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This workshop is a comprehensive deep dive into Scene Study. Working from the inside out, you will engage in a very practical process that provides you with a complete understanding of how to bring a character to life and tell the scenes dramatic story.

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As interpretative artists, actors work mostly on material that has been created by someone else and so we have a duty to make sense of what has been written, in order to tell the story faithfully. This requires a clear and specific way of breaking down the scene to what is actable.

 

Once this has been achieved, the work of the actor then lies in the ability to create behaviour and the skill to express that behaviour in line with the imaginary circumstances of the scene. This requires a practical and creative way to make choices that reveal character.

 

This course will empower you to do both, providing you with a clear and specific set of tools and techniques so that you can approach each role with depth, range, imagination and truth, and apply them to any style across the mediums of Theatre, Film and TV. 

It will be emotionally and mentally challenging and will require from you the humility to be led by Gary and a willingness to dig and explore yourself deeply. 

 

The course will consist of two live weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and three online Zoom classes scheduled in-between the weekends.

 

In order to get the most out of the course and to equip you with the discipline of being a professional actor, the course will demand that you do detailed homework and preparation in-between the classes.  

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COURSE CONTENT & SESSION OUTLINE
 

WEEKEND 1

Clarity, Dramatic Action & Truth - Building a strong and clear foundation and making the characters drives meaningful to you

Working from the inside-out you will learn how to break down a scene into its essential elements and then translate these elements into actable’s that bring the character to emotional and behavioural life. Elements that we will cover:

• Scene Analysis - how to break down a scene

• Scene Objectives - how to embodying the Characters Want

• Preceding Circumstances - how to prepare emotionally for the scene

You will then get to run the scene to see how these elements impact on the lived experience of living moment to moment in a scene.

In anticipation of the the first Zoom Class you will be set a practical homework assignment to post on the group's Facebook page, where Gary will provide feedback.

 

ZOOM CLASS 1 

We will discuss the homework from Weekend 1 and develop the scene work further.

You will receive the next practical homework assignment to post on the group's Facebook page, where Gary will provide feedback in Zoom Class 2.

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ZOOM CLASS 2

We will discuss the homework from Zoom Class 1 and develop the scene work further in preparation for Weekend 2. You will receive another practical homework assignment to post on the groups Facebook page, where Gary will provide feedback in preparation for Weekend 2

 

WEEKEND 2

Physical Behaviour & More Than Mere Truth - Making choices that give you dimension raise you up to the Character

Much like a rehearsal process, we will put the scene up on its feet and you will experience what is necessary to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances in the physical space and address the notion of character.

Given Circumstances - how they affect behaviour 

Choices & Actions - how to characterise behaviour 

Objects & Doings - how to live in a scenic reality. 

TO WHOM THIS IS FOR

For professional and trained actors or actors presently in training or taking independent acting classes. Not suitable for beginners.

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WHAT DO YOU GET

• You will learn a very specific way of breaking down a scene so that you are able to translate whatever script you are given into real actables that you can personally commit to.

• You will experience a deep, imaginative and healthy way to activate your emotional life and create work that is alive and full.

• You will discover a very practical way to be more expressive in your acting and come away with more depth and range in your work.

• You will learn how to tell the story of the scene by creating behaviour and then expressing that behaviour in line with its imaginary circumstances. 

• You will understand how to characterise your work both emotionally and physically by making bold, interesting choices which are meaningful, revealing and insightful.

• You will experience how to make your acting more expressive and engaging by incorporating the scenic space and physical objects into your work.

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INFO

• Sample timetable:

1st Weekend: 13.-14.3. - Saturday & Sunday 9:00-17:00

Zoom Class 1: Thursday 25.3./ 17:00-19:00 

Zoom Class 2: Thursday 8.4./ 17:00-19:00 

Zoom Class 3: Thursday 20.4./ 17:00-19:00 
2nd Weekend: 8.- 9.5. - Saturday & Sunday 9:00-17:00
• Price: 750€ incl. VAT 24% 

• Location for live sessions: Actors Academy Finland, Pursimiehenkatu 26H, Helsinki
• Classes between the two weekends will happen online via Zoom

• Place is limited and will be filled on a 'first-come-first-serve' basis.

• The booking for all events and workshops is binding. You can cancel 30 days prior to the event and receive a 50% return of your payment or you can pass on your spot to another person without an extra fee.

• Teaching language is English (Please keep in mind that you do not need to have perfect English skills)

• All rights to changes reserved.

• You can also find the event on Facebook here.

 

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ABOUT GARY CONDÉS
Gary Condés has 30 years of extensive experience as a professional actor. Having worked in Mainstream, Independent and Low Budget Films, TV Dramas and Soaps,
West End, Off-West End, Repertory and Touring Theatre, he knows what it takes
to be a professional working actor. His career highlights include working alongside: Sam Rockwell (Moon), Helena Bonham Carter (Wings Of The Dove), Colin Firth (Fever Pitch), Ray Winstone (Five Seconds To Spare).
Gary has been teaching and coaching for 15 years now.
Actors who have trained with him or currently coaching with him include: Stacy Martin (Lars Von Trier's Nymphomaniac), Ed Speleers (Outlander), Cavan Clerkin (The Capture), Freddie Fox (White House Farm), Fola Evans-Akingbola (Game Of Thrones), Benedict Wong (Dr. Strange). 
The last 5 years have seen him move into directing Theatre & Film; with plays running in London’s West End & Off-West End Theatres, twice being nominated for ‘Best Director’ at the Off-West End Theatre Awards. He has written and directed several short films, which have won a number of awards at International film festivals in London, Los Angeles, Berlin and Barcelona. 
His work is deeply rooted in the principles and techniques pioneered by  Sanford Meisner, but is also very much inspired by selective practices developed by Stella Adler and Mike Alfreds. Standing on the shoulders of these giants, he has developed a way to train actors to work from the personal passions of the heart and guts, to create acting that is alive and kicking, totally committed & fully behavioural. Characterisations full of meaningful behaviour is always the goal.

 

“The actor’s job is to get the audience out of their heads and into their hearts and keep them there.” - Gary Condés

 

 

TESTIMONIALS
 

“I owe a lot to Gary, his training has instilled in me a fearless attitude towards my
work that ultimately led me to landing my first lead role in Lars Von Triers
‘Nymphomaniac’. I am very certain that this would not have happened without his
training and then his dynamic coaching. He has taught me acting as a real craft,
enabling me to go straight to the core of a scene and explore characters beyond
my intellectual capability and understanding.” - STACY MARTIN
(Nymphomaniac - Lars Von Trier, All The Money In The World - Ridley Scott, Vox Lux - Brady Corbet)

“Gary’s ability to get to the core of any scene and provide a concise, clear and true
way to approach acting has been a revelation to me. I was booking work but often
lacked technique and consistency. He immediately stripped everything back and
started laying foundations in my work that had never been there. I now go to him
with every new role I take on and we build a character from the bottom up. He is
brilliant to work with and like any great coach he inspires, always digs out the truth
and isn’t afraid to push me to the limit and for that I hold him in the highest regard.”

- ED SPELEERS
(Outlander - Sony Pictures, The House That Jack Built - Lars Von Trier, Downton Abbey - ITV)
 

“Gary is one of the few authentic acting teachers out there and is definitely one of a
kind. Never have I worked on the craft so deeply and precisely. He has an amazing
capacity to see what you need and to pinpoint that precise thing that will make you
better. Every actor should do his course. I want to do it again." - BART SOROCZYNSKI
(Fantastic Beasts II - Warner Bros, The Merry Wives Of Windsor - RSC, La Strada - UK Tour)
 

“Always teaching from the heart, Gary inspires you to fearlessly expand your imagi-
nation and to be truly alive in your work. He is firm, but always fair and has the abili-
ty to see the uniqueness in every actor. An immensely generous spirit, who

pushes you to dig deep and find not only the truth in your character, but the truth in
yourself. I feel extremely lucky to have been coached by Gary, he has helped me to
develop hugely as an actress.” - CRESSIDA BONAS
(Tulip Fever - Paramount Pictures, The Bye Bye Man - STX Ents, Doctor Thorne - Amazon)
 

“Gary is a fantastic coach. His understanding of craft and finding what’s right for

each character is second to none. What I love about his work is it’s totally groun-
ded in the truth and reality of the script. No flab, no vague choices, just boiling

down to the meat, the true essence. His work goes to the guts. If you want to be a
‘real actor’ talk to Gary, you won’t regret it.” - LAURA GREENWOOD
(Prime Suspect VII - ITV, V For Vendetta - Warner Bros, Brothers Grimm - Miramax)
 

“Gary’s sensitivity and rigour pushes me to find my way into parts; encouraging me
to explore and personalise every aspect of the role. Every time I work with Gary, I
come out with the confidence to go on set, or into an audition, fully prepared, open
and excited about the work. Looking for a great acting coach? Gary’s your man.”
- FOLA EVANS-AKINGBOLA
(Game Of Thrones - HBO, Siren - Disney TV, VS - BBC1 Films)
 

“The best class to get your acting into shape in London. Anyone with the chance to
work on acting with Gary should take it. A compassionate, no bullshit, teacher and
coach. One of the best out there.” - BRIAN CASPE
(Legends - Fox US, Mission Impossible 4 - Paramount, The Illusionist - Warner Bros)
 

“Training with Gary is one of the best things ever happened to me. His skill for the
craft of acting together with his energy and sensitivity are very inspiring. He has
brought out the best in me and since training with him I have landed roles in two
Feature Films which have premiered at Cannes Film Festival.” - ANNA CSEH
(Outlander - Sony Pictures, Youth - Paolo Sorrentino, Genezis - Focus Fox Studios)
 

“Gary is an immensely talented and dedicated teacher. He knows exactly how to
identify the areas that need attention so that you get to perform at your best. He is
very easy to work with and his approach is extremely practical easily applied and
gets active results.” - CHRISTOPHER GOH
(The Romanoffs - Netflix TV, Hunter Killer - Millennium Films, Strike Back - Sky1)
 

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