2021-1: Triggers, Connection, and Engagement

Dates/time: Wednesdays, 13 Oct - 10 Nov, from 6:30pm to 9pm

Director: Jonathan Briden

DOP: Rush Jopson

Cost: $150^*
* = We can provide a discounted rate for those experiencing genuine financial hardship. Please let us know if this applies.

Venue: Phillipstown Community Hub, Room 1, 39 Nursery Rd, Phillipstown

Enrolment: class has ended

About this block

We'll be working from a variety of modern screen-plays, both dramatic and comedic. Our focus for this block will be on script analysis, connecting to our partner, and engaging in ways to create a genuine, true-to-life performance.

Week 1

Our first session will be an introductory session, to get familiar with the directors, the process and the other students. We'll introduce the Triggers concept of Richard Seyd, and use it to film some scenes at the end of the session.

You will be given your first script to prepare for week 2.

Weeks 2 to 5

You will be partnered up and given a script to learn for the following two weeks. These scenes will be filmed, adjustments made, and feedback given.

We'll continue to work on Triggers to help you understand and memorise scripts. We'll also look at techniques such as substitution, to help you connect to your scene partner and to bring a personal authenticity to your performance.

Throughout the block you will receive feedback and adjustments. This will include adjustments to try from an acting perspective from the director, as well as technical adjustments from the DOP.

Additional information will be provided prior to the course.

A personal message from the instructor

Kia ora koutou,

I am excited to be able to bring you this wonderful class that will help you on your journey as an actor.

Across the course of 5 weeks, we'll look at how Triggers can be used to better understand the intention of a script. This approach brings the script to life, increases connection and enhances script memorisation.

You'll be learning a wide range of scripts from a variety of sources and have the opportunity to perform these on camera. As a director, I'll be helping you find a way into character that will work for you. With decades of experience as a teacher and director of improvisation, I'm highly adaptive and have a huge repertoire of tools to help you get the most out of your scenes.

I'm also thrilled to be teamed up with Rush Jopson as DOP who is going to make you look great on camera, and who brings a wealth of professional experience to this course.

I look forward to working with you,

Jonathan Briden

Photo by Gary Barnes from Pexels