The School of Acting for the Screen is part of a growing film program at University of the Nations that runs alongside the School of Digital Filmmaking. Both curriculums are intertwined to generate creative synergy in a community of filmmakers. In this environment, actors and directors team up to tell stories that are relevant and appealing to today's audience.

The SAS is looking for people who not only want to become excellent actors but want to affect the film industry with ethical principles -- actors who will be noticed for their talent and by their character. A successful actor or filmmaker can bring a powerful message to millions worldwide. Through theaters, DVDs and television, films are crossing language or cultural barriers to reach more people than ever before.

We believe the School of Acting for the Screen will equip you to get you started in becoming a successful actor and having a significant influence in this important sphere of society.

We focus the curriculum of the school towards developing your creativity to master the craft of acting. We'll watch tons of films, we'll analyze them, discuss them and find out how the principles explained in the classroom are applied in successful films. There is also strong emphasis on character development because in this industry your character will be tested in areas such as pride, greed, sex, love for money, dishonesty, disloyalty and cutthroat competition, just to name a few.

Guided by the staff and experienced professional guest speakers, the school provides intensive training in the following topics:

• Introduction to the craft of acting -- From Stanislavski's System and Suzuki's Method to Meisner's Approach, students will fully explore the most effective ways an actor can "live" truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
• Visual story telling -- Understanding camera angles, lenses, lighting, and its influence in the performance.
• Screen writing -- Understanding how scripts are created and how characters are structured within a film script, scene study, script analysis. Breaking down scripts, scene preparation, creating your role.
• Working with the film director -- discontinuous shooting, set work ethics, script readings and rehearsals.
• Auditioning -- preparing the actors for the audition environment by giving a realistic idea of what is required in an audition.
• Film history and analysis -- Giving the student a broader base of knowledge about the rich history of the cinema and providing the tools to analize influential film performances and apply what you learn from them to your own craft.

Actors trained in the School of Acting for the Screen have an opportunity to have leading and supporting roles in the short films produced in the School of Digital Filmmaking and therefore having an immediate practical application of all what is learned in class, including the final projects that are shot on 16 mm film. Therefore you will walk out of the school with several short films in your demo reel.

Meet the School leaders

Willy & Patricia Navarro met in their native Argentina when they were teen-agers, and they have been a team ever since. Willy founded the award-winning filmmaking group 24 Frames of Light, the School of Digital Filmmaking and the School of Acting for the Screen, which Patricia directs. He is one of the founding members of The Film Institute and he and Patricia are on the Board of Directors. For many years Willy has been a member of the International Committee of the College of Communication.

Willy & Patricia pioneered the School of Digital Filmmaking (SDF) on the movie set of To End All Wars in the spring of 2000 (see photo at right). Willy´s passion for films and teaching motivates him to develop new courses such as The School of Applied Filmmaking, which was run alongside the making of the U of N´s first feature film, Relapse.

"Willy and Patricia are both creative and skilled and understand the place of film and entertainment in effecting this change in society," said Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of YWAM.

The School of Acting for the Screen is aimed towards students who want to keep working towards excellence, actors who want to keep growing in their craft and making a difference through their character.

For a sample of the kind of films that we produce during the school, please check www.24framesoflight.com If you would like to contact the school leader you may do so by phone at: (808) 326-4469 or (808) 326-4470, by fax at: (808) 326-4572 or by email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it