Rehearsal Exercises
Learn valuable techniques from working Hollywood directors to get to the heart of the actors’ performance, learn rehearsal techniques from developing the character to overcoming mental blocks on the set.Rehearsal Exercises
Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkillsABOUT THIS LESSON
Characters are created before the actors ever step on the set – the performance is created from elaborate backstories, layered subtext, and infused intent in every line. But with all this work, actors can get stuck in their heads and lose the sense of spontaneity when the camera rolls.
In this module, you will learn valuable techniques from working Hollywood directors to get to the heart of the actors’ performance, learn rehearsal techniques from developing the character to overcoming mental blocks on the set.
In the heat of the moment, the actors will always look to the director for help… make sure you know how to give it.
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10:18 video that walks you through various rehearsal exercises you can use to help your actors improve their performances
- Complete resource guide
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- Tips, tricks and techniques for helping actors give you the best performance
- Advice from working Hollywood directors
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric
Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, CaliforniaJason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform.
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft. It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address."
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system. Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Bethany Rooney
Critically acclaimed Director, "Brothers and Sisters", "Grey's Anatomy", "Desperate Housewives", and "Private Practice"In an environment where less than ten percent of dramas on television are directed by women, Bethany Rooney has enjoyed a long and esteemed career. She has directed over one hundred and fifty episodes of prime-time network shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, and Private Practice. For cable television, she has directed In Plain Sight, Weeds, and Drop Dead Diva. She began her directing career on the 1980’s iconic television show, St. Elsewhere, where she had served as associate producer.
She has also directed eight television movies, including three Danielle Steel adaptations for NBC. Her movies have earned reviews such as the following from Variety: “Bethany Rooney’s sensitive direction makes for some vivid and understated moments,” and the Hollywood Reporter noted her “carefully paced and involving direction (featuring) magnificent acting.” She has directed Oscar winners and contenders Denzel Washington, Hilary Swank, Mary Tyler Moore, Angela Bassett, George Clooney, Alfre Woodard, Felicity Huffman, Sally Field, and Robert Downey Jr., among many others. She is also the author of The Director Tells the Story.
John Henry Richardson
Actor and Director, "Panic 5 Bravo," "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood," "Dillinger in Paradise"John Henry Richardson stars in the popular web-series, "CASTLEVANIA--HYMN OF BLOOD" (2012), as Reinhardt Belmont, the last knight of the Brotherhood of Light. Upcoming, he stars in the new TV series, "BAKER & DUNN" (2014) as a bad New Orleans cop. On the big screen, he's co-starring in PANIC 5 BRAVO (2014), action thriller from Warner Bros./Lionsgate/Videocine, as a tough EMT Leader caught in a Mexican drug war. With over 300 films, TV shows, commercials and theatrical productions to his credit, on any given evening you can find him on HBO, Showtime, Sundance, FX or the Sci-Fi Channel. John Henry has won Best Acting Awards from the L.A. Weekly Theatre Critics, DramaLogue, Los Angeles Showcase and the Glendale Centre Theatre. He co-wrote and co-starred in the first interactive feature film, VOYEUR, which won 7 Cybermania Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay for JHR and Lena Pousette. He has been honored with awards from the Hollywood International Film Festival, Los Angeles IFF, Worldfest, Houston, Phoenix and Sonoma Film Fests for his critically-acclaimed DILLINGER IN PARADISE. John Henry has also been a leading acting coach in Los Angeles for over 30 years. He created the first video workshop for actors, The Actors Gymnasium in 1976. He was Senior Instructor of the Acting For Film Department of the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios, wherein he created the syllabi, lesson plan and curriculum for the Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Associate of Fine Arts Programs. He has produced and directed over 200 Thesis Films.
Mary Lou Belli
Emmy-winning Director, "Monk," "Charles in Charge," "The Hughleys", and "Major Dad"Mary Lou Belli is an Emmy Award winning producer, writer, and director as well as the author of three books. Most recently she directed Monk starring Emmy award winner Tony Shalhoub and The Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. Last season on the CW she directed The Game, the spinoff to Girlfriends, a series Mary Lou directed for 7 consecutive seasons. She directed the pilot of the Web series 3Way, winner of 2 Logo awards and the AfterEllen.com 2008 Visibility Award. With over 100 episodes to her credit, Mary Lou directed Living with Fran starring Fran Drescher, Misconceptions starring Jane Leeves, and Eve starring hip hop artist Eve, as well as The Hughleys, Charles in Charge, Major Dad, and Sister, Sister. Mary Lou received BET nominations for directing Girlfriends and One on One as well as a Prism Award for Girlfriends.
After receiving a BA in theatre from Penn State, Mary Lou acted in musical theatre and soaps in New York, followed by a Los Angeles career producing and directing theatre with over 75 play productions to her credit. She lectures frequently throughout the United States including many universities such as AFI, NYU, Northwestern, and UConn.
She is the co-author of three books: The Director Tells the Story, The Sitcom Career Book, Acting for Young Actors. She has been a judge for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant, a lecturer at the Chautauqua Institute, and a panelist for Women In Film, the DGA, SAG, and AFTRA. She’s judged the California Independent Film Festival, the Sapporo Short Film Festival in Japan, and CSU Media Arts Fest.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two teenage children….all actors!