AUDITIONS! Tues. Feb.10,2009 Casting Director Gretchen Rennell Court & Writer, Director Perry Lang

Waiting patiently in the hall to be called in for their "auditions," students learn to work without the benefit of a scene partner. With little time & information or direction for auditions they will learn to make strong choices and relax in front of the camera.
(Back to the camera)Director Perry Lang gives " just the basic" information regarding the scene they are about to read with the casting director.
Standing, left to right: Erika Lee & Allie Menzimer ,Seated, Christy Escobar & Brytni Sarpy

click on images to inlarge

Auditions! cont.

Alexie Ryan Calm & focused
in spite of the camera




Rudy Martinez Brings the
Character to life!

Auditions! cont.

Director Perry Lang , Casting Director Gretchen Rennell Court,
and Instructor Sage Parker take notes.


Casting Director Gretchen Rennell Court appreciates Christy
Escobar's Great headshot!

Auditions! Feb.10, 2009 cont.

Perry Lang and Gretchen Rennell Court end the Class with
their insights on auditioning.
Gretchen Rennell Court has over 30 years of experience in Casting.
A few of the films that Gretchen has cast are: Children of A Lesser God, Stardust Memories, The Cotton Club, Reds ,Flash Dance, The Horse Whisperer, Agnes of God, & French Postcards. As head of casting at Disney Studios she oversaw the casting of such films as , Color of Money, Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride.
Writer, Director Perry Lang, brings experience from both sides of the audition trail . Starting his career 30 years ago as an actor he successfully auditioned and subsequently worked extensively on stage at the Ensemble Theater Company in New York, At the Public Theater performing Shakespeare in the Park as well as landing numerous roles in television and in Films such as The Big Red One, Jacobs Ladder, John Sayles Eight Men Out and Steven Speilberg's 1941 to name a few. He has also Written ,Directed ( and helped cast) over 200 hours of Episodic Television. As well as Writing, Producing & Directing several Features. He is currently in post production with an original Webisode of his own creation titled ; BLU BELLE.
The generous gift of their time, experience & knowledge of auditions was greatly appreciated!

Guest Lecture on Agents & Managers Feb.5,2009

Tim Angle ,Talent Agent & President of The Don Buchwald Agency & Joannie Burstein Owner & President of The Burstein Management Company,
Share with the class what young actors
can expect in everything from auditions to Interviews,
as well as insights to their relationships with both the
Craft and their Clients. Tim Angle and Joanie Burstein each have nearly 30 years experience representing talent in Film and Television as well as Theatre.







We are so grateful for the time we had with Tim and Joanie ,both during and after the class ....Thank you SO much for the generous donation of your time and talent!

Good Acting is Good Acting.....

Laurence Olivier spoke of his early days in film, and the transitions back and forth between theater and the soundstage.
" At that time, stage and film acting were thought of as two entirely different crafts.even professions. We know now that is not by any means a true assessment; the truth is infinitely subtler. They call for the same ingredients in different proportions. The precise differences may take some years of puzzling work to appreciate: in each case there are many subtle variations according to the character of the actor. It took me years to learn to film act; at least ten of these were appallingly rough and ready, from sheer prejudice and ignorance. After that, it was necessary to relearn how to act on stage. incorporating , though, the truth demanded by the cinema and thereby reducing the measure of theatricality (Emphasis mine.)"

Acting in Film UCSB BFA Winter Quarter

Sage Parker

I am currently privileged to teach for the Theater and Dance Department at The University of California here in Santa Barbara. This class for BFA seniors, is Acting for the Camera.
Once only a comparative study of skills used in both stage and film ,this class has evolved into also being a preparatory course of acting as a business. Designed to give these students a look at how to shape their lives as Artists outside of the University setting, this ten week course is divided into two parts. Class emphasis in part one is introduction of simple business practices designed to make their lives as artists if not easier, than certainly less problematic. This portion is focused on helping them to "set up their business" in a way to best showcase their talents. In keeping up with all current trends in technology and maximizing the ability to harness it to their advantage. Personal budgets for their "businesses" will be taken into consideration, so that these students will always feel that they can do well with what they have to work with.Their budgets will take into consideration the special promotional tools and the ongoing educational considerations of their profession. These business Practices are as important in their pursuit of employment in the Theater as they are in Film & Television.
The second half of the 10 weeks in dedicated almost exclusively to the Audition process.
A major difference that students will learn is that most preparation for acting in front of the camera must be done on their own. Without the benefits and luxury of rehearsal time or the input of other actors. They will learn to work quickly, without compromising emotionally critical moments in the text. They will learn to prepare without prior knowledge of the environment in which they will be working. They will learn how to prepare without "locking into a "performance."
This emphasis will be on using the same skill and training in character preparation based in classical theater but adjusting certain aspects of that training to make the translation to a more intimate setting. Both the barrier and the obligation for the actor onstage is to communicate everything to the people in the furthermost parts of the theater. In front of the camera the actor works across "real space". The barrier and obligation for the actors in front of the camera are to simplify their actions without losing passion.In both mediums the actor's primary function is to communicate ideas and emotions to the audience. These same preparation techniques can be applied once they have the job. They will learn that once on a set , they must be ready at any moment to change their direction without changing their intentions or "objective". Students will also be given overview in the "mechanics" specific to film making. Professional guest artists will include, Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers , Casting Directors,& Cinematographers.
Space will be provided for both the artists and the students that will closely replicate working in various settings within Film & Television & Commercials. All Individual guest will be those currently working in the industry. As all endeavors, Artistic and otherwise have become more global in scope, it is increasingly necessary to prepare these students for a landscape of theatrical opportunities that are not just exclusive to Los Angeles and New York. In that same model it is just as appropriate to prepare them to work in all available and changing mediums related to their craft. Finally, I encourage each student to trust their classical training so that they can understand and appreciate the advantage that that training gives them. That the combination of their training and this course will enable each student to feel more comfortable and confident in any audition or work situation they have the opportunity to participate, in any medium which they chose to work. Thus greater improve their chance of securing work in their chosen field.