Inviting the Camera (with KAMAL SEHRAWY)

Inviting the Camera is an acting class investigating the unique lessons that working on screen provides the actor. The need for this class arose out of several myths surrounding acting on film: the idea that actors can be “too big” for camera, that some might “not have a face” for film, or that acting prowess is determined by one’s natural, charismatic magnetism that only some performers have.

In this class, we tackle those myths plainly and directly, using the camera as our guide. We will ask what we can learn about acting and performing truthfully through the lens of screen production, as well as discern the differences (and similarities) between stage and screen acting. Through working with film, we are confronted with our responsibilities as visual storytellers, our own appearances, and the objective truth of the performance—the living, breathing person—we’ve made. In the process, we will also discover the principle tools and tenets required of acting for the camera: how to modulate your performance and voice for screen, utilize blocking within the camera’s frame to your advantage as a visual storyteller, inject human behavior and active thinking into a scene, recognize the differences between screen and stage in the audience’s access to your performance, and practice the physical control required for the camera. We will “invite” the camera as our scene partner. 

Working on camera provides opportunities for new actors and seasoned veterans alike—while we may deviate into intermediate topics, these lessons can be employed by any actor, regardless of skill level. Activities include performance exercises, scene work, group analyses of screen performances, and more. 

**Note: This class takes place in 3 SESSIONS: October 14th, 21st, and 28th. Participants have the option to purchase a ticket for all 3 evenings at once, or as a drop-in for single sessions. Feel free to contact info@hvpal.org with any questions!**

About the Teacher:

Kamal Sehrawy is an actor, coach, and teaching artist in New York City. He received a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has since taught classes around the city, including as an artist-in-residence at PS3: The Charrette School and guest lecturer at NYU Tisch. Credits include: Frank Finger in It’s Only a Play (Theater Workshop of Nantucket), Claudius in Hamlet (Shakespeare in the Square), and Leontes in The Winter’s Tale (The Classical Studio). You can find more information and contact Kamal directly by visiting kamalsehrawy.com.