Improvisation for Directors in Film & TV:
Intensive 5-Day Course
with Sean McCann
Monday 22nd - Friday 26th November 2010
"It was a brilliant week. I loved Sean’s high-octane energy and ability to suffuse us with fascination for improvisation. I started out with trepidation, but felt supported enough to let go of my self-consciousness and really play with the ideas he was offering. It was a safe environment in which we were allowed to stretch ourselves into unknown territories; take risks, fail, succeed, whatever in the pursuit of gathering up these tools to push our own work into new and exciting directions. Sean is a truly inspiring teacher.” Lou Hamilton, participant July 2009. Click here for more testimonials.
Introduction
This intensive 5-day course is designed specifically for directors and writer/directors who would like to use improvisation as a central component of their work, and who would benefit from workshopping a current project with professional actors.
The course is highly practical in nature, and all participants will be encouraged to 'learn on their feet' through active involvement in the various improvisation techniques examined. The focus will be on the relationship between the director and the actor, but there will be a component examining how improvisation can be used to improve the quality and effectiveness of the written screenplay.
Although designed with directors in mind, this course is valuable for any screenwriters who wish to move into direction, or indeed anyone who is interested in exploring the relationship between the actor and the director.
Sean McCann with improvisation participants
Course Outline
The course will focus on the following key areas:
- How to get actors to improvise successfully. How do you do it? Not all actors are trained in improvisation. Some hate it. Some love it but don't always apply it successfully. This course will show you how.
- Improvisation using pre-existing material - developing scenes / back - story / characterisation and deep character. This is particularly helpful for novice film-makers who want a new set of skills to develop their methods of working with actors.
- Improvisation from scratch - how to generate story, character, and the foundations of a full screen-play from the ground up.
- Improvisation as a rehearsal technique AND Improvisation as part of the final shooting script.
- "Pitfalls, Bad Habits and Areas Of Concern". Improvisation is a tool for creating drama, and can be a help or a hinderance. This course will look at how improvisation can be mis-applied, and also at some common misperceptions about the whole Impro approach.
- "Does It Have To Be Funny?" Improvisation is a natural generator of humour, but can be used with equal success to create drama of the utmost "seriousness".
- Further research – What should I read? What should I watch? Where are the important areas of research in terms of using improvisation to work with actors?
During the final 3 days of the course, participants will have the opportunity to direct professional actors in scenes from their own projects.
By the end of the week, participants will have a deep working knowledge of the fundamentals of improvisational practice, and will have applied their knowledge in numerous rehearsal settings.
The course will be highly practical in nature - although full notes will be issued, and time set aside for feedback, the majority of the course will be spent workshopping the numerous techniques - expect to spend a lot of time out of your seat.
Times: 11am - 6pm
Fee: £420
10% Early Bird discount available until 1st October
Sean McCann - Tutor Profile
Sean McCann currently teaches improvisation at The Oxford School of Drama, East 15, The Actors' Centre and The London Film School.
In addition Sean performs widely both in the UK and abroad, at venues including Shakespeare's Globe, The Royal Court, The National Theatre, and the Latitude Festival, as well as numerous appearances on BBC Radio, in particular Radio 3s ‘The Verb’. He is a member of The Sticking Place, under whose auspices he trained and performed with the late Ken Campbell, and is a founder member of The School Of Night, an advanced improvisation company specialising in literary forms. Sean is currently editing Ken’s improvisation research notebooks from 2000-2008.
Sean is currently appearing in 'Showstopper – The Improvised Musical' at The Drill Hall in London. The show received rave reviews during its five star sell-out runs in 2008 and 2009, and has played at various venues in London and on tour in the UK. The show has also played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where guests have included Mike McShane, Matt Lucas and Dean Haglund.
In particular Sean works with Canada's award-winning Die-Nasty company, with whom he takes part in their annual 53 hour continuous improvised show - the longest of its kind in the world. He recently completed his fourth improv marathon at their base in Edmonton, Alberta. In January 2010 he also completed London’s third 50-hour show. Sean’s future plans include visits to Hong Kong and The Cork Festival in Ireland.
How to apply
Please submit the following items (email applications preferred):
- Personal Statement
(i.e. a few brief paragraphs explaining why you're applying for the course, what you hope to gain from it etc.)
Once your application has been approved we will provide you with instructions for booking your place online.
Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk
Postal Address:
Workshops Admissions,
The London Film School,
24 Shelton Street,
London, WC2H 9UB, UK
Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642
Fax us:
+44 (0)20 7497 3718
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