John D’Aquino Adult Workshops

MAGIC RECTANGLE 5:30-8:00 PM

This is the class that helped launch many careers. Take all the confusion out of your auditions and learn how to perform for the camera. The Magic Rectangle is John’s camera technique for delivering dynamic and indelible on-camera performances. John’s simple camera math will immediately improve student’s taped auditions by imposing structure on the imaginary canvas of the fourth wall that exists around the camera. This is a great place to start if you have not previously trained with John and was his first signature class. He’s taught it to thousands of actors across the country as well as in Hollywood. Get ready for your taped auditions to dramatically improve!

SATURDAY, JUNE 24th

VIXENS, VILLAINS, & VOLDEMORTS: BECOMING THE VILLIAN 1:30-4:00 PM

Often, the Hero isn’t the most interesting character. The people we remember are the Villains! You know, the people we love to hate? But what makes a villain a villain? Why do we hate them? Why do they seem to be having so much fun being evil? In this course, we’ll dive into the background, archetypes, psychology, and nuances of these wonderfully, horrible characters and let you work on scenes with some psychotic and iconic antagonists. Tap into your ability to be evil, cunning and despicable and have a blast doing it!

ACTIVE INTERROGATION 5:00-8:00 PM

Simply put, this course will make you a better actor and take it to the next level. Acting Interrogation is John’s signature technique that infuses true human reaction into scripted lines. Actors typically experience a disconnect between how they would organically respond versus how they respond to a line of dialogue that they were anticipating. This technique can be taught to young actors as well as adults. It applies the instinctive human traits that you use everyday to determine everything from whether you’re hungry to whether or not you are in danger. The great thing is, you’re already doing it! You’re just not applying it to your scripted work. John guarantees that if you practice this technique, your craft will rise to the next level and beyond. If you’re ready to up your game, don’t miss this class.

SUNDAY, JUNE 25th

 THE ACTOR’S ENVIRONMENT 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

EXT. GRAVEYARD – NIGHT. The cold breeze cuts to the bone. The spirits are restless and this will be a night like none other. For this is the night of the Reckoning.” – Are you interested, yet? Scared? Can you feel the cold wind? Do you see the strange clouds cutting across the moon? Are you shivering from the cold, the fear or both? Well… what if that’s the environment of the audition you are about to tape? Are you allowing the environment to affect your character? What if we change the location to Key West in August. How does the oppressive heat and humidity affect the mood of your character as you await the next big storm? Can you feel the weight of what lies ahead and does it fill you with trepidation? Well, it’s our job to feel… everything! It’s what we get paid to do. Most actors don’t even allow the environment to affect their character, their behavior and their choices. Most actors, of course, don’t work. Working actors know that the key element that the great writers impose the environment upon the characters. How will you incorporate that into your character for the scene? Whether it’s an interior or exterior, busy city or desert landscape, the environment informs the actor. Learn how to become the character living truthfully in their environment and bring your auditions to life!