Showing posts with label Directing Workshop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Directing Workshop. Show all posts

Monday, May 04, 2009

Mark Travis Directing Actors Workshop Follow-up.


Reel Inspiration, with ArtFare and the Tucson Film Office, is proud to have brought world renowned directing instructor Mark Travis to Tucson for the successful master class, “Directing Actors” on March 21-22, 2009.

Mark wrote the Best Seller, THE DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY: the Creative Collaboration between Directors, Writers and Actors; and DIRECTING FEATURE FILMS.

The workshop was attended by 60 people from around Arizona. The first day Mark demonstrated the Travis Technique with four actors. The next day eight directors received hands-on training while rehearsing two actor scenes. Attendees were blown away by the transformation in the actors' performances after being directed using the Travis technique.

There was such an outpouring of gratitude from attendees encouraging me to bring Mark back for another workshop. Here are just a few of the comments...

"Mark has an in depth understanding of how an actor works and what an actor needs to give their best performance. His techniques are simple yet profound. Directors and actors alike were astounded by the results." Eric Schumacher, Actor.

"It was so exhilarating to see (and experience) the magic created in a scene using Mark's techniques. I'm so glad you brought it to Tucson where it will no doubt benefit 'the industry'. Looking forward to more workshops with Mark in the future." Chris Farishon, Actor

"What an amazing learning experience. I feel like we only scratched the surface. I'm very anxious to incorporate his technique into my rehearsal process." Alan Williams, Director

"Techniques that Mark shared with us opened up exciting new avenues in how to work with actors on a deeper level." Annina Lavee, U of A Media Arts Instructor, Director.

"I learned more in two days than in all the previous acting training I have undergone." Brian Mulligan, President IFASA

Due to the positive response, Reel Inspiration will be bringing Mark back for a "Staging the Scene" workshop August 14-16, 2009.

Jana Segal
Reel Inspiration

For workshop and registration information, contact: reelinspiration@hotmail.com

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mark Travis Directing Workshop: "Working with Actors in Rehearsal, Staging and Performance."


Reel Inspiration is hosting an intensive weekend workshop with master directing instructor Mark Travis.

The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 21-22 at Artfare, 55 N. 6h Ave. Downtown Tucson, AZ. (third floor) The cost to observe for pre-registered directors and actors is $70 (with a $10 discount for APA, IFP, IFASA and NALIP members.) Students with school ID, are $40. The cost at the door is $80 where only cash and money orders will be accepted. *Lunch is available at a modest price at Artfare's restaurant.

Space is limited so don't wait to register. To get the pre-registration price register before March 16. Interested actors and directors, contact Jana for registration information at 325-9175 or reelinspiration@hotmail.com.

The workshop is sponsored by Artfare, the Tucson Film Office, APA Tucson Mariott University Park, and Reel Inspiration.

Mark is the author of the Best Seller, THE DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY: the Creative Collaboration between Directors, Writers and Actors as well as DIRECTING FEATURE FILMS. Mark has shared his techniques at The Directors Guild, American Film Institute, Pixar Animations Studios, UCLA Extension, and workshops around the world. Mark is a creative consultant to film directors Mark Rydell, George Tillman, Cyrus Nowrasteh, among others.

Mark Travis did his undergraduate training at Antioch College and his graduate training in Theatre Directing at the Yale School of Drama. Mark’s television directing credits include: The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Capitol and the Emmy Award-winning PBS dramatic special, Blind Tom: The Thomas Bethune Story. In 1990, he completed his first film, Going Under, for Warner Bros., starring Bill Pullmanand Ned Beatty. In 2001 he wrote and directed The Baritones (parody of The Sopranos)as well as the short documentary, Earlet.

DIRECTING ACTORS SCHEDULE

Working with the Actor in Rehearsal, Staging and Performance.

DAY ONE:

Mark Travis will introduce the entire group (8-10 directors and 20-30 observers) to the unique process of working with actors that is called The Travis Technique. This is a powerful and experiential way of exploring and exposing the characters that exist within the actors.

Mark will detail how this process works and why it is so efficient and will demonstrate this Technique by working with 3 or 4 actors.

Areas covered:

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR, SCRIPT AND ACTOR
(9:00 - 10:30)
This is the Golden Triangle, the heart of every movie. It is the Director’s ability to understand Story and Script and how a script works that is so necessary prior to including Actors. Then the Director has to understand how Actors work, think and respond that is so essential to eventually eliciting powerful performances.

THE REHEARSAL PROCESS
(10:30 - 12:30)
The Director-Actor Relationship in rehearsal and performance. In this section of the seminar participants will learn how to work with Actors to create credible and powerful performances. This is the beginning of The Travis Technique. Participants will learn, in this Master Class approach, how to Rehearse with actors, how to stimulate the character and how to invigorate the relationships and bring each and every scene to life.

STAGING THE SCENE
(1:30 - 3:30)
Staging is one of the film director's most powerful tools. Used appropriately it can bring a scene to life illuminating the subtext and character relationships. Misused it can hamper the work of the actors. In this seminar Participants will witness the power of staging and see how you can actually stimulate specific emotions with the Actors (Characters) and in the audience. Participants will learn how to employ the techniques that Mark Travis had developed over many years of directing.


DIRECTING ACTORS
(3:30 - 5:30)
At the core of every film are characters in relationship and every writer and director must understand both the psychology of character and the techniques and tools of acting. In this phase of the seminar Mark Travis will take Participants through a wide range of approaches and techniques (all part of the Travis Technique) that are guaranteed to create the relationships, characters and performances desired.


DAY TWO:

On Day Two Eight (or Ten) Participating Directors will get an opportunity to work on their material with actors of their choosing under the guidance of Mark Travis. This is an opportunity for each director (and the actors) to explore and experiment with the Techniques they have learned in Day One. These rehearsals are an examination of the Process of each director. Each Director gets 40 minutes of Individual time (with the rest of the Participants and Observers watching the Process). The focus is not about the results but rather about the Communication with the Actors, the Effectiveness of Character development and the Efficiency of the Rehearsal Process.

Websites: www.travis-johntz.com
www.markwtravis.com

Thursday, November 29, 2007

What is Reel Inspiration?

INSPIRING MOVIES OF REEL SUBSTANCE

Reel Inspiration is a grassroots, non-religious, apolitical organization created to encourage and promote the production and success of diverse films that inspire, give hope, or raise human consciousness.

THE IMPACT: Films have always had a huge impact on our society. At their best, films have the power to inspire, empower, enlighten, uplift, challenge and create change by reflecting the condition of our society and illuminating the issues of our times. We need more of these meaningful films.

THE BIZ: Filmmaking is a business. The cost of promoting films has skyrocketed, so studios need blockbusters to break even. The common misconception is that the only way to make money is to produce big event movies, remake current blockbusters, or to market movies towards a younger mind set. As a result, we have movies that are more about special effects, gross out humor and violence than good art and storytelling. Is this how we want our society reflected and our children influenced? You can make a difference.

THE CHALLENGE: Send a message to Hollywood by attending meaningful films on opening weekend (or at least while it's in it's first run.) Box Office numbers have a huge impact the film industry. You can help create a market for these films by sharing them with your friends. Join our grassroots campaign by becoming a REEL MEMBER. (There is no charge.) To become a REEL MEMBER and receive reviews of high quality, inspiring films, e-mail:
reelinspiration@hotmail.com

We invite filmmakers with distribution to submit their inspiring feature length narrative films to be considered for our grassroots promotional campaign. For guidelines, e-mail:
reelinspiration@hotmail.com

THE EDGE: Reel Inspiration hosts conferences and workshops to further develop the talents of those courageous filmmakers who choose to create films of substance. In 2005, we hosted the popular Reel Vision Filmmakers Conference in Tucson, AZ. COMING SOON: Reel Inspiration Directing Workshop: Working with Actors.

THE CELEBRATION: Reel Inspiration is proud to present a selection of the finalists of the 2004 Reel Inspiring Film Contest and the 2006 Pura Inspiracion Film Contest. We send our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to these filmmakers who chose to make movies about the good in the world. Look out for our upcoming Reel Inspiration film contest for filmmakers of all ages.

Reel Inspiration is about giving the movie audience another choice: films that leave us feeling hopeful about human potential. Films that inspire us to be heroes in our own lives. For more information on the contest or directing workshop, go to: http://reelinspiration.blogspot.com
reelinspiration@hotmail.com