Inside A.C.T.

  by A.C.T. Staff 1. They both know how to work a head-to-toe look. A.C.T.'s  A Christmas Carol Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanor, and its joyful air . . . “You have never seen the like of me before!” exclaimed the Spirit. —Charles Dickens,  A Christmas Carol A.C.T.'s  The Matchmaker   MRS. LEVI: I’ve seen the workroom a hundred times. I’ll stay right here and try on some of these hats. —Thornton Wilder, The Matchmaker   2. They both believe that a well-laid table can work magic. A scene from A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol   MRS. LEVI: I’m the best cook in the world myself, and I know what’s good. —Thornton Wilder, The Matchmaker   3. Pretty much everything would be better if we all followed their advice. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for...

by A.C.T. Conservatory Staff At the A.C.T. Conservatory, we seek to develop the artist in every actor and prepare them to succeed in all aspects of the profession, including acting in film and on television. Whether on stage or screen, acting is about conveying the emotional truth of the character, but the change in medium requires some adjustments. Below, actor Warren David Keith—who also directs and teaches at A.C.T.’s Summer Training Congress—shares some tips for stage actors looking to translate their skills on camera. Warren David Keith 1) The distance of communication has changed. The back row of the theater may be 20 feet or hundreds of feet. It might be the Aurora or the second balcony of the Geary Theater, but that is the distance that the theater actor must bridge. On film it is only the distance to the lens and to the microphone. 2) Performance and experience. In the theater you must render a performance in order to be seen and heard in the furthest seat. The camera detects ...