In a climate when many acting classes are focused on performing, this workshop is focused on Being. It is deceptively simple, but only something we can learn by doing, and by watching and listening to each other. This workshop, geared towards actors with some prior acting experience, is designed to help you learn and refine on-camera skills in a supportive and exciting environment. First day on set? Don’t worry – We got you covered. Making the move to on-camera acting is a big challenge. If you’re new to film or TV (or if it’s been a few years), the set can be intimidating and very confusing. What you’ve experienced in rehearsal and on stage won’t prepare you for the technical challenges of on-screen performance. And when you get that first on- camera job, no one is there to guide you through it. Until now. Being on Camera is presented by two acclaimed actors each with 20 plus years experience on stage and on both sides of the camera. It is an intensive immersion into the practical, nuts & bolts work of on-screen acting. Through discussion and on-camera exercises we’ll explore basic film techniques and cover all fundamentals that go into realizing a filmed scene.

• Learn more about the instructors: Amelia Campbell & Anthony Arkin
• Prerequisite: Previous experience acting on-camera is required, such as prior enrollment in Being on Camera 1, Acting with the Camera 1, or equivalent.

This advanced scene study track is geared to the particular circumstances of working with the camera on film or video and assumes you are already well grounded in acting technique, text analysis, and contemporary scene work. The class will address the adjustment you must make to the intimacy and immediacy of film, so you become accustomed to doing your best detailed, honest, layered work under the watchful eye of the lens. You learn to manage the tough realities of the film or television job, developing strategies for applying your own technique to the demands of the set. We consider angles, lenses, distances, continuity, and your relationship to the composition of the scene. You learn to work more quickly and more intimately, and to prepare effectively for a performance situation in which it is little or no rehearsal and scenes often occur out of sequence. You learn to respect and understand the financial, technical, and time considerations that govern film production, and cultivate the absolute discipline required to meet them. You will receive video files of your on-camera footage at no extra charge, included within the cost of the class.

• Learn more about the instructor.
• Prerequisite: Open to Acting Level 2 and up. New to HB? Submit online for level placement.

This Level 1 acting class provides an introduction to the technique of living truthfully in front of the camera. You explore the fundamental elements of a grounded acting technique as they relate to the level of intimacy the camera demands. As you practice in front of the camera, you learn to stay open and work freely without hiding or acting for the lens. You develop the ability to listen and connect truthfully with a partner, letting that interaction guide your impulses. You discover the relevance of Uta Hagen’s exercises for on camera work – building the 4th wall, creating place, connecting with sensory aspects of the environment – and begin to understand the level of preparation, specificity, and simplicity the camera demands. You will receive video files of your on-camera footage at no extra charge, included within the cost of the class.

• Learn more about the instructor.
• Prerequisite: Open to All.

This class is designed for actors with prior training (Acting Level 2 and above) who are interested in deepening their on-camera work while creating strong, usable material for a professional reel. This class will guide you through the process of selecting, developing, rehearsing, and filming short scenes that highlight your unique strengths and casting potential. We will work with material from film or television—or develop original scenes—with an emphasis on making you the central focus. We will explore how to tailor material that showcases your range and versatility, whether in dramatic, comedic, or mixed tones. Special attention will be given to creating clips that are concise, compelling, and effective for submissions on platforms such as Actors Access, personal websites, and auditions. The goal is for you to complete the term with two to three polished, recorded scenes that reflect different facets of your work and can be used as high-quality clips for your reel. In collaboration with videographer Horacio Rojas, the class will emphasize strong visual storytelling, incorporating thoughtful camera work and lighting to ensure a professional and cinematic result.

• Learn more about the instructor.
• Prerequisite: Open to Acting Level 2 and up. New to HB? Submit online for level placement. 

This Level 1 acting class provides an introduction to the technique of living truthfully in front of the camera. You explore the fundamental elements of a grounded acting technique as they relate to the level of intimacy the camera demands. As you practice in front of the camera, you learn to stay open and work freely without hiding or acting for the lens. You develop the ability to listen and connect truthfully with a partner, letting that interaction guide your impulses. You discover the relevance of Uta Hagen’s exercises for on camera work – building the 4th wall, creating place, connecting with sensory aspects of the environment – and begin to understand the level of preparation, specificity, and simplicity the camera demands. You will receive video files of your on-camera footage at no extra charge, included within the cost of the class.

• Learn more about the instructor.
• Prerequisite: Open to All.

This Level 1 acting class provides an introduction to the technique of living truthfully in front of the camera. You explore the fundamental elements of a grounded acting technique as they relate to the level of intimacy the camera demands. As you practice in front of the camera, you learn to stay open and work freely without hiding or acting for the lens. You develop the ability to listen and connect truthfully with a partner, letting that interaction guide your impulses. You discover the relevance of Uta Hagen’s exercises for on camera work – building the 4th wall, creating place, connecting with sensory aspects of the environment – and begin to understand the level of preparation, specificity, and simplicity the camera demands. You will receive video files of your on-camera footage at no extra charge, included within the cost of the class.

• Learn more about the instructor.
• Prerequisite: Open to All.