The Factory in Dublin has announced details of its first year-long Screen Acting Programme, beginning this September.
IFTN can also reveal The Factory will open its doors to the general public for the first time on Friday, June 8, for an official open day for prospective students. Interested applicants will have the opportunity to meet potential mentors and tour The Factory’s premises.
The screen acting course will be Ireland’s first ever year-long full-time programme dedicated to the art of acting for the screen.
The Factory, located at Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock, was founded over two years ago by Irish directors Kirsten Sheridan (Dollhouse), Lance Daly (Life’s a Breeze) and John Carney (Once) as a means for filmmakers in Ireland to get together in a creative space where they can share their filmmaking ideas and visions.
Since its establishment in 2009, The Factory has provided training and development for aspiring filmmakers, as well as use of its equipment and post-production facilities with already-established filmmakers.
The newly created acting programme will include training in script analysis, audition techniques, character development, practical screen craft, as well as providing guest lectures from industry professionals. The Factory’s founders say that they are confident the programme will differ from other acting courses which train aspiring actors for the stage, rather than the screen.
New York writer/director Viko Nikci will be head of training for the course.
Laura Mac Naughton, manager of The Factory, expressed her delight at welcoming aspiring actors into The Factory: “Our highly regarded Actors Studio, based on the Actors Studio New York, is a testament to the high levels of practical training that we have accomplished. We genuinely want to discover, nurture and train the next best actors in Ireland, whatever their experience, background or age.”
Casting director Maureen Hughes, who has worked on IFTA Award-Winning projects such as TV series ‘Raw’ and feature film ‘This Must Be the Place’, will help run the programme for screen training at The Factory.
The programme will run from September 24 until May 14, with a fee of €4,950. No previous experience is necessary, but applicants are warned spaces are limited. The Factory is currently in talks with film industry organisations to come on board as sponsors in order to provide scholarships for interested applicants who cannot afford the fees.
The deadline for applications is June 8, with late applications accepted until June 22. A fee of €30 is required with each application, and €50 for late applications. The programme will be run in association with Screen Training Ireland and the Irish Film Board. For more details on how to apply for the programme see www.thefactory.ie. The open day will commence at 3pm and will run until 7pm, on Friday, June 8.
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