The New World Acting Workshop offering it’s Autumn in NY 2 Day Acting Intensive led by Joshua Spafford. Oct 2 and 3.
Mr. Spafford is an Royal Academy of Dramatic Art trained international actor acclaimed by the New York Times as a talent: “unseen since the death of Raul Julia”
Academy Award Winner Barney Burman (“Star Trek”) say’s: “Having worked with Joshua directly I can say, without fear of contradiction, that he is a man of integrity and vision. He is not bound by the ordinary or mundane. In fact he his creativity exists both within and without the proverbial “box” and is inspiring to many, myself included, who have the opportunity to experience it first hand.”
Pulitzer Prize Winner Yusef Komunyakaa say’s of him:” his whole presence is propelled by an intense and sensitive passion”
This is a two day Acting Intensive geared beginner and experienced actor alike.
For the beginner it offer’s a no frill’s, pragmatic and immediate approach on how to act well without buying into the expensive conservatories or “gurus”.
For the more experienced actor this is an opportunity to brush off the cobwebs and experienced afresh a distilled approach to acting, marrying the best of British and American techniques.
For both the workshop will result in on your feet training, a “how to” portfolio of data to keep with you and, most importantly, a photoshoot that offers you more than 300 photos to choose your dynamic new headshot from.
The workshop also touches on:
*demystifying the “Art” of acting
*the essential difference between acting for film and theater
*voice and movement
*script interpretation
*mastering auditions
*british shakespearean acting secrets
*how to take an effective headshot
This 2 day intensive which includes a Free Headshot Photoshoot (delivered to you same day, on a CD) is $229.00
To reserve a space or for more information please call 917.208.7597 or email newworldworkshops@gmail.com
more info at:
http://newworldworkshops.tumblr.com
[video]
[video]
The New World Acting Workshop is led by internationally acclaimed actor of theatre, television and film: Joshua Spafford.
The New World Acting Workshop represents something very personal to Joshua Spafford; a return home.
“I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. When I was 10 years old I saw Richard Burton perform as King Arthur in Camelot. There’s a scene at the very end between Arthur and a little boy and I said to myself: I can do that. The next day I asked to be taken to the theater and I asked to join. I was given a laugh and a broom to sweep up from a light-hearted stage hand but I was rewarded by a nod from Mr. Burton himself.
I was to leave Florida shortly after and not to return for almost twenty years of travel (60 countries), study, and touring productions; but my heart has been nagging me to come home to Florida and share what I learned in the vocation of my choice from around the world.”
The New York Times has said of Joshua Spafford that he “brings his roles a mania, merriment and mordancy unseen since the death of Raul Julia.” Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Joshua’s career has taken him all over the world, playing Macbeth and Oedipus for the British Council, as well as performing throughout the Far East, Europe and the United States. In New York City, Josh has played the title roles in Richard III (Gorilla Rep) and Othello (for both the National Asian American Theater Company and the Culture Project). He has also been seen as Mercutio (on crutches), Benedick, The Bastard in King John (at the Present Theater), and Rosencrantz at the Classic Stage Company.
Josh consistently originates roles in modern verse plays by such playwrights as Pulitzer Prize Winner Yusef Komunyakaa, Glyn Maxwell, and Kirk Wood Bromley (with whom he co-founded Inverse Theater, named Best Downtown Theater Company by the NY Press, 2002). Awards include a nomination for NY IT Awards Outstanding Featured Actor, The Creative Field Award for Best Commercial Actor, and the Philippine Free Press Award for Best Actor for his Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew. He was recently the Director of Events for The New Globe Theater (Whose board includes Oscar Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Al Pacino and Kevin Kline) and acted at their recent gala on a bill with Ethan Hawke.
Joshua is also a photographer. He resides in NYC with his puppy, Troilus.
6’2” * 195 lbs * Green eyes * Brown hair * Baritone English, Spanish, Tagalog, some Dutch and Danish
OFF BROADWAY
The Forever Waltz dir. Elysa Marden Mobile The Workshop Theater
Tamburlaine dir. James Hanaham Tamburlaine Target Margin
Othello dir. Jonathan Bank Othello Nation’l Asian American Theater Co
Othello dir.Randolph Rand Othello The Culture Project
Portrait of the Artist As Filipino Tony The Vineyard Theater/Ma-Yi
Monday Night Hamlet dir. Karin Coonrod Rosencrantz Classic Stage Company
OFF OFF BROADWAY
On the Origin of Darwin Chilito Inverse Theater
(NY IT Award Nom-Outstanding Actor)
Griffin Hunter dir. Emma Griffin Griffin Inverse Theater
Richard III dir. Stephen Burdman Richard III Gorilla Rep
Romeo and Juliet dir. Phillip Schneidman Mercutio NADA/Pure Pop
Whirligig dir. Loy Arcenas The Busman Clubbed Thumb
King John The Bastard The Present Theater
The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio The Shakespeare Project
Midnight Brainwash Revival Mordecon Inverse Theater
The American Revolution Benedict Arnold Inverse Theater
Icarus and Aria Primalo Inverse Theater
Love’s Labour’s Lost Don Armado NADA
INTERNATIONAL
Macbeth Macbeth The British Council
An Inspector Calls Gerald The British Council
Angels in America (Asian Premiere) Joe Pitt The New Voice Company
Measure for Measure Angelo Actor’s Classic Ensemble
Much Ado About Nothing Benedick Actor’s Classic Ensemble
Pericles Pericles Actor’s Classic Ensemble
An Ideal Husband Robert Actor’s Classic Ensemble
Les Miserables Courferac Repertory Philippines
Dancing at Lughnasa Gerry Repertory Philippines
Twelfth Night Orsino Repertory Philippines
FILM
XX-XY (with Mark Ruffalo) Jonathan IFC Films
Lumia, the Thomas Wilfred Story (as Thomas Wilfred)
Robot Stories (with Tamlyn Tomita) James Pakman Productions
Bad Dog Hubert Bad Dog Productions
Batang PX Michael Star Cinema
TRAINING
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London Fiona Shaw Michael Langdam
The Actors Centre, London Katie Mitchell Brigid Panet
SPECIAL SKILLS
Highly proficient accents: RP, Cockney, Australian, Welsh, American dialects, Filipino, Spanish, German.
Trained stage combat fighter. World-Class sailor. Certified diver. Vespa enthusiast.
“Joshua Spafford brings a merriment to his roles unseen since the death of Raul Julia”-The New York Times
“About Joshua Spafford—The whole character of his presence is propelled by intense and sensitive passion. The clarity of his voice erases any guesswork.”—Pulitzer Prize Winner Yusef Komunyakaa
“Josh is a magnetic and inspiring actor and a great guy. Viva le Spafford!” (James Urbaniak, Dr. Venture on ‘The Venture Brothers’ OBIE winner, The Office, American Splendor )
“Joshua Spafford’s Henry V was entertaining, flawless, interesting well shaded and nuanced,…just extraordinary”
-Chris Sanderson, Teacher, Yale School of Drama from his book Gorilla Theater
“Joshua Spafford is a freewheeling force of nature”—Martin Denton, NYTheater.com
“There’s a reason I cast Joshua Spafford in the lead role of many of my plays. He is an utterly unique presence on stage – powerful, tender, smart, wild, and totally human. Josh is perhaps the most embodied actor I know.” Playwright and Artistic Director of Inverse Theater Kirk Wood Bromley
“Joshua has the heart of a teacher, the mind of a director, and the soul of an actor. His enthusiasm for his craft, coupled with his keen eye for authenticity, proved to be a turning point for me in my career. After a BFA, and countless acting classes in NYC, one private session with Josh taught me more about specificity and authenticity than I could have imagined That, and he’s just a ton of fun!” Julie Lund (Broadway actress, National Commercials for Starbucks, McDonalds, Kinkos & more)
I love actors. And I love people who have a passion to be storytellers (acting, directing, writing, photography, dance). We are, in Shakespeare’s words “the abstract and brief chronicles of our time”. I believe we are an important, vital part of the world community and anyone who has a desire to be an actor has the right to learn how to do so. But training is essential. I’m bringing that training in a concise, clear manner to you. It’s my goal to make sure that after two weeks with me you’ll have a “toolbox” under your belt and know how to act anytime, clearly and cleanly.
I trained classically at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (considered by some the greatest acting school in the world), alma matter to history’s greatest actors including Oscar Winners Daniel Day Lewis, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes and many, many more. I wish to share with you the essence of great British technique: that acting isn’t magic, but a craft that can be learned, like carpentry, and applied. You will learn tools of the trade: effective use of your voice and body and how to create characters.
I also spent 10 years acting in NYC (including cofounding Inverse Theater, “Best Downtown Theater Co., 2001”-NY PRESS) soaking in and working with the best of American Technique generally called “The Method”.
So it’s my goal to marry these two acting styles in a clear, useful manner (and also a fun one!).
Topics will include:
-Acting for Film vs. Theater: You’ll learn how to make adjustments for either discipline.
-Voice and Movement: Break out of “Acting with your face” and learn to inhabit a character from head to toe. Speak clearly and resonantly for stage, film or tv and you’ll book more work.
-Script Interpretation: Learn to effectively look for clues in a script to easily and quickly act it.
-Mastering Auditions: Audition is it’s own talent and being a good actor doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good auditioner so learn this vital skill to enjoy the career you desire.
-Understanding the Industry: It’s a big competitive world of acting and there are smart ways of targeting who and what you want to work with. I’ll share with you my experience of finding and booking work in over 80 stage plays, 15 movies, soap operas 30 tv commercials around the world.
Included in the Package is free Industry Standard Headshot Shoot by StarBoard Photos who shoot out of NYC and LA. Starboard Photos the current trend in dynamic color headshots to make sure you’re on top of your game: Samples here:
http://facebook.com/StarboardPhotos
The best way to be sure you get all the shots you need on your shoot is to be super-prepared. This encompasses making sure you’ve taken care of your skin and hair the night before, choosing the right wardrobe, and having each look you’ll want to be shot in ready-to-go before the shoot even starts.
But even though you should prepare ahead of time, you should also be ready to improvise and go with the flow.
Many of the best headshots come from an easy-going collaborative relationship between the photographer and the subject.
If you’re prepared with an idea of what you want, the we will be able to focus on making you look your best (that way, he or she doesn’t have to play the role of stylist as well).
The night before the shoot, make sure to get PLENTY OF REST! Don’t do any crazy new beauty routines or try any new products that you might be allergic to. Also, complete your normal routine with your hair.
Ladies: wear your hair as you would to an audition; natural-looking is much better than over-teased, over-sprayed and over-done (unless that’s the look you’re going for!)
Guys: for facial hair, shave as you normally would. If you sometimes have a bit of facial hair and sometimes are clean-shaven, leave it scruffy for the first part of the shoot, and then bring a razor to clean it up for the second part. This is a super easy way to get two drastically different looks out of a single shoot.
The last part of preparation is wardrobe. A good rule of thumb is to bring a couple of different looks – solid colors with attractive but not too revealing necklines work best. Men should bring a couple simple sweaters and/or nice-looking crew-neck options and a couple of button-down options. Ladies should bring a few sleeveless options and a few options with sleeves.
The photographer should have a good idea of what clothes will look best in what location (for instance, outdoors would be a more casual, commercial look, and indoors would be for more dramatic or theatrical attire). Make sure that what you bring is clean, pressed, and looking new! Fabrics that are old, worn, or fading will only draw attention away from your stunning face!