PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS ADMISSIONS

For the Professional Preparation Programs, the Studio encourages both those wishing to prepare for their career as well as working professionals to apply for admission. Acceptance to the Studio is based upon an interview with the Admissions Manager.

Baron/Brown Studio is an equal opportunity institution and admits applicants who meet the admission standards and can benefit from the training without regard to race, religion, sex, age, color, national origin, physical disability, or place of residence.

To qualify for admission, an applicant must:

1. Interview with the Director, the Artistic Director, or the Admissions Manager.
2. Submit a completed enrollment agreement together with the required payment.

The Studio accepts admissions on any regular business day. The applicant will receive prompt notification of acceptance or rejection of admission. Programs start throughout the year and students should contact the Studio directly for the latest schedule.

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COURSES

SIX WEEK INTENSIVE:

The Six Week Intensive program provides fundamental training for the actor as a theatrical instrument. This course of acting includes exercises to improve concentration and responsiveness through listening and answering, and includes activity work. The techniques taught are then applied to scene work. Every actor will work every class. This program covers the principle requirements of all acting, whether for theater, film, or television. The program consists of six weeks of training in which the student attends three classes per week.

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ESSENTIAL ACTING:

This program disciplines the performer to develop their full imagination with tools for accessing their deepest possible emotional life. The work progresses using improvisational exercises of increasing complexity, including various methodologies for achieving objectives, and through in- depth work on written material. The goal is to create an imaginative actor who has a personal understanding of the universal human condition, as discovered in themselves, who can then apply this understanding to bringing scripted material to life. This class meets twice per week for 28 weeks (7 months). Every student works in every class.

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VITAL ACTING:

This course guides the actor to access the level of depth and truth in acting that is extremely challenging. The class focuses upon creating the most dynamic possible contact with other performers and generating profound emotional connections to imaginary events and challenging scripted text. This class meets twice per week for 14 weeks (3 1/2 months). Every student works in every class.

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ESSENTIAL ACTING - FALL SESSION:

This course trains the actor how to work with spontaneity and ease within a wide variety of imaginary circumstances. It challenges the actor to create and relate to a range of specific relationships and events. The class focuses upon creating the most dynamic possible contact with other performers and exploring challenging scripted text This class meets twice per week for 14 weeks (3 1/2 months). Every student works in every class.

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VITAL ACTING - FALL SESSION:

This course guides the actor to explore a level of depth and truth in acting that is extremely challenging. The class focuses upon creating the most dynamic possible contact with other performers and generating profound emotional connections to imaginary events and challenging scripted text. This class meets twice per week for 18 weeks (4 months). Every actor will work in every class.

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EFFECTIVE ACTING - WINTER SESSION:

This class is designed to enable the student to engage in a disciplined course of study allowing a student to fully understand the emotional and imaginative principles of acting. The goal is for the student to act truthfully with vivid imaginative relationships, full emotional connection, and vitality and spontaneity in scripted and improvisational work. This class meets twice per week for 28 weeks (7 months). Every actor will work in every class.

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EFFECTIVE ACTING - SPRING SESSION:

This class is designed to enable the student to engage in a disciplined course of study allowing a student to fully understand the emotional and imaginative principles of acting. The goal is for the student to act truthfully with vivid imaginative relationships, full emotional connection, and vitality and spontaneity in scripted and improvisational work. The class meets twice per week for 20 weeks (5 months). Every actor will work in every class.

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CHARACTER INTERPRETATION:

This class initiates the process an actor must undertake in order to represent a character who is different from themselves in the way that they move, speak, respond to events and people and pursue their objectives. It develops from doing improvisational exercises, wherein actors create different individual characteristics, to applying these techniques to doing scene work and then a monolog. This class meets twice per week for 28 weeks (7 months).

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SCRIPT ANALYSIS:

This class teaches how to analyze a text in order to understand those values that should be properly represented in its playing. This would include its genre, theme, setting, character dynamics and the character one is meant to portray. The class begins by undertaking a sophisticated scene, whether stylized comedy or drama, proceeds with a specialized project to direct a short presentation, and finishes with a classic text. This class meets twice per week for 18 weeks (3 months).

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ON CAMERA AUDITION TECHNIQUE:

Audition Technique is a program designed to develop techniques Unique to the auditioning process, including working with a script on camera, working in mock audition exercises, working on extensive cold reading of scripts, and interacting with visiting casting directors, producers, and guest artists. The class meets once per week for three hours. Admission Criteria: Evaluation by instructor and Admissions Manager

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SCENE STUDY LAB:

The Scene Study Lab is a program that provides students the opportunity to work on a wide variety of scripts, developing a broad range of characters with the goal of stretching and expanding their skills. The actor will work on scenes and monologues chosen in collaboration with their teacher. The class meets once per week for three hours. Admission Criteria: Evaluation by instructor and Admissions Manager

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MASTER CLASS (INTENSIVE):

The Master Class Mission Statement

To inspire and encourage artists to the highest level of work they can possibly achieve with full and uncompromising commitment, abandoning all fear, fully embracing the work and community of our art.

The Master Class—Advanced Scene Study
This Master Class is a four day, two weekend intensive taught by Joanne Baron, the Artistic Director of the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio. The Master class is taught over two consecutive weekends, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at a state of the art, 100 seat theater in the Los Angeles area. Actors, writers, directors, and producers work on fully prepared professionally performed scenes. The scenes selected by the Artistic Director are from the most current theatrical productions in New York, London, and Los Angeles. The class will address script analysis and character interpretation in-depth, facilitating the actor's ability to create a fully realized performance.

The Industry Master Class
This Master Class is a four day, two weekend intensive taught by Joanne Baron, the Artistic Director of the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio. The Master Class is taught over two consecutive weekends, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at a state of the art, 100 seat theater in the Los Angeles area.  Students perform film scenes for a panel of industry judges consisting of agents, managers, casting directors and producers. Scenes selected by the judges are recorded on a DVD and sent to top industry professionals.

The Meisner Intensive Review Class
The Meisner Master Class is a review of the Meisner technique condensed into an intensive for those who have already taken these courses. The program will review and refine the actor's understanding and mastery of all aspects of the fundamental precepts of acting including basic moment-to-moment contact with another performer, working with techniques for further stimulation of the imagination, creating specific relationships, and advanced improvisational and scripted scenes.

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ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE:

Call the school for details (310) 451-3311

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VOICE & SPEECH:

Call the school for details (310) 451-3311

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ONLINE CLASSES & ONLINE COACHING:

Call the school for details (310) 451-3311

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EDUCATIONAL POLICIES

MANDATORY ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Because of the close collaboration between instructor and student and the challenging nature of this demanding training, students enrolled at the Baron / Brown Studio are expected to attend all scheduled classes.

Excused Absence
A student’s lateness to or absence from any class will be excused only if the student is delayed in or prevented from attending class for the following reasons:

-If a student or a member of a student’s immediate family becomes ill or suffers a personal emergency, which illness or emergency must be confirmed by a physician’s letter or other evidence acceptable to the Studio prior to the student’s next class.

-If a student secures acting, writing, directing or producing work and provides Studio with at least twenty-four (24) hours prior notice of the student’s planned absence.

Unexcused Absence
Unexcused absences from class, or more than three unexcused late arrivals to class, are not permitted and shall be grounds for termination from the Studio.

Make-up Class
If a student is late beyond the grace period for their class time or absent from any class, the student should arrange for a private instruction session. Such a session should be scheduled before the student may return to his or her regularly scheduled class.

 

MANDATORY REHEARSAL:
In addition to attending all scheduled classes, each student must participate in two (2) rehearsals each week during their period of instruction. The Studio considers rehearsal time the equivalent of homework. The dates and times of such rehearsal will be determined by mutual agreement of each student and his or her rehearsal partner(s).

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STUDENT SERVICES

CAREER SUPPORT:
As the leading institution specializing in preparing people for careers in acting, the Studio has always had a strong commitment to the success of its students. Efforts are undertaken to assist students including introductions to agents, managers, and casting directors. The Studio also recommends specialists who provide personal counseling in job search techniques, resume and letter writing, interviewing, and presentation skills.

While the Studio cannot guarantee placement or bookings, we are committed to providing useful and up-to-date employment information when ever possible.

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE:
In addition to the regular programs, students may contact instructors to arrange for individualized coaching and tutoring.

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