motown Revue Starring Smokey Robinson. She guest-starred twice on Annie Potts' series Any Day Now and Cheryl guested on the last episode of Married With Children. She was also a producer for America's Funniest People. She was nominated for a local Emmy Award and won a Joseph Jefferson Award for best actress in a revue in Chicago. And she also won a Drama Logue Theater Award for her performance in a revue in Los Angeles. Re-locating from LA to Virginia In 2007, Cheryl started her own small acting school in the city of Falls Church for students from northern Virginia. Cheryl has taught acting to over 5000 kids, teens and adults in both California and Virginia. LOCATION: Cheryl s studio in Falls Church (Classes are held at a location about four blocks from the East Falls Church Metro Stop on the Orange Line & near Seven Corners. There is free parking in front of the location and there is also a free shuttle bus from the Metro Stop.)
Sunday, Nov 15 Audio/Video for Today s Actor 1-3 pm Presented by Ty Ford Are you slowly sliding into recording audio or video in order to audition or to do work? Ty has been producing audio for over 30 years and shooting/editing video for 10 years. Find out what your next step will be. PLEASE NOTE: Bring a minimum of five questions you want answers to, and if you have questions about your gear, bring the gear. LOCATION: Ty Ford s home/studio in Baltimore. Directions will be provided after sign-up. Monday, Nov. 16 Making Small Moments Dazzle 7-9 pm Presented by Elisabeth Noone What is it that an actor can bring to the first audition to make it dazzle? We ll discuss confidence, analyzing the script, setting eye and body position, accessing emotions, and whether or not to memorize the script. We ll explore the techniques of the audition process from entering the room to the personal interview to the delivery of lines and exiting. Taught by Emmy, Peer and Telly awardwinning actress Elisabeth Noone, who draws on her experience working in New York and Los Angeles, on television, film, stage and in improv. Tuesday, Nov. 17 VO Techniques 7-10 pm Presented by Lance Lewman Second generation V/O talent, Lance Lewman, shares what he has learned about the voiceover business after 25 years in the industry. He ll use the same outline he and his late father, Lifetime Achievement recipient Lary Lewman, used when they co-taught this workshop for many years. Saturday, Nov 21 #ActorsLife: Understanding & Navigating Social Media for 12-2 pm Performers Presented by Moly DuBelle Do you consider social media to be a daunting, time wasting, or unnecessary item you'd rather not add to your "To Do" list? Are you dodging the Internet as just another marketing tool you may not need as an actor? Before you dismiss the benefits or dive in blindly, attend this workshop. Moly DuBelle will present the basics of sites including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She will discuss aspects of social media useful to actors, show you how to create and control your Internet presence, share tips and shortcuts, and answer questions about "netiquette" or best
practices online. During this interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore social media as it relates to advancing your acting career. Share your website links for instant feedback! Moly is a local actor and the CEO of Azore Global Management with a background in law, IT, and education. Her social media networking has added opportunities for her to book projects along the east coast, California, and Japan. DECEMBER Tuesday, Dec 1 The Talent Payment Process 7-9 pm Presented by Elaine Gaynes Elaine Gaynes from Talent PayMasters will explain what pay services do and why they re important. She'll discuss issues such as what to ask when you get a booking and how to ensure you receive the correct pay within the correct time frame according to Union contracts. The workshop will cover paperwork and contracts, performers and producers responsibilities, when to expect payment, how to avoid and resolve problems, and how to make it easy for a new client to hire YOU! Tuesday, Dec 8 Basic On-Camera Auditioning Techniques 7-9 pm Presented by Katie Kilacky This workshop will cover the basics of commercial, industrial and film auditioning. Members will have the opportunity to simulate auditions with basic scripts for commercial and day player roles and also learn techniques for slating, MOS, and real people casting. Taught by commercial actress, coach, and former casting associate, Katie Killacky, members will be given feedback from both the acting and casting sides of the business and learn techniques to help alleviate nerves for their next audition. Katie worked as a standup comic and commercial actress for nearly a decade in LA before switching to behind the scenes as a session director in Chicago, directing auditions for major national campaigns. Love and marriage brings her to the east coast where she is thrilled to be a part of this new market and continue her career as an actress and coach.