RSS
Home
Part 2: An overview of the Denver film industry
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Young people who want to be filmmakers are lucky to live in Colorado, where we have several good film schools that can get you started on the right path. According to the website of the Office of Film, Television and Media, there are 15 schools with accredited programs in filmmaking. Some of the standouts:
For actors who are just starting out, the most important first step is to find a reputable coach. Here's a partial list:
- DS StudioWorks - David Dalton and Chad Schnackel
- Front Range Acting Studios (a division of AEC Studios) - John Crockett and Brian McCulley
-
Michael Nuccio
-
Paul Rohrer
You can find more on the CPRG site under Support Services: Acting Coaches. (Find out more about the CPRG in Part 1 of this article.)
It's smart to get into an acting class before trying to get an agent. Most of the coaches have relationships with the agencies in town and when they think you are ready, they will recommend you. You will also meet other actors in workshop, and you can get the scoop on the different agencies and figure out what would be the right fit for you. Not to mention, one of the first questions a prospective agent will ask you is: "Where do you study?" Getting a good coach first is a much more productive route than firing off a bunch of blank resumes and being ignored or getting a stack of rejection letters.
But just in case you're stubborn, or have a whole list of credits and want to get started in Denver right away, here's a list of the big agencies:
-
Big Fish Talent
-
Donna Baldwin
- Lincoln Talent (kids' division: Marbles Talent)
-
Maximum Talent
-
Radical Artists Agency
A great way to build a resume is to audition for film students' projects. Check the schools' listing above and watch this column for announcements about big group auditions, but you can find individual listings on CASA and sometimes Craig's List or Actor's Access. Be extremely careful about auditioning for anything you find on Craig's List, though, as the website has no way of checking the validity of any posting. You should also exercise caution about Actor's Access, Now Casting or any online listings. If you are young or female, don't attend these auditions alone, and always let plenty of people know where you're going and when to expect you back. And to be honest, I have never heard a Craig's List success story, so you're probably better off sticking with the lists created specifically for actors. For young filmmakers, check CASA for opportunities to help out on local productions and learn your way around a set. (more on CASA in Part 1 of this article.)
A few more resources:
Denver Open Media – Community Access Television – Take classes in all aspects of production, get access to great equipment, and find a platform to show your work.
Screen Actors Guild: Colorado Division
Asgard Entertainment is a full-service studio with in-house green screen, RED camera, computer graphics capabilities, a stunt team and special effects services. It is also a training facility where actors can receive stunt training and occasional weekend acting seminars.
Write to Act is a class offered by Peter DeAnello, owner of Big Fish Talent. These classes teach actors to write their own material in order to create vehicles for their own success. The class is open to anyone, regardless of agency affiliation. Writers are also welcome, but don't be surprised if you eventually get dragged up on stage! A new class starts up in January, and Peter is also now expanding to Fort Collins.
(Full disclosure: The writer has participated in classes by all of the above mentioned coaches, and currently trains at Asgard and is enrolled in the Write to Act program.)
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
