Stanford University
Acting for the Camera

Session1	June 20 - June 25, 2010 CLOSED
Grades	9 - College Freshman
Tuition	$1200
Audition	No Audition Required

Tuition includes room and meals
Grade entering in Fall 2010

Program Directors: Mary Lou Belli, Charlie Dougherty

Tailor your craft specifically for the on-camera experience in television and film. Develop new skills in a week long intensive that covers everything from auditions - cold readings and callbacks - to on-screen performance. Learn how to present your best self when you enter a room full of strangers. Learn basic techniques to focus mind and body on the acting task. You'll read and perform scenes from produced scripts with your peers as well as professionals, discover how to make the role your own, explore the differences between situation comedy and drama, and have the opportunity to meet and talk with working actors, directors, casting directors, and cinematographers. In a safe, positive space, we focus on each individual's unique talent and specific needs. Small, personalized sessions will be captured on video and analyzed by faculty and peers. For those interested in commercial work as well as a future on the big screen, this camp offers essential how-to information and experiences. You'll leave feeling charged and confident about your ability to make and execute strong, specific acting choices, to get the job, and to reap the rewards of playing it as only you can.

* Additional Camp/Workshop Information

Students check-in between 1:30 and 2:30pm on the first day of camp.
Flights should arrive into San Jose International Airport (SJC) on the first day of camp prior to 12pm.
Flights should depart from San Jose International Airport (SJC) on the last day of camp after 5pm.
Airport transportation is available to and from San Jose International Airport for $30 each way.

Click here for important info from Stanford Conference Services regarding your stay on campus.

You might
also like:
UC Berkeley - Theater
UCLA - Acting for the Camera

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

The Stanford campus, located 30 minutes south of San Francisco, offers excellent faculty and studio facilities for the training of actors and dancers and an outstanding background for filmmakers. Stanford University is a symbol of excellence and the intensive dance, theater and film workshops lives up to this reputation.

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), and Lauren di Matteo.

** 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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