Posts in category: Blog Posts

Here at TAS we not only know acting games are critical for actors, but we know how important it is to know why they are critical.  To do this, we need to break down the types of games that can be played in class. 

The first type of game that students encounter in class is an “Introduction Game” or “Ice-Breaker Game”. These are games specifically designed to get students to open up about themselves in a way that’s fun and not daunting. They are typically only played in the first class or two so the students can get more comfortable with each other. 

The next and most common type of game is the “Warm-up Game”.  If you take any class at TAS you will know it is important for an actor to warm up their voice, face, body, and imagination. The easiest way to do that? A game!

“For an actor, a good warmup will help them relax, will help get rid of any anxieties, and will make an actor more limber up in preparation for the physical demands of a performance. [sic] Drama games and acting exercises also help actors train their voice for performance…Warmups are an essential part of any drama class and actors’ pre-performance routines”

-MasterClass

Another benefit we have found when it comes to playing warmup games at the start of class is that it helps to ‘sync’ everyone in the room. Doesn’t matter what kind of (various) environments the students come from, playing a warmup game at the very beginning gets everyone working on the same frequency to approach the day’s lesson.

Okay, we’ve covered the games we play at the very beginning, and our strategy for warmup games… but what else? 

Well sometimes- especially with  young creatives- students get a bit squirrelly in class or find it hard to concentrate on lines when the camera is pointed at them. That’s when “Focus Games” come in handy. These games help students learn how to stay focused on different things like their lines or their scene partner while the distractions of “being on set” are happening. One of the first things our new actors learn is the importance of awareness and intentional focus. These skills are needed on a real film set, and so we practice them in class- and we teach these skills through games! 

But we haven’t even scratched the surface…

There are games like “One Word At a Time Story” that get students listening to each other and thinking quickly in order to create a sentence together.

Games like “Approach the Chair” get students moving and thinking like their characters just by having them walk to a chair and sit in it.

Games like “Create a Scene” get all the students working together and using their imaginations to create a full and detailed picture for their audience. 

Starting to understand? A game is not just playtime; when a student is ‘playing a game’ they are actually working on real acting skills, skills that our coaches are then trained to apply to their lesson and help them grow as actors.

TAS is a big part of your life, but it’s not all you do. What exactly are all of your jobs and titles within those jobs? 

I am an acting and vocal coach at The Actor’s Scene as well as the Media Director for the school, managing all of our social media accounts! In addition to that I am an actor, as well as the CEO of Moon Trip Productions LLC; an independent video production company. I will also take odd jobs on occasion, like holiday pet-sitting or random short-term gigs like that.

-Wowza! You are a busy bee! What other activities do you engage in when you aren’t working?

I LOVE reading, watching movies or TV shows (my favorite show right now is Reservation Dogs on Hulu), working out, and spending time in nature!

-So what does an average day and/or week look like for you?

Every day is a little different, but I generally wake up, make the bed, and start getting ready for the day with a coffee or juice. I like to get my at-home workout out of the way first thing in the morning so I often start with my social media work/emails/random remote working tasks. In the middle of the day I grab lunch and will often have my “me time” in the early afternoon, since I’m usually coaching or editing videos in the evenings. A few times a week I may be shooting content days or events, which look a little different every time! But whether it’s posting on Instagram from my home office, doing an on-site content day, or working at the school, I genuinely love my many jobs.

-With all that going on, what are things you do to keep yourself organized and/or sane?

Google Calendar is my best friend ever. I’ve got a color-coded system for each job as well as my appointments which helps with time management as well as invoicing when the time comes. I even have a color for hanging out with my friends. Using Google Keep for taking digital notes and making lists is really helpful too! I also love using physical planners and to-do lists. My favorite productive stationary is actually from a small business called All Things Lilly Ann. I use their hourly notepads all the time to help me with time-blocking and staying on track! (All Things Lilly Ann)

In the end, even when things are bleak, there is still so much to be grateful for in this industry. Find that and you will find the hope and drive to keep going. 

Costuming becomes extra essential when doing a biopic. Oppenheimer came out this year with a bang. With an incredible script, a list of talented A-list actors, and of course Christopher Nolan’s vision, Oppenheimer has had positive reviews since it’s first preview. A huge part of the positive response goes to costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. In an interview with IndieWire she speaks to her work: “Oppenheimer never changed his silhouette from the time he began at Berkeley through the decades. That was a very, very important note to zero in on”. And zero in on it she did! Instead of changing his look drastically as the years when by, she kept him in the same style and the same silhouettes following his real life style choices. Capturing these small, but specific details is what brings the reality of the character to the screen.