For the past five years, SFSDF’s Film Acting Program has built a reputation as one of most respected acting programs in the Bay Area. After an ambitious redevelopment effort, our Film Acting Program has relaunched with a new and more comprehensive series of classes designed specifically to prepare students for a professional acting career. Highlights of our new program include:
 
1)    Complete actor training from A to Z with on-set experience

2)    Ability to earn a Professional Certificate in Film Acting

3)    Emphasis on proven techniques including Method, Meisner, Stanislavski and Growtowsky

4)    Small classes held in brand-new sound stages located in downtown San Francisco

5)    Hundreds of casting opportunities year-round

6)    Award-winning faculty with decades of experience

7)    Entrance audition now required for all students*

 (*Former SFSDF film acting students will be required to either audition or pre-interview, depending on experience.)

As the only film acting program operating within a true film school environment, students have the opportunity to be cast in any number of the over 250 films made by SFSDF filmmakers. Through group auditions, one-on-one consultations and referral, film acting students will find themselves working on a large variety of challenging films and commercials.  SFSDF also maintains an on-line, in-house database of headshots and monologues. 

SFSDF is an integral part of the greater Bay Area filmmaking community and while taking classes, students will make critical friends and connections.  Additionally, through our sister company, Fog City Pictures, SFSDF acting students are given priority casting opportunities for roles in feature films.

Fog City Pictures has produced five full-length feature films to date including:

TWO MOTHERS
TRATTORIA
ALL ABOUT EVIL
AROUND JUNE
PRESQUE ISLE

Now Available!
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN FILM ACTING

SFSDF Film Acting Students who successfully complete the Program’s Core classes and at least two Elective classes are now eligible to receive a Professional Certificate in Film Acting.  In addition, students who commit to obtaining their certificate will receive a 10% discount on tuition if they pay in advance.  Payment plans and student loans are also available. 

For more information, email Film Acting instructor Darcy Marta – darcymarta@hotmail.com

CLASS SCHEDULES - WINTER, 2012

FOUNDATIONS I & II - Fundamental and Core Techniques
This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques and vocabulary of acting. Students will gain an understanding of the acting process, its exercises, challenges and discipline, as well as become acquainted with the vocabulary of the film set. Special emphasis will be made to techniques for warming up the body/voice in tune for performance.

The course will also cover the core techniques used in the art of film acting including Method, Meisner, Stanislavski and Growtowsky. Actors will learn how to strengthen their preparation techniques and how to apply them on the film set. This course also introduces basic script analysis and is perfect for students with previous theater acting experience.

Instructor: Gary Grossman
Saturdays, January 14th - March 3rd
11:00am - 2:00pm
Tuition - $350

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ACTING TECHNIQUES
This course is designed to work on techniques that will allow the actor to access their real life emotions and experiences in service of the character in front of the camera. The actor will learn to create real emotion for the scene and how to re-create that for the camera for every take! Skills in script analysis, emotional recall, sense memory and substitution will be explored.

Instructor: Darcy Marta
Tuesdays, January 10th - February 28th
6:30 to 9:30pm
Tuition - $350


IMPROVISATION TECHNIQUES (Comedy and Drama)
A 4-week intensive on how to use improv to develop characters, relationships and stories. This course covers the basics of improvisation with theater games, “on the spot” character development, and on-camera interviews. Special attention will be paid to improving and enriching scripts with improvised text and activities.

Instructor: Jeffrey Weissman and Gary Grossman
Wednesdays, January 11th - February 29th
6:30 – 9:30pm
Tuition - $350

AUDITIONS AND THE BUSINESS OF ACTING
This course teaches actors the basics of how to find work in the film & TV industry. Explore the difference between doing the audition and "doing the job." Understand what it takes to create an acting career - from photos to negotiations. We will spend particular time highlighting new technologies and evolving protocols in the business. Special 4-week class!

Instructor: Jeffrey Weissman
Thursdays, January 12th - March 1st
6:30 to 9:30pm
Tuition - $350

Advanced Film Acting: Acting for Camera
This is a scene study class exploring and deepening the actors’ work in relation to other characters, their environment, and subtext. Actors will delve into deepening emotional states, playing & supporting the story arc, shooting in & out of sequence, and creating organic self-blocking. Students will be encouraged to heighten risk and open up their awareness of possibilities that enhance the scene.

Schedule Pending

Advanced Scene Study: Explorations in Professional Acting
This is a scene study class exploring and deepening the actors’ work in relation to other characters, their environment, and subtext. Actors will delve into deepening emotional states, playing & supporting the story arc, shooting in & out of sequence, and creating organic self-blocking. Students will be encouraged to heighten risk and open up their awareness of possibilities that enhance the scene.

Schedule Pending

Advanced Techniques: Physical Transformations for Creating Character
The physical behavior of a character is an essential part of film acting. In this course, students will concentrate on physical techniques that deepen character creation. We will focus on body control, tempo and physical action that enhances an actors’ transformation into character. Actors will explore how to make strong choices for an audition, as well as a deeper understanding of script analysis.

Schedule Pending



Film & Commercial Audition: Quick Character Choices & Script Breakdown
One of our most popular classes, learning how to audition well is an essential skill for any actor. In this course, students learn how to perform a successful cold reading, make quick character choices, and perform script analysis in minutes. These and other powerful techniques will show producers, directors and casting directors your best qualities and help you start landing the roles you most desire.

Schedule Pending



Writer – Director – Actor Workout
Covering the three primary filmmaking disciplines, the WDA Workout encourages teamwork, networking, and the creative process. Each week we shoot scenes from scripts in development from participating writers. Working with these texts, students integrate the concepts and techniques of improvisation, action choices, beats, and scene arcs. Directors and writers also have the opportunity to act on camera, and all class-work is videotaped.

Schedule Pending

BRIDGING THE GAP
Teaching actors and directors to communicate for top results.

This new workshop at the San Francisco School of Digital Film will focus on the communication between the Director and the Actor.

This course gives directing and acting students the opportunity to create together in a workshop format. They will learn about each other’s expectations, obstacles, challenges and needs on the set and how to speak to each other in a common vocabulary in order to get the best possible performance for each piece. The instructor will assign a director and actors to a scene where they will learn to make character choices; bring out the emotional quality of the scene; creative blocking choices and effective creative communication.

Directors, this class is a great opportunity to learn about the actor's art form so you can effectively speak to "the Talent" in a way they will understand to get the most out of their performance.

Actors, learn to make strong, quick choices that will enhance any scene and learn how to take direction with confidence and ease.

This course is about finding a common language to facilitate the creative process. We will work with scripted material, as well as, improv scenarios.

Schedule Pending

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: How does the new program differ from the old curriculum?

A: Our new Film Acting Program is much more comprehensive and has been re-designed from the ground up to better provide students with the training aspiring actors need to begin working in the industry. We have increased the number of core classes, with a much greater emphasis on fundamental techniques and specific film acting methodologies (Meisner, Stanislavski, etc.). We could describe our previous program as “Film Acting Lite” – while our new Film Acting Program could best be described as “Film Acting Right!”

Q: I want to enroll - how does the audition process work?

A: Throughout the year, and in particular before the start of each session, we will schedule times where perspective students can audition for entrance into the Program. The audition will consist of a prepared monologue and interview in front of a panel instructors. Please contact us to reserve a space at our next scheduled audition.

Q: If I have previous theater training, is SFSDF a good place to learn the specifics of film acting?

A: Yes, our new Program is designed to teach students with previous acting experience how to best apply that knowledge toward acting on film.

Q: I’ve taken previous film acting classes at SFSDF, how do I know which class in the new Program is right for me to continue my training?

A: We welcome former students into the new Program. An audition or pre-interview will be required prior to enrollment – after which students will be placed in the appropriate level class. This may require some students to take a beginning or intermediate level class in order to fill a gap in the actors’ training.

Q: Is there any financial aid?

A: Students who enroll in the Professional Certificate Program may be eligible for credit-based student loans. Contact us for more information.

Q: How do I audition for and get cast in the student films?

A: We have regular auditions throughout the year, and all qualified acting students who have completed at least the Foundations II class are automatically invited to audition. We also keep an in-house electronic database, as well as headshots and resumes of all our acting students.

Q: How do I audition for and get cast in feature-length films produced by Fog City Pictures?

A: Our sister company, Fog City Pictures produces feature films every year and special auditions are held for SFSDF film acting students.

Q: How do I develop a professional-quality Demo Reel as part of my portfolio?

A: By being cast in various films (short- and feature-films) and commercials at SFSDF or elsewhere, as discussed above.


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