I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Acting for the Camera

2. Course Prefix & Number:
THTR 1445

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course is for students who want to learn about acting in video, film, television, and other recorded media. Students will have the opportunity to perform in front of the camera and see themselves as the camera records them, revealing their strengths and challenges. Acting techniques specific to working in film and television will be covered along with methods for auditioning, script analysis, character development, acting as communication, and acting styles in film and video. The course is also recommended for those wishing to enhance their on-screen presentational skills, be it in film, video, or online presentations.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Century College, THTR 1033 Acting for the Camera, 3 cr
North Hennepin Community College, TFT 1540 Acting for the Camera, 3 cr 

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Consistently and confidently communicate a particular persona in front of the camera.
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Identify and reproduce effective verbal and nonverbal cues for purposes of presenting in front of a camera.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Work effectively and productively with various team members, including fellow actors, technical staff, and creative team staff.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify particular stylistic differences between stage acting and acting for the camera (MnTC Goal 6);
• Successfully perform particular facets of on-camera work, including hitting a mark, working with a teleprompter, doing multiple takes, adjusting vocally to a microphone, and working with an off-camera partner in a scene;
• Critically assess their on-camera presentational strengths and challenges, as well as those of fellow class members, and the work of others in TV and film (MnTC Goal 6);
• Analyze a script for its intellectual and emotional content (MnTC Goal 6);
• Select particular strategies and techniques to most effectively communicate the intellectual and emotional content of a script (MnTC Goal 6);
• Adjust acting styles to fit particular camera angles, such as seated two-shot, close up, extreme close up, group master shot, and standing two-shot;
• Develop their particular on-camera persona or brand (MnTC Goal 6);
• Identify and apply successful strategies for auditioning for on-camera work (MnTC Goal 6); and
• Work without a partner by establishing eyelines and developing reaction techniques.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Acting on stage and on camera
2. How a film is organized
• Preparation
• Rehearsal
• Handling your lines
3. Single camera shoots
4. Shot size
• Distance and relationship
• Shot size and the actor
5. Technique
• Blocking for the camera
• Group shots
• Eye-lines
• Overlapping
• Vocal choices
• Physical choices
6. Continuity
• Matching levels of intensity
• Matching rhythm and tempo
• Matching business and props
• Matching take to take
7. Multiple camera shoots
8. Inner action and objectives
• Action and public solitude
• Justification
• Indicating
• Seeing and listening
• Attitude
• Choice
• Defining objectives
• Defining playable actions
• Spontaneity
9. Outer actions
• Automatic actions
• Direct and indirect action
• Doing nothing
10. Emotion
• Working from outside in
• Working from inside out
• Emotional memory and substitution
11. Non-acting presentation
• Persona and brand
• Projecting sincerity
• Finding the essence of the message
• Using acting as a parallel to being yourself
• Making sure you know who your audience is