AUDITION TO PRODUCTION

For first-time attendees, immersed in Stonestreet’s Film & TV production & post-production studio, students work with the technology, equipment and in the real environment that they will continue to work in as their careers evolve. Working on their screen acting from the audition phase through production with professional directors on sets & location, actors develop a professional skill set, widening their hyphenate abilities to produce their own careers. 

While focusing on their screen acting skills, adapting and augmenting previous acting training as it intersects with all aspects of filmmaking allows actors to begin to build professionally shot material to begin their reels, while making strong relationships and bridges into the industry via weekly agent and casting director audition before graduating. Classes Offered During Stonestreet’s First Semester:

• Screen Acting & Production

Instructor: Cormac Bluestone

Students in the class hone their screen acting skills in a process-oriented environment that closely replicates a real-world film set.  Throughout the semester, students prepare and perform multiple scenes from unproduced and produced screen and teleplays, and are asked to develop a critical eye by both evaluating and editing footage.  Focal points include script analysis, preparation of strong storytelling and character choices, on-camera technique, taking direction, and on-set flexibility and focus leading to fresh and organic performances. The class also prepares the actor for the mufti-faceted world of the screen by offering hands-on experience on set; with instructor guidance, students assume the full complement of production roles, including director, cinematographer, AD, editor, producer, and so on.  Exposure and practice in these various positions aid the actor to feel more confident and relaxed with his or her surroundings on set, ensuring a more natural screen presence, and with a deeper understanding of the full production procedure, actors are empowered to make intelligent, informed decisions both in front of the camera and in their careers.

• Directing the Actor for Screen

Instructors: Malcolm Alex Mills, Alex Berg, Cara Ronzetti

This course is designed to give theater-trained actors a chance to experience what they need to do to reach a professional level screen performance. Students learn the peculiarities and delights of screen acting by working on scripts on set in with a multiplicity of shots, genres and equipment.  While inviting any and all previously learned techniques, this class helps students widen their tools and techniques and think creatively outside of the box when it comes to creating a compelling, believable and moving character on screen. Students work only on material that is unfamiliar to them, strengthening their skills for creating characters and performances that can tell a story, illuminate something hidden, and develop material without a previously drawn road map. Additionally, this course pays particular attention to the director-actor relationship and helps to strengthen skills in communicating on set, building a respectful work ethic, taking direction, and creating a positive working relationship on set. Actors begin to collect footage for their reels while working on their craft, developing their sense of screen presence and stretching their range of authentic believable characters.

• Screen Character & Imagination

Instructor: Jennifer McCabe or Cara Ronzetti

With video playback being a valuable tool for self-awareness, analysis and growth, the actors are immersed into the fully self-revealing mode of expression that the camera asks of them. Using assigned material from a wide variety of produced screenplays and teleplays, theater scripts and contemporary poetry, we dig deeply into dramatic structure and the revealing of character that each kind of writing demands. Work with actors is on an inspirational as well as a practical level. With all of their classwork recorded for analysis and study, we build on each actor’s primary training, to activate a vigorous and juicy creative imagination, make inspired and meaningful choices, utilize a mature, flexible emotional instrument, have the courage to transform and the stamina to meet and collaborate with any director. The class will inform and prepare actors to successfully navigate the demands, benefits and pitfalls of on-camera work in a professional “real world” context beyond the classroom.We demystify the demands of on-camera interviews and review how they are paired with auditions, so each actor can fully acknowledge their unique strengths and attributes, gaining confidence, comfort and authority on-camera. 

• Screen Audition Prep & Industry Workshop

Instructor: Gil Zabarsky 

This class is a practical class to excel at screen auditioning for everything from pilots to episodic shows, sit-coms and dramatic series as well as all genres of film.  Students learn to be self-sufficient auditioners and exactly what is needed to prepare on your own so that every screen audition is unique, spontaneous and guided with strong and interesting choices that with practice and actual auditioning in Stonestreet’s Screen Industry Workshop Class, students gain confidence that they really know what they are doing in the very different arena of film and television.

• Create Your Own Material

Instructor: Gabriel Frye-Behar

This class demonstrates how students can use their training as actors to be innovative, original screenwriters as well. The class moves through the different stages of how to develop and craft an idea through a highly collaborative process, teaches techniques that allow the students to push their characters in bold and interesting directions, and illustrates the uniqueness, and exciting possibilities of telling a story cinematically. Ultimately every student stars in a short film that they have developed throughout the semester and directs a longer project that they may continue developing in Stonestreet’s Advanced Second Semester Program.

• Producing Your Career

Instructor: Rebecca Yarsin

This course is designed to give students a complete overview of how the ever changing business functions, to understand how the art and craft of acting compliment the film and television industry.  Each week, we discuss facets of the business as they pertain to film, television, commercials, and industrials. Classes include mock auditions in these areas, including interviews, cold readings, and prepared auditions. Topics covered include: the role and function of the casting director, the manager, and the agent; SAG, AFTRA and EQUITY as they pertain to professional work; the climate of the business in its most employable cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta et al); the headshot’s importance; show business periodicals and websites; alternative sources to seek employment, representation, career management and continued education.

Actors will gain a deeper understanding of not only the business of acting, but where they specifically fit into and how they can also help shape the industry.   How to create a website, maximize industry connections and plan for post-graduation. Special guests including producers, managers, agents, SAG reps, coaches and more will be brought in to help students apply what they are learning to audition settings, union policies, selecting material for themselves and see how they resonate within the industry.  By the end of the course students will understand best practices for headshots, resumes, self-tapes, know how to take advantage of classes offered in NYC to improve their craft and meet industry professionals, have a fully published actor/artist website, have at least one fully fleshed out on-brand social media platform and have a full roster of industry professionals with whom they are connected.

• Master Classes, Professional Guests and Voice-overs

Instructors: Guest Instructors, each bringing their individual expertise

Guests from the industry work with students in a master class situation from Voice-overs to Auditions, Sit-coms to how to maintain a healthy and creative life.

• Industry Auditions

Instructors: Guest Talent Agents, Casting Directors, Managers

This class begins week 4 through the semester, once students have had a chance to work on audition material in and outside of their other classes and are then prepared to do any kind of screen audition with confidence.  It is an opportunity to showcase their work and talent to visiting agents in a group setting, and then receive industry and Stonestreet faculty feedback. This workshop is highly regarded by the industry because of Stonestreet’s Screen conservatory and program.  the impact it has on the students’ work and auditioning skills, and its use as a casting tool. This class is monitored by Gil Zabarsky and Alex Malcolm Mills, connecting what is learned in their respective classes to the real environment of an audition and vice versa.

Stonestreet I is offered in Fall, Spring, Summer I, and Summer II for 8 credit hours

For more info please email monique@stonestreet.net.

Professional Program Curriculum HERE

ADVANCED COURSEWORK TO SERIES
& FILM PRODUCTION

For students who have completed Stonestreet I and wish to continue their study and application of screen acting, Stonestreet II provides additional opportunity to shoot professionally lit, directed, and edited original short works, from pre-production to post-production starting at the top of the semester. Students continue to build, develop and edit their own screen acting reels with a myriad of different types of characters and production from films to series, including:

• MicroMovies, Film, Pilot, and Series Production

Guest Directors, Cinematographer, Sound Recordist, Production Manager, AD

This class is a continuation of work accomplished in the previous semester, concentrating on character work in a medium shot. In addition, there is an emphasis on getting an organic and interesting result more quickly, by challenging students to confront pressures placed on actors in production settings. The pressures on a production set often intimidate even the best actors, causing them to forget their craft and/or rely merely on the sometimes-inadequate eye of the director. Actors become viscerally aware of the level of their own performances in order to take control of their creative space and deliver their best work. The scenes in this class are lit and edited with the object of reviewing and showcasing each actor’s work to be incorporated into each actor’s reel as well as showcased on Stonestreet’s internet sites, ShortsHD, and domestic and international film festivals.

• Script To Screen - S2S

Instructors: Gabe Frye-Behar, Cormac Bluestone

This is a place for actors to create their own material with faculty, staff and studio support to create, collaborate and actualize their goals for screen.   Faculty ‘facilitate’ within the context of the semester, with equipment available and what each class and/or groups within class would like to create often in groups focusing on the strengths, passions and area of interest within each group.  Each group or section may be markedly different as to where they may want to focus on script development, adaption ideas, improvs, monologues, short pieces, music videos, PSAs or whatever creative storytelling they may want to put their focus and energies on as a group and/or as individuals.  This is a playground and place with support and assistance to develop and/or make their own work and exercise both their screen acting skills and production skills.  Projects that are finished during and shortly beyond the semester, often go to festivals and platforms that then feature actors and collaborators.  Subsequent seasons or episodes often carry actors and creatives involved beyond the semester into the profession.

• Screen Improv & Comedy Salon

Instructor: Patrick Keene

This class is to help theater and film actors feel comfortable improvising on screen in a wide variety of outlets from, sketch comedy to dramas, film and commercials. Actors focus on skills that translate for screen in a grounded way while still utilizing the imaginative, playful and unpredictability aspects of improv. This is a practical class that will help actors think on their feet, create and utilize defined characters, and approach on screen acting in new way and more confident ways. As the semester evolves there will be development towards a comedy salon presentation which can be live and/or recorded and become material for an actor’s reel.

• Voice-Overs, Animation, Books on Tape

Instructor: Johnna Gottlieb

An in-depth class that prepares actors to audition for and work in the voice-over, animation and the audio book field. The reality is that every actor will find his or herself in a voice over booth at some point for animation, commercials, film, television, audio book or even stage. Applying technique and finding your vocal range are focused on while doing practical work in both areas during the semester. Audition situations are set up where students have to truly apply what they’re learning while still garnering the coaching, feedback and direction from Stonestreet faculty.

• Career Management, Screen Audition, Self-tapes

Instructor: Liz Ortiz

This class is an advanced screen study class where pushing an actor’s boundaries and range on screen is one of the two goals.  In contrast it is also designed to help actors prepare for and further their ability to do screen auditions from cold to self-tapes.  The semester offers specific forays into the various aspects of what makes a solid audition that best represents you, your skills as an actor, and your skills as an interpreter of text.  Each week, students are asked to either bring in screen study work or prepare sides chosen specifically for them from network series, pilot scripts, indie films, feature films, and commercials. Students work on all types of roles, including featured principals, guest stars, and under-fives. This course gives actors a better understanding of what to expect from casting directors, directors, producers, and writers, as well as how to build a solid foundation on which to prepare and execute a confident and memorable audition.  Students can culminate their screen study work done in this class into a directed production experience that can become part of the reel.

• Advanced Master Classes

Instructors:   Guest Artists

Guests from the industry work with students in a master class situation from Voice-overs to auditions, sit-coms, series and film work to how to maintain a healthy and creative life with working artist guests from current series, pilots and films, and augmented with Behind the Scenes at Stonestreet Series such as Susan Sarandon, Kevin Bacon, Edie Falco, James Earl Jones, Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Cranston, Nik Walker, et al.

• Advanced Directing the Actor

Instructors: Michael Warner, Cara Ronzetti, Rosalyn Coleman Williams, Malcolm Mills

This advanced class that takes off from Directing the Actor I. It has an emphasis on Screen Acting and performance, working on continued challenging and varied material from both a genre and character perspective.  Different directing and shooting styles are embraced and while bringing work to performance level, a deeper understanding on new tools, growth and technique will be addressed while pre-production is happening for the next piece.  Production value is high without slowing down to full pace of MicroMovies.  Approximately 3-4 scenes shoot per class.  Actors are encouraged to work with different partners each time they work. 

• Advanced Audition Industry Workshop

Instructors: Guest Talent Agents, Casting Directors, Managers

Students continue to perfect their business and audition skills with the guidance and coaching of faculty, as they continue to meet additional new agents and, now, casting directors, in a more intimate one-on-one basis. This class is monitored by Stonestreet faculty, connecting what is learned in their respective classes to the real environment of an audition. Students always meet new and different guest agents and casting directors from semester to semester.

Stonestreet II is offered in Fall, Spring, Summer I, and Summer II for 8 credit hours

For more info please email monique@stonestreet.net.

Stonestreet Independent is offered in Fall, Spring and Summer II for 4-8 credit hours. Available during Summer I with special permission.

ADVANCED PRODUCTION & INDUSTRY INTEGRATION

This curriculum uses the tools generated in Stonestreet I and sharpened in Stonestreet II to hone students’ knowledge of the business side of the entertainment industry. Advanced coursework larger size projects, and more integrated industry interaction with directors, casting directors, agents and managers. The semester also includes regular one-on-one meetings and workshops with faculty and industry professionals to guide each student towards his or her specialized career path.

Independent Stonestreet also offers specialized programs for directors, producers, writers, and designers – and acting students who wish to broaden their experience and job potential behind the scenes and in front of the camera with courses and production experience in addition to or instead of an acting focus. This curriculum is set up on an individual basis and requires an interview with the Artistic Director and/or Managing Director. 

For more info please email monique@stonestreet.net.

Click HERE for a detailed description of Stonestreet III – Independent Studio