Description
Introduction to Screen Acting – Weekend Course
What you will do on the Introduction to Screen Acting Course
Gain a comprehensive overview of the craft and technical elements of screen acting. You’ll be given script for filming and appear in solo and duologue contexts, develop your screen acting skills with practical exercises and compare clips to illustrate good and bad technique. Footage will be available to you if you wish at the end of the weekend.
You
We’re making this course accessible for people who have little or no experience of acting for the camera. You may have acted in some other environments, of course – experience on stage may be useful but it’s not essential.
Your Tutor
Steve Dineen spent a 25-year career acting in theatre, film and commercials in the UK and abroad before moving into tutoring.
He developed the Introduction to Screen Acting Course in response to students noting how unprepared they were for their first day on a shoot. Screen acting makes entirely different technical demands on an actor than theatre acting, and the goal is to begin the process of making that first day as familiar as possible.
Programme
Saturday 10.00-16.00 (breaks for lunch/coffee)
- Introduction to Screen Acting
- Major Differences Screen vs Stage
- Different Frames and the Impact of Framing
- Acting and Reacting
- Stories from Life
- Life distance vs camera distance
- How to get more screen time in the edit
- Audio and working with microphones
- Script Analysis and finding the Bottom Line
- Solo scenes
- Focus and staying in it.
Sunday 10.00-16.00 (breaks for lunch/coffee)
- Marks and hitting them
- Duo scenes
- Typecasting, quality and niches.
- Unorthodoxy
- Continuity
- Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable
- Cheating, matching and eyelines
- Impulses, motivations and gestures
Early booking discount & concessions for Introduction to Screen Acting
Early Booking – Book early to get 10% reduction on the full price course fee. See the date at top right of this page (usually two weeks before the course start date, but may vary).
Concessions – UK based Students, NHS workers and people on some means-tested benefits. Evidence is required, such as student card, NHS staff card or benefit letter.
Means tested benefits – JSA, Income Support; Working Tax Credit (not child tax credit); Council Tax Benefit (not student/single person/reduction due to disability); Housing Benefit; Pension Credit (guarantee); Unwaged Dependent of these benefits & Universal Credit.
All Film Oxford classroom-based courses are subsidised by Oxfordshire Adult Learning and are for Adults (18+).
If you like this…
If you are interested in out Introduction to Screen Acting course, you might also consider joining one of our screenwriting courses, or our Directing Drama for Film & TV course:
Introduction to Screenwriting is an in-person weekend course for beginner screenwriters
New Screenwriters Interactive Online Workshop is a follow-on from it, an intensive online workshop in which your script will be read by professional actors
Directing Drama for Film & TV is an in-person weekend course where you will learn the principles of directing drama.
Testimonials
“This has been the best course I’ve ever taken. Firstly, Steve is an incredibly supportive teacher – encouraging in such a gentle and understanding way. It’s clear he truly knows his craft. What i learned in two days was absolutely brilliant – so much technical and practical knowledge, way beyond what I expected. The course is ideal for all aspects of film – it offered exactly what I needed and more and i met lots of amazing people. I honestly can’t praise this course enough.” Karina, attendee in Spring 2025
“Steve was brilliant at gently guiding me through the uncomfortableness of being on camera for the first time and was extremely engaging and informative, creating a safe atmosphere.” Sonya, attendee in Spring 2025
“Steve was excellent at making everyone feel comfortable and get involved. I really enjoyed the amount of active learning and time spent in front of the camera.” Alfie, attendee in Spring 2025
“Steve is a fantastic teacher of acting for screen. He brought his knowledge and experience to the sessions and helped us to really develop our skills. Through working on a huge variety of scenes, I was well prepared for auditions and was then able to sign with an agency. Thank you, Steve!” Tilly, former student.
“My time with Steve on the acting for screen course was an invaluable experience and gave me all the confidence I needed when approaching screen work. His personal feel to the training meant that the camera never felt daunting during shooting, which also helped when it came to things like self tapes for drama schools. The progression of the course was well thought out and you left feeling you had covered all the bases.
It’s so reassuring knowing you are getting training from someone who has had years of hands on experience in the industry. I know the crucial tools and experience I gained have only supported me since. Couldn’t recommend Steve more!” Mason, former student.
“Steve’s classes give an in-depth coaching in Screen Acting and a more professional understanding of the industry as a whole. Heaps of time in front of camera allows you to get truly comfortable in that setting – you’re unlikely to find that consistently outside a professional sphere. Steve’s teaching encompasses on-set practical knowledge like framing, audio, continuity etc to in depth work on character through script analysis. Prepared me more than I could have imagined.” Tom, former student.
Additional information
| Pricing | Full price, Concession |
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