The T Tauri Movie Camp takes its name from the astronomer’s term for a new star. For 14 years, the annual summer program has provided the instruction, encouragement, and collaborative learning environment needed to launch young video artists into the exciting world of video production. The summer artist residency project aimed at kids and teens, age 8 to 18, typically offers four different workshops, ranging in length from two to four days. Workshops take place at Fellowship Bible Church and the University of Arkansas Community College, both in Batesville.
This year’s offerings include new workshops, one from an on-camera and one from a behind-the-camera perspective. Acting on Camera is a two-day workshop designed to help transition young theater actors and introduce novice actors to the unique challenges of acting in front of a camera. Acting for film requires an emotional and technical adjustment from acting in a stage performance. Since film captures even the smallest gesture and magnifies it, cinema demands a less flamboyant and stylized bodily performance from the actor than does theater. Topics explored will include audition techniques, cold readings, scene analysis, rehearsed scenes, and improvisation.
Warren McCullough / Image via ttauri.org
Acting on Camera will be taught by director/actor Warren McCullough. Owner of the Warren McCullough Studio in Little Rock, Warren has worked alongside stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Molly Sims, and Steve Carell. He has acted in over twenty films, dozens of plays and has appeared on “The Chelsea Handler Show” and in the pages of Glamour and People magazines. He also studied with acting coach to the stars, Margie Haber, who has served as a personal acting coach to Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. Acting on Camera takes place on July 16 and 17; tuition is $60.
The second new Movie Camp workshop is Smartphone Storytelling. Advances in smartphone camera technology have ushered in an unprecedented opportunity to use inexpensive tools to deliver compelling film material. Students will learn the creative and technical filmmaking process to leverage that small, powerful, visual device right in their pockets. They will produce a short narrative film while learning how to shoot and edit video on the smartphone, plan and produce short-form video, turn a mobile phone into a pro video camera, and increase the quality of their smartphone video creations. Smartphone Storytelling takes place on July 18, 19, and 20; tuition is $80.
Two highly popular recurring workshops will also be offered: Brickfilms (stop-motion animation utilizing LEGO characters and sets) on July 23 and 24, and Script to Screen Narrative Filmmaking on July 25, 26, 27, and 28.
Complete workshop descriptions, instructor biographies, and registration forms are available at ttauri.org. A limited number of scholarships are available. For more information, call 870-251-1189 or email ttauri@wildblue.net.
