Fall 2016 - SAG-AFTRA · Fall 2016 WELCOME TO THE 2016/2017 to evolve and grow these classes as teachers become CONSERVATORY SEASON The AFI year has begun, and along with that is

Fall 2016

WELCOME TO THE 2016/2017

CONSERVATORY SEASON

By Kevin McCorkle Welcome back! As co-chairs of the SAG-AFTRA Los

Angeles Conservatory, Michael D. Cohen and I are happy

you are here. This time of year is always exciting and

motivating, as we transition from the last lazy, hazy days

of summer and focus with renewed energy and enthusiasm

on our goals and dreams to close out yet another year. We

have been busy at the Conservatory since the incredibly

successful summer intensive weekend, developing new

classes, putting the final touches on the newly renovated

audiovisual studio and doing our best to create a more

efficient online registration tool for classes, workshops,

panels and guest speakers.

It is a great time to be a conservatory member. We are

determined to bring you the best that we can offer to

educate, motivate, inform and prepare you for the

challenges and the

artistic demands that

you will face as you

travel on your

creative journey.

Our volunteer

teachers are

experienced and

knowledgeable,

offering classes at

differing levels

according to your

capabilities. We have

implemented a few

new classes that you

have not seen before

and will continue

to evolve and grow these classes as teachers become

available and we see the need for them.

The AFI year has begun, and along with that is the need

for the fellows (students are referred to as fellows at AFI)

to cast their first-year cycle projects exclusively from

SAG-AFTRA Conservatory membership. I have worked

in a few of these AFI projects in the past and can say

from personal experience they are as professional as any

studio or independent film I have ever worked on. As a

conservatory member, you are in the “casting pool”

for these films as long as you are registered on

SAG-AFTRA’s iActor, so make sure you are “in the mix.”

Part of the value of your Conservatory membership is the

ensemble of professional actors who help each other out

through their shared culture and community. This year,

make it a point to get as much as you can from your

membership in this creative group. Get involved, show up

to class, get in on the casting calls, volunteer your time

and build relationships that will benefit you for years to

come. There is much to be done individually and as a

group, and you can become a part of the evolution of both.

Michael and I, the teachers and the entire Conservatory

Committee are looking forward to seeing you as we begin

another productive, impactful and creative year at the

Conservatory.

IN THIS ISSUE:

How to Register

for Classes 3

Workshop

Schedule 4-5

Workshop

Descriptions 6-7

Conservatory

Rules and

Regulations

11

The Los Angeles

Conservatory Committee,

co-chaired by

Michael D. Cohen and

Kevin McCorkle, works on

both local and national levels

to encourage, supervise and

create programs through the

Conservatory that benefit

SAG-AFTRA members.

Cohen McCorkle

CREATIVITY

RULES!

By Lee Garlington

A couple of Mondays ago, I had a

very empowering experience with

creative energy and the concept of

“enoughness.” Interestingly, it was not my creative

energy. It was the creativity that was surrounding me.

One of my favorite “TV daughters” asked if she could

use my home for a shoot. It was a short she’d written and

was directing, her calling card to try and get into the AFI

Women’s Directing program. I said yes, of course, and

that Monday morning 15 film people arrived at 8 in the

morning.

Having had shoots in my home before, I usually absent

myself. But this was different, and I parked myself at the

kitchen table, making myself available for questions or

needs that I knew would come up. They did. I bounced

around most of the day getting this, finding that, coming

up with little props that were needed, moving things that

were in the way, and so on. By the end of the day, I had

myself a producer credit!

At 7, I left to go to my writers group, which meets

Monday nights at AFI. I was neither acting nor writing,

but I got there early to coordinate which rooms each of

the three scenes were rehearsing in and to be there in

case an actor couldn’t make it, and I needed to fill in.

Everyone showed up, and I sat by myself in the hallway

for an hour listening to all the creative energy going on

around me. From the three rooms came laughter,

shouting, crying, talking, men and women expressing

themselves fully.

I was both moved and overwhelmed by how incredibly

satisfying and fulfilling it was to be surrounded by

creative energy for 12 hours. I wasn’t doing anything

particularly creative myself, but I felt proud to be living a

life wherein creativity is all around me. Just breathing it

all day made me feel this incredible aliveness, head to

toe. I felt the enoughness of that. I thought, if I could feel

this fulfilled being surrounded by creative energy, why

wasn’t having a great audition and not booking the part

enough? If I write a scene that is imperfect, but I put my

all into it, can’t I find the part of me that feels satisfied by

having existed for a few hours in the creative state?

I realized it doesn’t really matter what it is I’m doing. If I

make a scrapbook of our trip to Italy, write a beautiful

thank you card to a friend, redecorate a wall in a room or

put together a fabulous outfit for the day, if I’m being

creative, that’s fulfilling. Coming up with a yummy

dessert for my family, buying a friend the perfect present,

participating in a friend’s reading of her screenplay — all

of that is creative! And it’s enough.

I equate creativity with aliveness. If I’m creating, then

I’m living. The “results” of that creativity are almost

irrelevant. It’s the act of creativity that nurtures our

artists’ souls. And by golly, just for today, that’s enough

for me.

COPIES OF AFI FILMS

SEEK LOVING HOMES

You auditioned, booked the job, shot the movie,

screened the film and then…?

One of the many great benefits of the relation-

ship between AFI and the SAG-AFTRA

Conservatory is that you, as the actor, are

guaranteed to receive a copy of the work you

have done for the first-year AFI cycle films.

Currently, we have hundreds of DVDs waiting

for their homes. Because of space limitations, we

cannot keep these for more than two years, so

please make sure you pick up your copy. You

may call before coming in to verify one is

waiting for pickup. Please have the name of the

film project ready when you call and then you

can come claim your footage during the

Conservatory office business hours:

Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m.

2

CLASS REGISTRATION

IS NOW ONLINE! To see an online calendar of our classes

and find links to enroll,

please visit our website at

sagaftra.org/laconservatory

On the page look for a link that says

WORKSHOPS

Registration for classes and special events will open

at exactly 10 a.m. one week prior to

the individual workshop.

Example: If the workshop you would like to attend is

on Wednesday, enrollment will open the prior

Wednesday starting at 10 a.m.

Reservations are not accepted via voicemail or

email. Only cancellations are accepted via

voicemail or email.

All workshops are held in the Mayer

Library Building (LIB) at the top of the hill

(the building where the office is

located) unless otherwise noted.

LIB: LIBRARY BUILDING

(Example LIB 100 is

Library Building, room 100)

F/B: FRANKOVICH BARNES

SCREENING ROOM

First floor Library Building

MGSR: MARK GOODSON

SCREENING ROOM

Second floor Library Building

WB: WARNER BUILDING

*SEE BACK PAGE FOR A MAP OF THE

AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CAMPUS

HOW TO REGISTER

LOCATION OF CLASSES

3

DO YOU WANT TO

AUDITION FOR

AFI PROJECTS?

CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR

iACTOR PROFILE TODAY!

The Conservatory database for

casting is online. We have joined forces

with iActor, and all Conservatory

members wishing to be considered for AFI

projects must have an iActor

account. Click the link to create or

update yours today.

sagaftra.org/iactor-online-casting

http://www.SAGAFTRA.ORG/LACONSERVATORY

http://www.sagaftra.org/iactor-online-casting

FALL CALENDAR OF WORKSHOPS *PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS FOR LOCATION*

SEPTEMBER 2016

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

26

7 p.m.

Commercial Audition,

Intermediate

27

10 a.m. Cold Reading,

Intermediate

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

7 p.m. Voiceover 101

28


Beginning

29

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

30 OCT. 1

10 a.m. Self-Taping

for Actors

OCTOBER 2016


3

7 p.m.


Beginning

4


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

7 p.m. Actors’ Evening

5


Intermediate

7 p.m. Theatrical Video

6

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

7 8

11 a.m. Chakra

Acting Techniques

10

7 p.m.


Intermediate

11


Intermediate

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate


12


Beginning

7 p.m. Improv

13

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

14

15

17

7 p.m.


Beginning

18


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

19


Intermediate


20

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

21

6:30 p.m. Open Camera

*each student assigned

time slot

22

11 a.m. American

Accent Clinic

24

7 p.m.


Intermediate

25


Intermediate

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate


7 p.m. Specificity

Special Event

26


Beginning

27

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

28 29

4

We are happy to announce that our workshop registration is now ONLINE!

To sign-up for an individual class or event, please visit our website at


http://www.sagaftra.org/LACONSERVATORY

FALL CALENDAR OF WORKSHOPS *PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS FOR LOCATION*

NOVEMBER 2016


OCT. 31

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN!

NO WORKSHOPS

1


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning


2


Intermediate


3

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

4 5

10 a.m. Self-Taping

for Actors

7

7 p.m.


Beginning

8


Intermediate

There will be no

evening classes due to

the general election.

9


Beginning

7 p.m. Improv

10

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

11

VETERANS DAY

NO WORKSHOPS

12

2 p.m. Chakra

Acting Techniques

14

7 p.m.


Intermediate

15


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

16


Intermediate


17

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

18



time slot

19

21

7 p.m.


Beginning

22


Intermediate


23


Beginning

24

HAPPY

THANKSGIVING!

25

CLOSED FOR THE

THANKSGIVING

HOLIDAY

26

CLOSED FOR THE

THANKSGIVING

HOLIDAY

28

7 p.m.


Intermediate

29


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

30


Intermediate

DEC. 1

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

DEC. 2 DEC. 3

10 a.m. Self-Taping

for Actors

DECEMBER 2016


5

7 p.m.


Beginning

6


Intermediate

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning


7


Beginning


8

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate

9 10

12

7 p.m.


Intermediate

13


Beginning

6 p.m. SVW:

Intermediate


14


Intermediate

7 p.m. Improv

15

6 p.m. SVW:

Beginning

16



time slot

17

END OF FALL

WORKSHOPS

5

ACTORS’ EVENING First Tuesday of each month

7 - 10 p.m.

Mark Goodson Screening Room (MGSR)

Limit 136 students

Industry professionals appear in a seminar format to

discuss their business and answer questions.

COLD READING Tuesday and Wednesday mornings

Beginning and Intermediate rotate days

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Library Building Room 101

Limit 10 students

Learn and develop effective auditioning techniques.

COMMERCIAL AUDITION Monday nights

Beginning and Intermediate rotate weeks

7 - 10 p.m.


Limit 10 students

Learn how the commercial audition process works in an

on-camera workshop that simulates a real audition.

Your work will be videotaped, followed by viewing

and comments.

IMPROV Second Wednesday of each month

7 - 10 p.m.


Limit 30 students

Learn improvisation skills to help make you a more

creative actor.

OPEN CAMERA Third Friday of each month

*6:30 - 9:30 p.m. (each student is assigned a specific

30-minute time slot)


Limit 6 students.

Students get a half hour with director Nick Leland to

work on camera. Bring a prepared monologue or scene

(with another Conservatory member only), or even try

different “looks.” Please bring a flash drive to record

your work and take it home to study.

SCENE VIDEO WORKSHOP Tuesday and Thursday nights

Beginning and Intermediate rotate days

6 - 10 p.m.


Limit 10 students

Upon arrival, you will be given a scene, paired with a

partner and given instruction. You will have 30 - 60

minutes to work on the scene. All students then shoot

the scene on camera and watch your work followed by

comments and direction.

THEATRICAL VIDEO First and third Wednesdays

7 - 11 p.m.


Limit 8 students

Simulated theatrical interview and cold reading on

video followed by viewing and comments. Bring a

picture and resume.

VOICEOVER Second and fourth Tuesday

7 - 10 p.m.


Limit 15 students

Voiceover 101 - Second Tuesday: An introduction to a

career in VO, covering basic mic techniques, working

with commercial copy and finding your voice.

Voiceover 201 (VO 101 a prerequisite unless a

working VO actor) Fourth Tuesday: More in-depth

techniques in the areas of animation, promo and

narration.

*Please note the Sept. 27 class will be a VO 101 class.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

We offer beginning and intermediate

classes in our Cold Reading, Commercial

Audition and Scene Video Workshops. This is

to better meet the needs of our membership.

Please read the self-selection

process carefully.

We ask that you please follow these guidelines so that

you and your fellow actors will have

the best experience possible.

Please see page 8 for the selection criteria

RESERVATIONS BEGIN ONE WEEK

PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP AT 10 a.m.

EXACTLY. ALL WORKSHOPS ARE

STAND-ALONE CLASSES.

6

ACTORS SHOWCASE Wednesday, Sept. 14

6 - 10 p.m.


Limit 18 students

Eighteen actors will perform scenes and redirects live on

the AFI campus. Conservatory members will have a plat-

form to show their abilities to up-and-coming filmmakers.

All AFI fellows are invited to observe. As space is

limited to 18 for this workshop, the first 150

Conservatory members to register will be entered into a

pool, and from there 18 actors will be randomly

selected through a lottery process.

SELF-TAPING FOR ACTORS Instructor: Tim Powell

First Saturday of each month

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.


Limit 30 students

This workshop covers low-cost, simple techniques for

producing quality video uploads for auditions. Learn

lighting basics, producing quality audio framing and

videography as well as file compression, size reduction

and internet delivery. Best practices for the best results.

CHAKRA ACTING TECHNIQUES Instructor: Murisa Harba

Saturday, Oct. 8

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

-and-

Saturday, Nov. 12

2 - 4 p.m.


Limit 25 students

Using the chakras (or the body’s natural energy centers)

to tap into what is already inherent in our body as human

beings is a way to physically, vocally and intentionally

warm up the actor’s instrument: the body. The actor will

then learn how to incorporate the chakras into their

character-building and scene work to garner rich,

connected results that happen organically. This approach

empowers the actor to shift from a “heady” approach to

utilizing the whole body and voice as a “true” instrument,

while delivering strong, concrete decisions in their prep

work.

This workshop is being offered twice. It is not a

two-part class.

NEW WORKSHOPS

& SPECIAL EVENTS

GENERAL AMERICAN

ACCENT CLINIC For Non-American Actors and American Actors

with Regional American Dialects

Instructor: Gaby Santinelli

Saturday, Oct. 22

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.


Limit 8 students Are you originally from another country, and want to

master the General American accent, to have more acting

opportunities in America? Are you an American actor

with a regional American dialect, who would like the

option to speak neutral “Gen Am”? Get down to the nitty

gritty with Gaby Santinelli at this rapid-fire diagnostic

American accent clinic. Gaby will determine where

you’re at today with your General American accent. And

she’ll guide you toward what to do next. Please bring two

printed copies of a one-minute monologue. Alternatively,

text will be provided for participants on the day, for a

cold-reading-in-General-American experience.

SPECIFICITY - CREATING MOMENTS

THAT BOOK WORK For actors at the advanced level

(Beg. and Int. invited to observe)

Instructor: Michael D. Cohen

Tuesday, Oct. 25

7 - 10 p.m.


Limit 136 students (not all will work)

We often try to be unique and creative as actors, but

the most effective way to book work is by accessing

our authenticity and creating full, memorable

moments one after the other. This workshop, taught by

Michael D. Cohen, will invite advanced-level actors to

work at the front of the room to hone their specificity in

scene work and auditions. Beginner/intermediate level

members are encouraged to attend and observe. Please

see page 8 for a list of criteria for the advanced actor.

Registration for all workshops

and events is now online!

Visit our website for

more details at

sagaftra.org.laconservatory

Reservations are required for

all events and workshops.

7

http://www.sagaftra.org.laconservatory

Some of our workshops and classes are

customized to experience levels. Please select

the level that most appropriately describes your

experience. We suggest that you meet three of

the four criteria to join in the level. If you are

unsure which level you are in, please take the

beginning class to start.

This is not a consecutive program. It is

requested that you stay in your level until your

experience changes to fit the next level.

Note: For example, if you are an intermediate-

level actor, you do not need to take the

beginning class.

BEGINNING

SAG-AFTRA ACTING EXPERIENCE:

Background work and/or one TV co-star role

and/or two TV commercial credits (include

union productions before you were a member.)

OTHER ACTING EXPERIENCE:

None or limited to community theater.

STUDENT or AFI FILM EXPERIENCE:

None or up to three credits.

ACTING TRAINING OUTSIDE OF

SAG-AFTRA CONSERVATORY:

None or limited to one year or less of training.

INTERMEDIATE


Has two or more co-star or guest star credits,

and/or four or more TV commercial credits

(include union productions before you were a

member.)


One or more professional theater acting credit

(preferably Equity or Equity waiver.)

STUDENT or AFI FILM EXPERIENCE:

Four or more credits or a lead role credit in two

or more projects.

ACTING TRAINING OUTSIDE


Equivalent of two years or more of ongoing

classes.

ADVANCED


Three or more co-star or guest star credits,

and/or five or more TV commercial credits

(include union productions before you were a

member), and/or one or more recurring guest

star credits, or three or more co-star recurring

credits, and/or one or more series regular credits

on a broadcast (ABC, NBC, CBS etc.),

streaming (Amazon, Netflix, etc.) or cable

(HBO, Showtime, etc.) network.


Three or more professional theater acting credits

(preferably Equity or Equity waiver.)

ACTING TRAINING OUTSIDE


Equivalent of four years or more of ongoing

classes.

BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE

& ADVANCED WORKSHOP

SELF-SELECTING CRITERIA

8

9

THE

PRACTICAL

ACTOR Advice from a

Working Actor

By Kevin McCorkle

ACTORS WANTED

AFI directors and cinematographers are often

looking for actors to volunteer and assist in

various classes and workshops on the AFI

Campus.

Although no footage is given from these classes,

you have the opportunity to work alongside and

network with some of the best up-and-coming

filmmakers in the industry. Many times, actors

are needed for a few hours during the day or

evening, but in those hours, great relationships

are often formed and it can also be a fantastic

learning opportunity for you to gain more insight

into the world of filmmaking from the other side

of the camera.

If you are interested,

please email Dawn at

[email protected]

or call the office at 323.856.7736

WORKSHOP

REGISTRATION IS

NOW ONLINE!

To sign-up for an individual

class or special event,

please visit our website at


10

THE SAG-AFTRA

LOS ANGELES

CONSERVATORY

COMMITTEE

The Conservatory is run by a team of

committed volunteers who form the

SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles

Conservatory Committee. They are

responsible for directing the programs,

panels and events at the Conservatory

and put a great deal of time and

commitment into making this great

entity of ours run strong. We want

to take this opportunity to introduce

them to you.

MICHAEL D.

COHEN

KEVIN

MCCORKLE

BILL

APPLEBAUM

LEE

GARLINGTON

MURISA

HARBA

NICHOLAS

LELAND

TIM

POWELL

GABY

SANTINELLI

SHAAN

SHARMA

WYNTER

SPEARS

BOB

TELFORD

TEDDY

VINCENT

WILL

WALLACE

ANGELA

WATSON

MARI

WEISS

REED

YOUNG

Kevinmccorkle.com

http://www.SagAftra.org/iActor/nicholasleland

http://www.AngelaWatson.com

http://www.michaeldcohen.com/

By joining the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory you have taken an

aggressive and positive step in advancing your career.

Congratulations! We hope you’ll make the most out of your

experience here by participating in our workshops and special events,

volunteering, and contributing your talents to AFI directing and

cinematography classes, as well as, of course, the first and second-year

films. AFI is a two-year masters program and, with our SAG-AFTRA

agreement, first-year students, called “fellows,” are required to use

SAG-AFTRA Los Angles Conservatory members.

GETTING THERE

We are located on the

campus of the

American Film Institute

2021 N. Western Ave.

Hollywood, CA 90027

If you are heading east on

Franklin Avenue, turn left

(north). The AFI campus

is halfway up the hill on

the left. Turn into the

driveway and go up the

hill (past Immaculate Heart

High School). The first

building on your left is

the Warner Building,

where many auditions for

student films are held. To

get to the SAG-AFTRA

Los Angeles Conservatory

office, continue driving

further up the hill. As you

veer left, you’ll see a white

two-story building, the

Mayer Library Building.

The SAG-AFTRA

Conservatory office is

located in the Library

Building, room 100, on

the ground floor at the

north end of the building.

Documents

Fall 2016 - SAG-AFTRA · Fall 2016 WELCOME TO THE 2016/2017 to evolve and grow these classes as teachers become CONSERVATORY SEASON The AFI year has begun, and along with that is