TPP 4265 Camera Acting Tuesday/Thursday – 2:30 – 5 Theater acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser. Michael Caine Professor - Be Boyd Office - 223 Phone – Mobile 321-439-2614 Email - [email protected] Office Hours – Due to COVID, we are not allowed to hold office hours in our office IF they do not have the required six feet for social distancing. My office does not meet the special requirement for COVID, therefore, I will be available through zoom, facetime, email and the phone during the following hours. • Mon – 12- 2:30, Wed – 12 – 2 or by appointment on Friday • If you have need to meet with me for more than 15 minutes, we can set up a zoom meeting fairly quickly. If possible try to set them up the night before. o If not, try to contact me as early in the morning as possible on the day you need the meeting so we can set up a zoom meeting later during that same day. • If it is a quick meeting, we can facetime or talk over the phone UCF Academic Links • Academic Calendar Link: https://calendar.ucf.edu/2020/fall/no-classes • UCF library link: https://library.ucf.edu/TPP 4265C - Camera Acting • Credit Hours: 3 Class Hours: 3 Lab and Field Work Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 5 Prerequisite(s): None. Corequisite(s): None. Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): “C” (2.0) or better in TPP 4140C COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will cover three major areas: • Developing and/or advancing basic screen acting skills including playing for various camera shots and angles, continuity, teleprompter, reaction shots, self-taping, etc • Performing for television and film styles (i.e primetime drama, sitcom, romantic comedy, reality tv, horror, action) and skills for auditioning for film/television/media • Developing an appreciation for some very basic behind the camera work by developing a production project through iphone, android and/or zoom. Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes: • Demonstrate a comfortable camera presence - to learn to be intimate, personal and specific for the camera • Develop actors’ skills with on-camera blocking (camera angles), business, subtext, and reactions • Develop and demonstrate an understanding of performing the various styles for film and television (i.e. commercials, sit com, primetime, reality TV, popular film styles, mockumentary, etc.) • To develop critical on-camera auditioning technique and performance evaluation skills both live and online submissions. Class Approach Due to Covid • Due to Covid – we will have a blendflex class, meaning that we will meet mostly on zoom with some limited face to face. Because camera work requires your face, we will be using your current residence kind of like a home studio through zoom as well as recording/uploading from your phone. • If safety becomes a concern, we will move to an all zoom format. • I will give you a heads up when we meet on campus. • I will try to keep you informed on a daily basis as to where we will convene. Develop a habit of checking both Facebook and/or email late at night or early in the morning in case an emergency arises. I will try to make announcements as ahead of time as possible. If you do not live close to UCF, let me know so I am aware of how much time it takes to travel here for you. • Because we will be working through zoom we are going to try to use the function for participants to record. I would like for you to get in the habit of recording your zoom work during class. Camera Acting Handout • There is a Camera Acting Handout attached to this email. The handout contains important material such as: camera acting terms, websites that describe the process for self-taping, descriptions and images of basic camera shots and angles, a basic description of how to create a storyboard for directing a film shoot, Television and Film Genres and how to approach continuity and creating a webseries. You are responsible for knowing the material on the handout as well as the material from the class. • I don’t forsee a time when we will be using the cameras in the department to film as that is currently a safety risk. However, in the event that regulations loosen up, please see the following: o ***Students are required to bring your own SD card to class every day to have a record of your work. You will need at least two SD cards (perhaps more). As you will download, assess and edit your own work, you will not be allowed to use another classmates SD card. You will need the SDHC or SD card 32GB. Recommended Reading Acting in Film, Michael Caine, Applause Theatre Book Publishers ISBN: 9781557832771 Acting for the Camera, Tony Barr, Harper & Row Publishers, ISBN:0-06- 055009-0 MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS and WEEKLY SCHEDULE I. Uploaded Link for On Camera In Class Exercises and Written Observation II. On Camera Exercises and Basic On Camera Skills III. TV, Film Styles and Mock Auditions IV. Create Your Own Short Webseries (Three Webisodes) ****Due to COVID, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the syllabus as needed. Week 1 – 4 – August 24–September 19 I. UpLoaded Link for On Camera In Class Exercises and Written Observation– 100pts each • You will have daily on camera exercises that will be filmed and recorded through zoom or your phone. You will view and assess your growth from week to week. • Once you have viewed your work, you will write an observation paragraph responding to your work on camera. You will create a link and upload the link of the on camera work from the previous weeks AND send in your written observation all through knights email. For example: the first week of class we will have exercises for two days of class. You will use these and other in class exercises to access. You should choose 3 different exercises for your submission and written observation. • There will be a specific focus for the on camera exercises each day/week of class - your written paragraph should reflect the observation of your on camera work based on the particular goals of the class for the week, in class discoveries, class discussions and the feedback you have been given. Discuss your growth from exercise to exercise and the challenges you are working through • Once your compilation is complete, you should create a link you can send them both to Professor Boyd (you can create links for youtube, etc) to her UCF email address, not webcourses. Your observation should be between 100 and 150 words for each clip/exercise. Due dates: • Sunday Sept 6 by 8pm – Link and Written Observation • Sunday Sept 20 by 8pm - Link and Written Observation • Sample of Written Observations • Clip #1: Close scene Okay! This looked more natural than it felt when I was running the lines on my own. My face did seem to be at somewhat of an odd angle. The times when I was fully invested where much more interesting. There were times here and there where I could see myself lean into actor listening, and then lean back into character listening. So now, I need to figure out how to stay all-in all the time! My mouth was open for a lot of the scene, and I think that is because of the training we have gotten to get better breath. But, here, I probably don’t need to do that! • Clip #2: Close scene This take was much better, the first one seemed like a warm-up, because in this one, my lines and POV were more specific. This clip wasn’t the full scene just so I could see the difference when my face is slightly angled down and when it’s at a good angle. That truly does make such a difference! • Clip #3: Reader My head was angled down a bit again, and it makes a difference! But this time, I really paid attention to listening throughout XXXX line to have what she said fuel the way I said my next lines, and one line that I was have trouble finding an honest way to say, felt totally natural this time! Hooray! A success! • Also, after watching this clip I realized it was the one where XXXXX was farther away, and I think I was able to still maintain some intimacy. I still have some theatre-voice tendencies, but I’m getting simpler and more precise in my POV. • 2.On Camera Exercises- 100pts each o This course is experiential. Much of the learning will happen in class as you explore techniques and exercises needed to adapt to the craft of acting for the camera. You will participate in a series of exercises (some non scripted, some scripted) for self- discovery to answer, identify, confirm and practice the following: Who am I on camera? What is my on-camera presence? What do I need to change/shift to become camera friendly? Single camera. • You will be assessed on: o Preparation of Assignment or Exercise o Development and Demonstration of Talking, Listening and Responding o Continued Development and Demonstration of your on-camera presence/ personality o Demonstration of addressing the feedback received during the exercises and assignments o Demonstration of growth in developing an effective camera presence that is truthful to the style o How you approach and receive adjustments • As we move toward scripted Material you will be assessed on: o Preparation of Assignment/Exercise o Demonstration of clear interpretation of content in script/scene and navigation of copy/script o Demonstration of Clarity in Point of View o Demonstration of Character/Personality/Relationship in script/scene o Demonstration of Specificity of style o Demonstration of Vocal and Physical Choices for style o Demonstration of Continuity o Demonstration of adjustments for Camera angles/shots 3.