  Workshops
Weekend Workshop for Filmmakers August 7-8 Sundance Filmmaker Harjo Offers Short-Film Boot Camp Hours are 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday and 12:00 - 5:00 pm Sunday.
SHORT FILM: FROM CONCEPT TO FESTIVAL is the first filmmaking workshop to be offered at The Actor Factory, and is offered for budding filmmakers ages 15 and up. "There really aren't classes like this out there," Harjo said. "Everybody wants to teach LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, and they forget that it all starts with a short. It's not about being epic. It's about drawing you in with story, character and production." Harjo's first short film, GOODNIGHT, IRENE, screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. He returned to the festival in 2007 with his first feature, FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND, one of only 16 features selected for dramatic competition. That film won a Special Jury Award for Acting (this film was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award). His next feature, BARKING WATER, screened to high praise at the 2009 festival and will be on DVD later this year. For the 2010 Festival, Harjo served as an Adjudicator for the Shorts Program. In short, he has either had a film or served as an adjudicator at four of the last six Sundance Festivals. Harjo has screened his films and lectured on filmmaking at some of the top festivals all over the world. Tribecca, Berlin, New Zealand and Venice are just some of the festivals where his films have been seen. In this two-day workshop, Harjo will break down the short-film process. "We'll spend the first day discussing the short film format," he said. "We'll screen some of my favorite short films, then discuss why the filmmakers chose to use those shots, angles, costumes, production design, etc. The shorts most people make are copies of feature films. They feel episodic. A short film should be about itself and work by itself. It's a challenge and it's harder than making a feature. You don't have as much time for character development." Then Harjo will ask the students to bring up their favorite scenes or ideas for their films. He will discuss standard pitfalls and challenges, and encourage the filmmakers to stretch their imagination with the ideas, avoiding common mistakes or stereotypes. He will workshop ideas and push the filmmakers to go deeper, develop further, or explore character. A pizza lunch is provided Saturday. On Sunday, Harjo will break down the filmmaking process. "Camera, budgets, casting, production, filming, editing, scoring, titles, everything," he said. "Basically, by the end of the weekend, they will have no reason to go out and make their short film within the next month." He will also discuss the submission process for the various top film festivals, and discuss what most of the major festivals specifically look for in the short films they screen. "Sterlin is an incredibly gifted storyteller and a great screenwriter," said Factory Director Chris Freihofer. "Nobody I know writes an ending like Sterlin; he just grabs you with character and then gives you something to remember long after you leave the theatre. I'm very proud to have my name on two of his films, and very honored to have him at The Factory to share his knowledge with budding filmmakers." "The future is in the emerging filmmaker," Freihofer said. "And the short film is the training ground for the artist. This workshop should cost $250 or more, but Sterlin and I discussed that we should make it with the short film budget in mind. So we have come up with an incredibly low price." Cost for the 2-day workshop is only $100, if secured by August 1. After August 1, cost will be $150. This price includes a pizza lunch on Saturday. Class is limited to 20 participants.  To register, call The Actor Factory at 405.701.1673. Dallas Casting Director Shannon PInkston Does Commercial Workshops for Adults and Young Performers August 13-15 Top Dallas Casting Director to Offer Commercial Workshops for Adults and Young PerformersCommercial CD Shannon Pinkston comes to The Factory Aug. 13-15.
The Actor Factory is proud to bring top Dallas commercial casting director Shannon Pinkston of Atomic Casting to Oklahoma to present workshops for Young Performers and Adults in the art of commercial acting and auditioning. She will be at The Factory August 13-14.
Below are some quotes sent to Pinkston after the last workshop, so you know your money is well spent: L.A. Agent & Casting Director Workshop Returns for Adults and Young Performers September 24-26
L.A. Agent, Casting Director
Workshop Returns in July Agent from Innovative Artists, Casting Director of "Paranormal Activity" Return To Perform 2-Day Adult Intensive September 24-26
The Actor Factory is pleased to announce the return of the most popular guest workshop it has hosted.
Los Angeles talent agent Robert Haas, of Innovative Artists Agency, and Los Angeles casting director Ricki G. Maslar ("Paranormal Activity", "The Line", "Golden Christmas", "Gacy") will return to The Factory in Norman, OK on Saturday and Sunday, Eeptember 25-26 to present their power workshop entitled "Show & Business". The pair presented their workshop to rave reviews in a sold-out session in January of this year. The seminar was created as an overview of the film industry for aspiring actors of all experience levels, and has been presented on numerous occasions in Los Angeles and in other parts of the country. Actors who have had no experience or extensive experience in other mediums will benefit from learning the basic on and off camera techniques so vital to working film actors. From the audition process to film set protocol to character analysis, this is the "what you always wanted to know..." workshop from the perspective of a film actor. But it is also designed to encourage, strengthen and support experienced actors, helping them reach the next level of audition success. Haas has been at Innovative, one of Hollywood's top agencies, as a motion picture and television talent agent since 2006, covering MGM, United Artists, Disney, ABC Family and Nickelodeon. He was nominated 2008 "Agent of the Year" by the Talent Managers Association. Prior to his tenure at Innovative, Haas was the department head of Adult Theatrical Talent at The Osbrink Agency for three years after serving as a talent agent at ICM. He has launched the careers of such actors as Shantel VanSanten ("Final Destination 4, 3D"), Aimee Teegarden ("Friday Night Lights") Jeremy Sumpter ("Friday Night Lights"), and Alison Brie ("Mad Men", "Community") as well as many others. Maslar is the uncredited casting director of the huge blockbuster "Paranormal Activity", as well as "Golden Christmas", and over 80 feature films. Other casting credits include "Twister", "Gacy", "The Tuskegee Airmen", "Pandemic", "Return to Sender", "Eye of God" and 8 episodes of "Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side", among many others. She is currently casting three feature films in Los Angeles. The workshop consists of four 4-hour sessions: Session 1 - The Business This session covers the nuts and bolts of the industry. The relationship of an actor to his/her agent, manager, casting director, director, film crew, and anyone else that they might professionally encounter is addressed, as is the audition process and harsh realities of the business. Protocol on a set and actors' tools (pictures, resumes, demo tapes, etc.) are also an important aspect of the session. Time is taken for question and answer periods in which the leaders help solve some of the problems that are presented to the actors. Session 2 - Getting to Know You The most important thing about any actor's classroom is comfort level. The classroom is where an actor must feel free to try new things, take risks, and find out what works and what doesn't. This is achieved through a group discussion of individual introductions and feelings about the film industry, trust exercises, acting games, and improvisation. This is where the concept of "ensemble acting" is introduced. Many exercises learned and enjoyed by the actors will be repeated as warm-ups or "stress relief" throughout the rest of the time together. Session 3 - Scene Study After certain film technique and language is covered, the workshop leaders are given the opportunity to work with everyone in the group individually. Scenes that actors have had to work on overnight will be worked through, focusing on specific problem areas. It is in this section that the "hands on" work truly begins. Session 4 - The Audition Actors will have actual audition scenes from various films that are specifically chosen for them. All actors will work in pairs and individually. A "Mock Audition" will occur when actors are asked to do a scene in a typical audition setting. They will learn the challenges of an audition room, working with difficult material, and working with difficult casting directors. The workshop is positive and upbeat, empowering actors with supportive, constructive critique. "I am very excited to be able to offer this workshop at The Actor Factory," said Factory director Chris Freihofer. "Having an agent of this magnitude, paired with a casting director with over 30 years in the business is just not an opportunity that comes around very often. After hearing the topics they cover and the philosophy the use to teach, it's just a great fit for Factory students." This seminar is not intended to impart one particular method of acting to the actors, but rather open them up to a broad realm of education and opportunities available to them. The students will come away with a reality-based assessment of the film industry, as well as a new outlook on their own abilities, confidence level and self empowerment. Hours for the workshop are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, with a one-hour lunch break. The workshop is limited to 18 participants, aged 14 and up. "We spend so much time together during the weekend," Maslar said, "that it's almost like family. We really get to know one another." Cost is $325 per person. TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP: Reservations can be made by calling 405.701.1673.Payment can be made by credit card, cash or check. Payments are 100% refundable until September 15, 2010. Payments are 50% refundable from September 15-20, and are not refundable beginning September 21. This is not a job interview or audition. The intent of the class is solely educational. The presence of a casting director is neither a guarantee nor a promise of employment. "...Only Small Actors" Workshop for
Parents and Young Performers
 On Friday, September 24 , Maslar and Haas will again present their workshop "...ONLY SMALL ACTORS" for children and parents from 6:00 - 9:30 pm. This workshop was also sold out when it was first presented at The Factory in January.The first part of the session is open to parents and children, ages 6-13. "We cover the basics of protecting kids in the business, how not to be a stage parent, when to call and when not to call your agent, what to look for in a headshot, etc.," Maslar said. " We will then break into two groups... Robert will take the parents and continue speaking to them about the business and their roles and also address any questions that they have. I stay with the young actors and continue to work with the kids, giving them scenes and rehearsing them for a mini showcase with the parents at the end of our time together." The work with the kids includes some imagination games, some improvisation, talk about auditioning, movies, performing a paired scene which will be performed for the parents at the end of the night. The workshop is limited to 16 children, each able to bring one parent. Cost is $75 per family. Additional parents are $40, additional siblings are $60. TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP: To enroll, call The Actor Factory at 405.701.1673. (For online enrollment, please indicate the number of parents and children from your immediate fiamly attending.) This is not a job interview or audition. The intent of the class is solely educational. The presence of a casting director is neither a guarantee nor a promise of employment. |
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Award-winning filmmaker and Sundance Film Festival short film panelist Sterlin Harjo will offer a two-day short film boot camp at The Actor Factory on Saturday and Sunday, August 7-8. 
