The Original Content Course

In this course we will work on what is becoming the most important tool for actors today: More and more you hear about actors getting their break from a web series or even just one viral video. If you follow entertainment news, it seems each week there's a story about some major network acquiring a web series to make it into a TV show. With technology where it is, artists have been given the opportunity to make what they want to make. As actors, we deal on the daily with frustration, powerlessness, disappointment, and waiting- so there is no excuse to not take action where we can- and make content TODAY. In this course you'll get the structure to conceptualize, write, film and edit your own short content. We will talk about promotion strategies and discuss how to get your content out to the most viewers possible. You will learn how to quickly and simply sharpen story structure, character development, and pacing. We'll work on filmmaking basics, and get you comfortable with simple editing so you don't have the excuse anymore of "I first gotta learn to edit."
​No more excuses. No more saying "I really want to make my own stuff." Now you will, and you do. Let's make some stuff.

Writing Your Own Content

What story to you want to tell? What kind of parts and scenes do you want to play that you haven't had a chance to yet on screen? What kind of series/short/story would you personally love to see? Once you've decided what you're going to create we will then talk about basic structure, character development, visual storytelling, and all of the rest so that whatever you choose to do, we give it the best foundation possible.

Editing It

We will touch on the basics of editing, briefly on Adobe, but mostly on iMovie, to make things simple. We want you to feel confident enough at the end of the course to be able to sit down alone with iMovie and hack away at anything new you make. Since the format right now will be either a short video, or a short series episode, it will be most important to cut anything thats excess. Simplicity and brevity are our friends, and theres a reason most scripted content that gets passed around tend to be short. 

Filming It

We will be introducing you to some basic filmmakng rules and techniques. We will play through a few rehearsals in class to mine the scenes and get you ready to film each other's work. We will go through various options for renting camera/audio equipment and what you will need etc. You'll be presented with a very affordable shared plan that will be most time/cost efficient for all of you, and give you the opportunity to work with professional camera/sound.  You're also free to borrow equipment from friends, or shoot on our phone if you'd like. On the day, you will each serve as an actor in your work, as well as a DP and PA on two other projects.

Getting It Out There

There is a lot to cover here in terms of strategy, patience, and decorum. We'll also go into wider marketing strategies including networking, social media and even paid advertisements.