Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts

Our comprehensive 6-month intensive full-time course. Get fully prepared for a successful film career. Tools learned range from script analysis, character research, audition skills and scene work, to improvisation, voice, movement/body, and on-camera techniques. With an average of 71% graduating with an agent and 64% already booking work, the statistics speak for themselves! Application process required.

Acting  

Acting class covers all aspects of acting technique, theory and prep work starting with script analysis and exploration, character development, making strong choices, high/low status, sense memory, listening drills, subtext, taking actions, achieving your want or objective, and moving through into the technical side of acting for the camera including camera angles and shot sizes, on-set equipment and terminology, matching action from take to take, etc.

Scene Study   VADA listens to what actors want & need out of a scene study class. Now, VADA combines an Audition Class with a Scene Study Class to give you On Going Scene Study (Camera Class). Actors who want a scene study class the likes of which Vancouver has never had are invited to apply. OSS Camera Class is for actors with previous training in Film & TV Acting. Those who graduate from our Introduction to Acting & Two-Week Intensive classes are invited to participate in OSS permitting their attendance & work ethic is excellent. Students should bring a prepared monologue to their first class. This will give new students the opportunity to showcase their skill level and allow the instructor a first impression critique, much like a casting director. Actors will work on two or more scenes during the 8 week class. You will be expected to rehearse two times per week with your scene partner. Work will be put on camera for review purposes. Learn how to memorize pages of script in a fast effective manner, apply text analyses in your scene work and explore character work using tried and true techniques. Discover real moments as your character and feel confident with your choices. See your Monologues and Scenes on camera. This will better your self awareness and increase your confidence in the audition room. Don't wait to register as seating is limited.
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On-camera Auditioning   The audition is an art in itself. It is the few moments when the quality of your performance determines getting the job or not. Cold read audition techniques are drilled and drilled on-camera until confidence is achieved. Focus on making a believable performance in an unreal environment. All work in this class is filmed on-camera and reviewed, allowing you to improve by visual critique.
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Improvisation   .
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Hollywood Field Trip  

The Dream:

Agent and Casting Director Seminars   There are 2 seminars included in the tuition as part of the Dramatic Arts Program: one with a top agent, and one with a local working casting director! This is the chance of a lifetime for you meet these people in a relaxed setting and ask any questions, find out what is needed and expected of you as an actor (including the do's and don'ts of auditons), and you even get to perform a read for them and receive immediate feedback. We are the only school in Vancouver that includes this in the tuition. Normal costs for such seminars run as high as $250/day.
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Demo Reel Project   As an end-of-school project, VADA produces a short demo-reel custom filmed for each student. This is where the students get to put all their newly acquired acting skills into application. Each student will film their reel on a sound stage with professional lighting, top-of-the line cameras and sound. The project is then edited to create a highly polished, quality demo reel to send out to agents or casting directors.
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Dialects  
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Our graduates work as Actors

Rafael Pellerin VADA Graduate, Rafael Pellerin, has been booking gigs like crazy...  » more... Sonya Salomaa Congratulations to Sonya for booking a Lead role on the new TV Drama "The Guard"!! Sonya is a Two-time Leo award winner for her character Maya in "The Collector". Her 2008/2009 Film & TV Credits include: "Flash Gordon", "Odysseus and the Isle of the Mist » more... Michelle Molineux had this to say about Simons Calgary Workshop,"I learned more in your 3 day workhop then I have in a 12 week long course...Your workshop greatly increased my confidenace as an actor and I feel has been a large contributing factor in my recent success." » more... Kristine Cofsky Kristine graduated from the March '03 DAP. Shortly thereafter booked a lead on a low-budget feature film called Sleepover. Due to her training in class, Kristine felt totally comfortable stepping onto the set of her first (of many) feature films! » more... Aren Buchholz Moving down to Vancouver from Saskatchewan, Aren has come a long way... » more... Madison Smith Madison Smith graduated the DAP in September 2011 and has already stacked on an impressive 5 Film/TV bookings!!  He is on FIRE!! » more... Justyn Shippelt  Hot off the audition circuit Justyn books USA Networks's "Psych!" » more... Justin Kim VADA DAP grad of March 2011, Justin Kim, signs on with Vancouver Boutique agency, Webster Talent Management, and books Network TV Shows!   » more... Bridget Graham Bridget Graham comes all the way from Ontario but has never looked back since graduating the DAP in March 2012.    » more...