University of Massachusetts
Acting for the Camera

Dates	July 15 - July 20, 2012
Ages	12 - 18
Tuition	$1100
Audition	No Audition Required

	Tuition includes room & meals Grade entering in Fall 2012

Program Directors: Charlie Dougherty, Mary Lou Belli

Acting for the Camera Details

Learn how to act in front of the camera by acting in front of the camera. This summer acting camp, taught by Emmy award winning director Mary Lou Belli and 30 year acting veteran Charles Dougherty will show you the ins and outs of acting in front of the camera. Students will learn the similarities and differences between stage and film acting. Using scenes from current film and television scripts, students will work "on camera" every day. Students will explore and work on monologues, scenes from soap operas, sitcoms, and television commercial work. They will also alternate roles assisting in production of group scenes- lighting, slating, and standing in as extras. Students will utilize the university campus for outdoor film scenes. At the end of the program, students will receive a DVD with a compilation of the scenes they worked on during the week. This is a must for all actors.

** Check-In and Travel Information

Students check-in between 1 - 3pm on the first day of camp.
Flights should arrive into Bradley International(BDL) on the First Day of camp between 10:30am and 2pm.
Flights should depart from Bradley International(BDL) on the last day of camp after 7pm.
Transportation is available to and from Bradley International(BDL) for $30 EACH WAY.
University of Massachusetts Travel Forms

Directors and Faculty

Mary Lou Belli

Workshop Director

Mary Lou Belli is an Emmy Award winning producer, writer, and director as well as the author of two books. Most recently she directed Monk starring Emmy award winner Tony Shalhoub and The Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. Last season on the CW she directed The Game, the spinoff to Girlfriends, a series Mary Lou directed for 7 consecutive seasons. She directed the pilot of the Web series 3Way, winner of 2 Logo awards and the AfterEllen.com 2008 Visibility Award. With over 100 episodes to her credit, Mary Lou directed Living with Fran starring Fran Drescher, Misconceptions starring Jane Leeves, and Eve starring hip hop artist Eve, as well as The Hughleys, Charles in Charge, Major Dad, and Sister, Sister. Mary Lou received BET nominations for directing Girlfriends and One on One as well as a Prism Award for Girlfriends.

After receiving a BA in theatre from Penn State, Mary Lou acted in musical theatre and soaps in New York, followed by a Los Angeles career producing and directing theatre with over 75 play productions to her credit. She lectures frequently throughout the United States including many universities such as AFI, NYU, Northwestern, and UConn.

She is the co-author of two books: The Sitcom Career Book and Acting for Young Actors. She has been a judge for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant, a lecturer at the Chautauqua Institute, and a panelist for Women In Film, the DGA, SAG, and AFTRA. She's judged the California Independent Film Festival, the Sapporo Short Film Festival in Japan, and CSU Media Arts Fest.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two teenage children...all actors!

Charles Dougherty

Workshop Director

Charles Dougherty has been a working actor for over 30 years. He appeared with Minnie Driver in the film BEAUTIFUL, directed by Sally Field. He appeared with Martin Landau in the film AN EXISTENTIAL AFFAIR. He had a starring role in the Roger Corman film, WELCOME TO OBLIVION. Mr. Dougherty has guest starred on numerous television shows from HAPPY DAYS to MONK. This past season he appeared on television in DOLLHOUSE, BONES and THE MIDDLE as well as "The Late Night Wars" on THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW. He has appeared in over 300 television commercials, many of them memorable classics. Trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and the Drama Studio, London, Mr. Dougherty's theatre work includes THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY, directed by Fionnula Flanagan at Theatre West in Los Angeles as well as the Off-Broadway production of KID CHAMPION written and directed by the late Thomas Babe. Mr. Dougherty has taught long form Improvisational Theatre for US Performing Arts as well as Acting For The Camera.

Location Information

University of Massachusetts, Amherst is the flagship campus of the Commonwealth's University system. As a major research university it attracts students from all 50 states as well as over 100 countries. Located on 1,450 acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, the campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. As a member of the Five College consortium, the University shares a mutually rewarding relationship with students from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges.

_{*Tuition does not include one-time registration fee($150), weekend stays, or airport transportation.}

If you have questions or need help registering, please call 888-497-3553

Dates, Directors, and Faculty subject to change without notice. The faculty is comprised of college professors representing their schools and professional industry artists. Images are of USPA programs, but may not represent actual program or location. Photos by Tito Deverya (UCLA TFT), Lauren di Matteo, and Chris Vanderhorst.

** USPA highly recommends that students secure travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption, and/or medical emergency.
For more on travel insurance, please visit: Assurance Solutions.

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