associate degree in occupational studies
new media for actors
New Media for Actors is a new concept in acting training developed to respond to the evolving expectations placed on artists in the 21st century. Students in this program learn to do it all – they act, write, direct, edit, and promote content to build their brands.
curriculum
Platform Year develops your craft with movement and improvisation, and introduces you to Meisner technique, the technical aspects of working in front of a camera, and the roles and professional protocols on a set.
Explore basic vocal technique for the actor, including breath work, relaxation techniques, resonance, pitch, tempo and volume, with the goal of increasing the ability to fully express the truth of the text and the emotional integrity of the character and situation, while striving for vocal variety and expressiveness.
3.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
Perform with spontaneity and freedom through improvisational technique using body, gestures, and emotions. Use improvisation as an art form, as well as for auditioning and executing other performance disciplines. Make use of the tools of listening; being in the moment; committing to choices in working with fellow actors; use of status; and making active choices with emotional and physical connections.
2.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
A detailed survey of film acting styles across different film genres. Students will analyze the interplay between character qualities, script content, and the choices that actors make as they synthesize the two.
3.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
Actors learn how to perform on the set—everything from hitting marks to adjusting to different camera angles to professionalism and set protocol.
2.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
A deep dive into Sanford Meisner’s techniques for achieving authentic reactions and behaviors. The course covers listening skills, repetition exercises, relationship-focused scene work, emotional preparation, imaginary circumstances, and point of view.
4.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
This course is centered around exercises for physical awareness that complement the work of the voice and acting classes. Students will practice scene work that explores the relationship between behavior and relationships while learning popular dance styles.
3.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
A continuation of the vocal flexibility work from Voice and Speech I, beginning with microphone technique and cold reading skills. Students use Shakespearean texts to develop heightened language skills, full breath support, and dynamic energy.
3.0 Credit / Prerequisites: THE122
Apply, through heightened awareness, the principles of emotional preparation to specific text work. Develop the skills of exploring the text; preparation techniques; personal invention; focus on believable behavior in order to achieve spontaneity; and honesty in sharing. Learn how to maintain the integrity of the text; interpret the material and act moments as they are written; memorize and interpret speeches; and perform a fully interpreted score.
4.0 Credit / Prerequisites: THE127
Build on fundamental relaxation, physical stillness, energy, focus and dance techniques learned in Movement for Actors I. The student integrates body and mind with exercises using observation and imagination. Become more self-aware about the body’s relationship to space and how we respond to physical, vocal and emotional stimuli.
4.0 Credit / Prerequisites: THE127
Through exercises rooted in the principles and Americanized branches of the Stanislavski system, students will explore and implement strategies that allow an actor to authentically act under imaginary circumstances. Learn points of concentration such as endowment, emotional memory, sense memory, object work and creating a moment before. Put these skills to practical use working on simple A/B scenes.
3.0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
Building on Actor’s Lab I, this course examines how to use acting techniques, as well as the circumstances created by the playwright to bring the characters to life in a truthful manner. Coursework includes preceding circumstances, obstacles, intentions and actions.
3.0 Credits / Prerequisites: THE141
In a seminar with the librarian, learn to locate and identify high quality research materials. Work with the online tutorials on the NYCDA and New York Public Libraries. The class covers copyright, evaluating print and online sources and advanced internet searching, as well as in-depth instructions on Boolean searching techniques and controlled vocabularies used to search NYCDA and NYPL catalogs.
0 Credits / Prerequisites: None
Advancement into the New Media Program is based on teacher evaluations, academic standing, and final performances reviewed by the Academic Committee
Work on the acting craft, both artistically and technically, in front of the camera. Analyze assigned scripted scenes from all appropriate media. Practice working with master shots, coverage and continuity. Learn how to deal with different on-set working situations and maintain the quality of the work. Deal with the necessity of coming to the set fully prepared without any rehearsal. Full preparation for all class work without rehearsal is required.
3.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
Each session, professor will explore a different element from the evolution of new media, and students will then have a bi-weekly assignment to create a short performance piece in that format. Students will also have a weekly assignment bringing new media projects in for discussion and evaluation.
3.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
Students learn detailed techniques in filming, writing and post-production software and hardware.
1.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
A heads-down, pencils-up exploration of writing for those wish to create their own content. Theoretical and practical. Concepts developed for other courses may be honed in this class, and the second half will be dedicated to finishing pilot scripts for the end-of-year Series Creation Project.
3.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
A weekly investigation of trends, memes and techniques related to social media and promotion. Students will jointly maintain a social media channel designed to gain a robust following by the end of the semester.
1.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
This course will cover every element of creation, from idea inception to final post-production and distribution. Students will work with instructor in groups of 2-3 to produce 3-5 web series with at least 3 episodes each.
4.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
In this on-camera acting class, student actors have the opportunity to work in specific artistic and set environments that they will deal with professionally; for example: the speed of shooting a webisode, the director who blocks immediately, the director who improvises, nailing a scene in one take and staying fresh for thirty takes. The actor learns how to maintain a performance and accommodate to the specific needs of a production.
3.0 Credits
Prerequisites: THE100
Once students have a grasp of the general web video landscape and the craft involved in building their own work, the next crucial step is towards a solid understanding of the actual business of content. The course introduces students to thinking like a business owner – from creating work “market first,” to understanding the business models and needs of the players in the industry, to putting together promotion plans to get the crucial following that online content requires.
3.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
Students continue their weekly investigation of trends, memes and techniques related to social media and promotion. Students will maintain single or joint social media channels designed to gain a robust following by the end of the semester.
1.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent, THE104.
This course will bring together everything the student has learned and orient them towards the production and distribution of a significant new media project. Using skills acquired in this program, students will develop, pitch, collaborate, write, produce and shoot their own work. By mid-late semester, projects will be completed and posted. Students will work with faculty and peers to promote their work through New Media.
8.0 Credits
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Platform Year or equivalent.
When I see a young actor I’m thinking of representing, the first thing I ask is "what have you been doing?" Nowadays, it’s expected for actors to wear many hats… writer, director, producer etc. And with new platforms to share your work coming online all the time, there is no excuse not to be creating your own stuff.
Ashley Partington
Head of Commercials & Endorsements LA & NY / A3 Artists Agency
*Note: This program requires the following: NECESSARY EQUIPMENT Access to a mobile phone (iPhone, Android, etc.), digital camera, or computer with webcam Access to editing software (iMovie, Premiere, Final Cut, or any other PC or phone-based app) Thumb/USB drives or external hard drives for sharing work in progress