A 15 Days Workshop for Actors and Directors
with Pushpendra Singh
in Auroville
from 20th March to 2nd April 2023.
OVERVIEW :
Delighted to offer a 15 days workshop in Auroville for cine actors and directors – to be executed in 2 units – with Pushpendra Singh. The 1st Unit will be theoretical and analytical. The 2nd unit will consist of practical exercises to understand acting, from the point of view of a director.
In Unit 1, Pushpendra will look at cinema’s history through its relationship with acting. He will analyze films in terms of acting styles and how various movements in Cinema have been shaped by change in acting styles. He will critically appreciate films through the lens of acting in the following styles:
-Silent Cinema and the Chaplinesque Acting
-Expressionism in Acting
-Melodramatic Acting
-The Bressonian School
-Method Acting and the American school and how it influenced ‘Realistic’ Acting
-‘Neorealism’ & its influence on Iranian cinema, the development of Naturalistic Acting
-John Cassavetes’s use of hyper-realistic acting in his films
-Modern Melodrama
-Brechtian Epic Approach to Acting
-National traditions and their use in Cinema
He will also look at how to analyze a performance by an actor in a film and use it as a reference to prepare working with an actor.
In Unit 2 – Taking over from the theoretical base, the participants will enter into the practice sessions. Both screen actors and directors – will go through acting exercises dealing with psycho-physical aspects of acting – and correspondingly get a perspective on direction.
Drawn from exercises by Constantin Stanislavski and Sandy Meisner, the participants will work in a live space. This stage will end with the participants shooting a devised short on one’s own DSLR or smartphone.
PUSHPENDRA SINGH PROFILE :
Pushpendra started his journey in theatre with Barry John and was later trained in Screen Acting at Film and Television Institute of India where he also taught briefly. He was also invited to the Berlinale talents campus in 2011. His directorial debut feature, Lajwanti (2014) premiered at Berlinale. His second feature, Ashwatthama (2017) received the Asian cinema grant and premiered in the New Currents Competition at Busan film festival. His creative documentary, Pearl of the desert (2019) premiered in the Main Competition at IDFA and his latest feature, Laila Aur Satt Geet premiered in the inaugural Encounters Competition at Berlinale. Pearl of the desert received the Best musical film at Krakow film festival and he was awarded the Best Director at Hong Kong International Film Festival for Laila Aur Satt Geet (2020) – which also won NETPAC Award at Jeonju film festival.
Pushpendra is a visiting faculty at Whistling Woods International, Satyajit Ray Film Institute, Kolkata and many other institutions in India. He has also done Casting and Acting workshops for critically acclaimed films like Rohena Gera’s ‘Sir’ and Anup Singh’s ‘Song of the scorpions’.
Check here for his IMDb Profile.
WHO IS THE WORKSHOP FOR :
For aspiring and early career screen actors and early to mid career directors. Also for those who are interested in psycho-analytical aspects of performance; and critical appreciation of cinema through the lens of acting. Other explorers of the cinematic terrain – welcome!
SELECTION :
Selection will be based on a statement of purpose and general merit of the applicant. We shall respond to you within 2 days of your application. If selected, you will be requested to pay the fees within 2 days of selection intimation. Participation will be confirmed upon verification of payment.
LIMITED SEATS.
COURSE FEES:
₹ 11000 – For Indian Participants.
€ 150 – For International Participants.
Voluntary Contribution for Aurovilians.
*The fee inclusive of all taxes.
ACCOMMODATION :
Outstation participants may book accommodation via Auroville Guest Accommodation Service. Feel free to reach out to us if you need recommendations based on your budget and other preferences. We’ll gladly assist. Please note, baseline rates for standard accommodation on sharing basis can be about Rs. 400/day with breakfast.
Mitra Youth Hostel, Serendipity Guest House, Atithi Griha, Center Guest House, Arka Guest House, Creativity Guest House are some of our recommendations. There are many other options available – in and around Auroville.
TRAVEL GUIDANCE & LOCAL MOBILITY:
The closest Airport to Auroville is Chennai. With respect to Trains, Auroville is about 15km from Pondicherry railway station; about 75km from Villupuram and about 165 km from Chennai railway station. There are some weekly trains directly to Pondicherry, while regular trains from all parts of India to Villupuram and Chennai. There are several options of local buses and passenger trains from Chennai to Auroville; it takes about 3-4 hours approximately. For those preferring to travel by taxi, we recommend Auroville based taxi services as they can pick up from anywhere you are and drop straight to the respective Auroville guest house. Please check Auroville Shared Transport service.
We recommend renting bicycles/ e-cycles/ motorcycles for mobility within Auroville periphery. The Guesthouse may facilitate booking. Standard Rentals are anywhere between Rs. 40 to 150/ day depending on the kind of 2-wheeler.
Please visit www.auroville.org for orientation and additional information on Auroville.
CERTIFICATES:
All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
QUERIES:
For any queries, please write to: support_filminstitute@auroville.org.in or call / message +919969879319 (whatsapp and telegram only).
Further details of the workshop can be shared upon request.
APPLY BY: 31st March 2023
filminstitute.auroville.org 