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Sears and Switzer

Creating, Training, Producing since 1978

theatre, film, television, presentations

Film acting workshops are a well-known Sears & Switzer specialty...

Since 1988, when Equity Showcase asked Theresa and David to design Equity's first on-camera workshop for professional stage performers, we have taught many of the most successful on-camera actors to come out of Canada.

We're often asked what are the differences between acting for film, television, commercials, and theatre? There are important differences but they are not as huge as non-actors sometimes think. The differences in scale and choice are considerable even within one medium. For example the skills and choices that are suitable for the Princess of Wales theatre are different in scale from those needed for performing in a Fringe show in a small space. And the same thing is true for the difference between a role in the latest Atom Egoyan feature film versus a Pizza-Pops commercial. All actors have to shift gears constantly and creatively. That’s our job. Understand the gig and focus on the choices it demands.
But the bottom line is that "acting is acting…" Create a character, forward the action, tell the story persuasively with your body, voice, spirit, and connect to an audience.

On-camera work isn’t about one specific skill or technique. Some great on-camera performers don’t do much that’s “correct”. They just tell the truth in a deep, uncompromising way. Your craft requires you to stay open, playful and vulnerable in a complex and difficult environment. That’s where a coach can help…. If you’re blinking or making some other technical error, it usually is just a symptom of an underlying acting problem.
Is there an easy way to tell what type you will generally be cast as? No, this is quite complex and actors get it wrong often... but we don’t think you need to spend too much energy on this at first. Just work at many different scenes and over time both the marketplace and your directors/coaches will help you understand what your casting range is. Agents are a great help. They make their living sending you out for parts that suit you.

Select from these different workshops/class series, all with on-camera TRAINING:

Need help with that really important film side or audition? Call us at 416 5164612...

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E-mail: mail@searsandswitzer.com

Your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.