ZOOM
Steve Anderson earned his MFA in Acting from the Professional Theatre Training Program at Brandeis University in 1991. As an actor, Steve has worked off-Broadway and in regional theatre with the likes of Obie Award-winner Ralph Lee & The Mettawee River Theatre Company, with whom he was honored to participate in the ticker tape parade for Nelson Mandela in 1990. Steve directed THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS, a short film that played 23 festivals, garnered 9 awards, and recently finished its run on ShortsTV. He also directed LUCKY U RANCH, a feature film set in 1953, now being distributed by RANDOM MEDIA. Steve has taught acting privately and at the university level for over 20 years as a Guest Artist at Clemson University, the University of Arizona, and others. Steve also directs Teen Street Films, a small arts program that trains young actors as they collaborate on creating original material for short film production.
Steve was nominated twice and was a finalist for the Barry E. Wallace Citizenship Award at Filmstock Film Festival in Phoenix, AZ.
TIPS FOR TEACHING ON ZOOM
Steve Anderson, Director & Acting Coach
steve@steveandersonacting.com 520.981.0145
1. Small groups feel better, unless it’s lecture-only with little back & forth.
2. Utilize shorter sessions to avoid Zoom burnout. I now limit my classes and private coaching to two hours.
3. Frame students in tight shots when possible. A close up can provide intimacy and can alleviate the ‘disconnect’ that is often experienced online. Tight shots are also great for coaching actors on self-tapes and in preparation for film shoots.
4. When working 2-person scenes, ask students to pin their partner and position them as close to their cameras as possible. This brings their eyes closer to the camera where they can be seen more easily by their partner on the other end.
5. Put your students in as much light as possible so their eyes can be easily seen.
6. On Zoom, multiple actors can’t be heard at the same time. For this reason, group scenes/ improvs don’t work as well as solo and 2-person scenes/improvs. Avoid overlapping dialogue when possible.
7. Guided meditations and relaxation sessions are a nice shared experience, as all students can be comfy and hear you uninterrupted.
8. Instruct students to mute themselves when others are working or the teacher is speaking. This helps keep a flow. Constant sound interruptions (background noise) can be annoying after a while.
9. Ask students to make their environment quiet and distraction-free.
10. Do exercises where actors can move away from the computer and out of the space once in a while, such as a “blind walk through the house,” or an outdoor “observation exercise,” where they then return and share their observations with the class. This also helps reduce Zoom burnout.
11. Most students are surrounded by hand props that can be used in scenes, for observation work and the like. Online, it can be easy to disconnect from the place and focus only on the screen – using the space they are in, and things like props, can help students feel more grounded and present.
12. If capturing video & sound, have actors experiment with recording themselves using Quicktime Player, for example, which doesn’t have to go through the internet, so the quality will be stronger. And they can record their own sound using cell phones or other recording devices. We shot a short film 100% online with our teen group and having the clean sound they recorded themselves was very beneficial.
13. CREATE A RELAXING ATMOSPHERE ON ZOOM FOR STUDENTS with extra-curricular activites. I began offering “Coffee Talks” shortly after moving classes online this year. Coffee Talks are short, relaxed chats about the craft. You can also screen share a film scene and have a chat about the work in it. Recently, I began scheduling “Special Guests.” These are FREE events for current students. It’s a nice show of appreciation, provides an opportunity for private students to meet each other, and adds a little variety to your work with them. It also lets them know you appreciate other educational opportunities for them.
ZOOM BREAKOUT ROOMS