The TIFF Review

This year's festival showcased an even greater selection of diversity away from the stereotypical "commercial" norm, and ironically, in dealing with producers and directors from more comparable theatrical backgrounds, it seems the common link regarding professional training for film (and television ie. more technical and camera related applications) is today in even higher demand.

Never to overlook the "art" within the performance, but rather to understand that in film and television mediums, even an oscar notable performance is rendered useless if the talent is unable to be heard and/or is improperly lit. Does this conclude that professional training and/or acting classes for film and television consist solely of a serious of exercises of hitting marks and focusing on continuity? Or is this the "math" or cognitive component? And if so, if by no means negating, how does this coexist symbiotically with the "poetry" or the artistic/performance component?

On day one and step one of every acting class at The Actors Network, the reinforcement lies in the credo "professional on camera training for film and television can be metaphorically compared to writing poetry within a math class." The envelope of the skill of "acting" is not so much the ability to be artistic and creative, nor the ability to think cognitively and technically, but more so... the ability to have discernment and judgement as to when to apply either and to apply it as close to instinctually and organically as possible.

THE ACTORS NETWORK
Television and Film Studio
66 Fort York Blvd,
Studio G08
Toronto, ON
M5V 4A6