TRAINING PROGRAM FIGHTING TO GET MORE INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION IN THE TV/FILM WORLD
The Indigenous Action Artist Mentorship Program (I.A.A.M.P.) offers First Nations men and women a chance to learn stunt skills. They were taught basic stunt skills, given a glimpse into the wide variety of on-set jobs that exist and they were coached on what it is like to be on a film set and what is expected if you do land a job. https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movies/training-program-fighting-to-get-more-indigenous-representation-in-the-tv-film-world
B.C. LOSES HOLLYWOOD NORTH CROWN TO ONTARIO AS SECTOR GENERATES $2.8B IN 2020
Production volume in B.C. reached $2.8 billion in the 2019-20 fiscal year, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) Profile 2020 report. That’s down 19% from the $3.4 billion generated in the previous fiscal year. The latest data reflects economic activity from April 2019 through to the end of March 2020. https://biv.com/article/2021/05/bc-loses-hollywood-north-crown-ontario-sector-generates-28b-2020
B.C. ARTS AND CULTURE LOOKING FOR RE-OPENING CLARITY AS PROVINCE LOOKS TOWARDS EASING RESTRICTIONS
The provincial government has promised a re-opening plan next week, but will not ease any restrictions until after the upcoming May long weekend. https://globalnews.ca/news/7878788/b-c-arts-culture-seeking-reopening-clarity/
CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO FILM + TV PRODUCTIONS
Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed an increase of $30 million to its film and television tax credit program, in hopes of luring production back to the state. Currently, the state has a $75.7 billion budget surplus, and if Governor Newsom’s effort goes through, the film and TV industry will see some of it. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/california-to-provide-an-additional-30-million-in-tax-credits-to-73301/
STEREOTYPES ARE RIFE AMONG ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER FILM ROLES, STUDY FINDS
Two-thirds of characters reflect stereotypes, and just 3.4 percent of movies had leads or coleads who were Asians or Pacific Islanders, the study of 1,300 movies found. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/movies/asian-pacific-islanders-film.html
ASL AND THEATRE: HERE’S WHAT NOT TO DO
Here is the sage advice I bestow upon those brave enough to email me. While I wrote this to focus on theatre education in schools, these tips do apply to the entertainment industry in general, so you can substitute the word student for person, actor, or artist. https://www.americantheatre.org/2021/05/18/asl-and-theatre-heres-what-not-to-do/
TALES FROM A DISABLED THEATRE SCHOOL GRAD
In many theatre schools, there is a misconception that the students are morally superior to the teachers. The students in my department portrayed the professors as being out-of-touch people who regularly said and did problematic things. This was true; however, in my experience, theatre students can be equally responsible for creating toxic and discriminatory environments. https://www.intermissionmagazine.ca/artist-perspective/tales-from-a-disabled-theatre-school-grad/
CLASSICALLY TRAINED B.C. ACTOR SHARES TIPS ON HOW TO COME OFF COOL AND CONFIDENT ON ZOOM
School and work moved online while Victoria-based actor Emma Rendell's career was sidelined. Then she realized some of the skills she employed as an actor could help people now meeting on Zoom and other video conference platforms. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/zoom-confidence-training-1.6026714
ANN SKELLY ON NAILING LIVE ENERGY IN SELF-TAPES
With self-tapes, it can feel like I lose the stakes and electricity of being on a set or at a real in-person audition. Prepping well beforehand and doing as few takes as possible keeps tapes from becoming stale, and helps keep your mind intact.
When you audition, the people in the room want to meet you as well as see your work. They’re hiring you and need to get a feel for who you are and how you might handle yourself if you get the job.
INTRO TO TRANSFORMATION | YAT/BENTLEY CENTRE
May 30th and June 3rd | Free
As an actor, have you ever desired to disappear into a character, to be so completely transformed that you are unrecognizable? Reach the greatest depths of yourself as a person and actor. Jump into the renowned Yat Method used by Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, Colin Firth, Anne-Marie Duff, Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, and Pierce Brosnan. New in-person and online classes offered in our Vancouver studio in June, July and August. https://www.yatbentley.com/workshops
BIZ STUDIO: ONLINE PROFESSIONAL FILM+TV ACTING CLASSES FOR KIDS+TEENS
Biz Studio has a seventeen-year track record of training young actors who work regularly in film and television.
Classes are like small-group personal training, and take a maximum of six students so that instructors can work with each actor to give them what they need. This is the place for young actors ready to take their work to the next level! http://www.bizstudio.ca/classes
ROGUES WEST ACTORS STUDIO
With studios in Vancouver and Calgary, the Rogues name is synonymous with the highest calibre of training and we have been training and mentoring actors for over 25 years. The online platform has proven to be a powerful and dynamic medium for developing relationship, character and creating complex human performances. Our next session of in-studio and online classes for Young Adults, Film, Meisner and Scene Work starts soon – email us for more info and book your intro meeting with Christiane
Hirt! rogueswest@gmail.com | www.rogueswest.ca
DIALECT COACHING - TONY ALCANTAR
Hollywood producers trust Tony with their stars: Oscar winners Mel Gibson, Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmy winner Martin Freeman plus A-listers Sam Rockwell, Vince Vaughn, Joel Edgerton, Bob Odenkirk, Nathan Fillion, Stellan Skarsgard and MANY MORE. You can trust him too.
* Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach recommended by agents and casting directors. Learn with confidence the most requested accents and dialects for the Vancouver market.
Book that role!
Contact: 604-418-1192, info@tonyalcantardialect.com, www.tonyalcantar.com
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
With strict COVID protocols in place, smaller class sizes, and under the advisement of a Health and Safety consultant, our 2021 classes have been safe and a great success. Spring, Summer and Fall classes are open for registration.
* Friday and Sunday "Acting on Film" classes with John Cassini.
* On Camera Workshops with Brian Markinson
* "Foundations" Scene Study with Frank Cassini
* "Making Connection: Scene Study" with Jennifer Copping.
* "The Actor's Instrument" and "Acting: Process & Practice" with Edward Foy
Details for all Classes: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Are you new to us? Click here: www.railtownactors.com/interview
We look forward to hearing from you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
REVOLVER FESTIVAL
May 19 - June 6
rEvolver Festival’s digital presentation series is opening with 12 events. Shaped around digital and audio experiences, conversations and workshops, readings and talkbacks, this year’s festival is dedicated to starting dialogues about change. https://www.upintheairtheatre.com/2021-festival
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
May 31 - June 13
Reimagine fun at the 2021 Vancouver International Children’s Festival with an extraordinary online line-up of world-class theatre, music, dance and storytelling created specifically for children. https://www.childrensfestival.ca
