SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSES
SELF-PACED
ONLINE
COURSES
Each Self-Paced, Online, Acting Course features ten assignments with personal instructor feedback on your work.
Courses typically take 4-8 weeks to complete, are divided between Five Series, and are designed to be taken sequentially.
Purchase courses individually for one year of access or bulk buy with the Artist Pass to combine with our weekly Zoom classes.
Self-expression is at the heart of all arts, including acting. In this course, you will begin with simple exercises teaching you to direct your attention towards your immediate experience, and away from “performing”. As the course progresses, the exercises become increasingly more challenging, encouraging you to share deeper, more hidden parts of yourself. By the end of the course, a common sentiment is an experience of “feeling more oneself.”
Self-taping required the majority of lessons.
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
Self-expression is at the heart of all arts, including acting. In this course, you will begin with simple exercises teaching you to direct your attention towards your immediate experience, and away from “performing”. As the course progresses, the exercises become increasingly more challenging, encouraging you to share deeper, more hidden parts of yourself. By the end of the course, a common sentiment is an experience of “feeling more oneself.”
Self-taping required the majority of lessons.
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
Actors find they are often “in their head” with the scenario of a scene, rather than grounded and present with the circumstances. This course is on how to prepare fully, but also to be connected to the circumstances in a direct, physical way, rather than as a mental idea. You will study Sense Memory, Emotional Preparation, Point of Focus, and Active Discovery. This is an important course for actors who have trouble being present in a scene.
Self-taping required the majority of lessons.
Prerequisite: Expression
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
Actors find they are often “in their head” with the scenario of a scene, rather than grounded and present with the circumstances. This course is on how to prepare fully, but also to be connected to the circumstances in a direct, physical way, rather than as a mental idea. You will study Sense Memory, Emotional Preparation, Point of Focus, and Active Discovery. This is an important course for actors who have trouble being present in a scene.
Self-taping required the majority of lessons.
Prerequisite: Expression
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
Examine the power of the objective as an underlying force that impacts everything an actor does. Learn how to fully realize and utilize the scene objective, not only emotionally, but physically as well. You will be guided through the steps of layering a scene on top of the objective to discover how simplifying and tightening the objective, conversely, allows for freedom in acting.
Multiple exercises require self-taping in the final lessons.
Prerequisite: Preparation & Imagination
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
Examine the power of the objective as an underlying force that impacts everything an actor does. Learn how to fully realize and utilize the scene objective, not only emotionally, but physically as well. You will be guided through the steps of layering a scene on top of the objective to discover how simplifying and tightening the objective, conversely, allows for freedom in acting.
Multiple exercises require self-taping in the final lessons.
Prerequisite: Preparation & Imagination
This course is a prerequisite for Role Immersion
The basis of an amazing performance is the actor’s understanding of the whole story. When an actor learns to embody not just their role but the story, they learn how to bring greater depth to their performance. You will be guided through the steps of how to look at a script and work with it, from the first reading through to the performance. Actively work with one script and one role throughout the course.
No self-taping is required.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Scene Objective
The basis of an amazing performance is the actor’s understanding of the whole story. When an actor learns to embody not just their role but the story, they learn how to bring greater depth to their performance. You will be guided through the steps of how to look at a script and work with it, from the first reading through to the performance. Actively work with one script and one role throughout the course.
No self-taping is required.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Scene Objective
The actor reads the story, but their goal is to find the need. Because, the audience follows the plot, but the audience’s heart follows the need. That need is the Super Task. In this course, you will learn to take your role down to the most fundamental level, to the heart of the piece. Once you’ve found that heart, you’ve got the character. All your questions are answered.
Self-taping is required in the final project.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Script Analysis
The actor reads the story, but their goal is to find the need. Because, the audience follows the plot, but the audience’s heart follows the need. That need is the Super Task. In this course, you will learn to take your role down to the most fundamental level, to the heart of the piece. Once you’ve found that heart, you’ve got the character. All your questions are answered.
Self-taping is required in the final project.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Script Analysis
No one, not even the role you play, is a static being with a list of characteristics. We discover who we are in our relationship with others. In acting, as it is in life: who we are depends on who we are with. In this course, you will learn to make choices that create definition in a role.
Multiple self-taping exercises throughout the course.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Super Task
No one, not even the role you play, is a static being with a list of characteristics. We discover who we are in our relationship with others. In acting, as it is in life: who we are depends on who we are with. In this course, you will learn to make choices that create definition in a role.
Multiple self-taping exercises throughout the course.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Super Task
Just as we appreciate seeing the humour in situations in our life, we appreciate the performance of an actor who finds the humour in the story. Whether it is comedy or drama, without a touch of humour the audience never feels the relief of “seriousness.” In this course, you will learn to more deeply understand what humour is and how to find it, not only in the script but in yourself.
Multiple self-taping exercises in final lessons.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Relationships & Behaviour
Just as we appreciate seeing the humour in situations in our life, we appreciate the performance of an actor who finds the humour in the story. Whether it is comedy or drama, without a touch of humour the audience never feels the relief of “seriousness.” In this course, you will learn to more deeply understand what humour is and how to find it, not only in the script but in yourself.
Multiple self-taping exercises in final lessons.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Relationships & Behaviour
A collection of concepts that don’t require a full course on their own but which aids the actor in implementing deeper realism, as well as traps to avoid. How to create a stronger definition without losing realism.
Multiple self-taping exercises in final lessons.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Humour
A collection of concepts that don’t require a full course on their own but which aids the actor in implementing deeper realism, as well as traps to avoid. How to create a stronger definition without losing realism.
Multiple self-taping exercises in final lessons.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Humour
The study of movement is often neglected in the training of an actor. The understanding of movement opens up a whole new dimension to performance. In this course, we will study the Laban Efforts to break down how you move into simple patterns and learn to adjust how you move intrinsically. Develop confidence by bringing a deeper connection to your body.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Deeper Realism
The study of movement is often neglected in the training of an actor. The understanding of movement opens up a whole new dimension to performance. In this course, we will study the Laban Efforts to break down how you move into simple patterns and learn to adjust how you move intrinsically. Develop confidence by bringing a deeper connection to your body.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Deeper Realism
It often surprises people how deeply the voice can open up a person or ca repress a person – just by making some simple adjustments. In this course, we look at how we are presently using our voice and then bring in methods to free up any blocks and ways to “play’ with how one expresses oneself.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Movement Patterns
It often surprises people how deeply the voice can open up a person or ca repress a person – just by making some simple adjustments. In this course, we look at how we are presently using our voice and then bring in methods to free up any blocks and ways to “play’ with how one expresses oneself.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Movement Patterns
The mind-body connection is real and as an actor, you can apply this truth to a scene. In this course, you will learn how you can rely on choreographed actions to bring the inner life of the character to fruition. It’s important not to skip the study of the inner life before using physical actions, but once an actor has established the inner life connection, physical actions are a powerful tool.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Voice
The mind-body connection is real and as an actor, you can apply this truth to a scene. In this course, you will learn how you can rely on choreographed actions to bring the inner life of the character to fruition. It’s important not to skip the study of the inner life before using physical actions, but once an actor has established the inner life connection, physical actions are a powerful tool.
Included in Role Immersion.
Prerequisite: Voice
Auditions have limited preparation and performance time. Your goal is to sharpen your take on the character and circumstances so you can work freely and spontaneously. In this class, you will learn what to concentrate on to concentrate on and what not to bother with, when going in for an audition.
Prerequisite: Physical Actions
Auditions have limited preparation and performance time. Your goal is to sharpen your take on the character and circumstances so you can work freely and spontaneously. In this class, you will learn what to concentrate on to concentrate on and what not to bother with, when going in for an audition.
Prerequisite: Physical Actions
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Helped me to connect with my voice and truthful expression. I took this course after attending the Supernaturally Shy webinar. I discovered how to use my fears in my work and embrace the comfort and discomfort of opening up to myself. I am grateful; it allowed me to further explore my joy for acting! Thank you so much for creating such a welcoming course and offering such encouraging feedback. It has helped me to accept my failures and grow from them. I am very excited to take more courses in the future and continue my acting journey.
In acting our preparation is in our imagination. How do we get it out of our head into our body to share with an audience? There are tools to pull you into the body and they are taught in depth in this course.
Our body is our instrument. We are training it to be present and to connect with the physical sensations of our feelings in our bodies.
Feelings are real, not just an idea. They come up in response to people, places, time of day and they express themselves in our bodies.
My experience of feelings has been overwhelm and confusion leading to extreme anxiety and isolation. I have hated my body which so shamefully betrays my inner life. I have sought, most unsuccessfully, to control, deny or hide them.
Through this course I have come to physically understand how to get out of my head and go into my body.I am investigating my feelings. Owning them, not denying them. Learning to allow their expression and to be curious .
The body is not just some sort of vehicle attached to our head. It is intelligent, separate from the mind and always communicating our experience like it or not.
I had felt that every lesson had an impact on my life. I could see how there is no separation between acting skills and interpersonal skills. I enjoyed the way that every lesson had a opportunity to explore making experiments in everyday life.
I really liked that all the different types of script analysis are covered by the exercises. It methodically takes you through them step by step and if you do them fully you will have all the raw material you need to work with to develop a role. It will enrich your understanding of the story, help you investigate and make discoveries about your character, and help clarify how you can relate to the characters and themes. And it will give you the tools to approach individual scenes, dialogue and subtext. A good thorough program you can put to direct use.
This was such a great experience in pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone in a supportive, encouraging and validating environment. I learned a lot about stretching myself while feeling the feelings of discomfort and appreciated the complete acceptance of my authentic self and the attuned feedback.
Olson Wells said that an actor may put on makeup but what he is really doing is undressing himself. I often say I want the truth no matter how much it hurts. I REALLY understood by the end of this course that I am STUCK with myself. There are no other options in the experience of my life.But, and this is important, we are not fixed unless we choose to be. We are evolving. That evolution is within a range and that range does have limitations. However since “ I” is my only option, getting to know myself through method acting is becoming a sort of obsession. Getting to the root of who I am. This course guides you through opening up to yourself. Bringing your attention toward the experience of being yourself and expressing that experience. There is a focus on learning to be authentic, not acting “on top of ourselves”. Learning to let go of control and find out what blocks us from expressing and experiencing in our lives. We are going into what we hate, our fears and blocks, working with them, integrating them. Allowing ourselves to be the human we are. ALL OF IT. As I watch myself through this process, struggling with my self loathing, I increasingly find NOT self hatred but empathy laced with sadness, humour and curiosity. I am opening inwardly so that I may open outwardly. Thank you for the guidance.
I am impressed with this course. I was very skeptical but now I even think it can be more powerful than I thought.
I thought the explanation of sense memory and imaginary circumstances was really thorough. I am really enjoying using sense memory and can see a lot of value to it.
Very informative and relevant.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started at Actorium. I knew I wanted to head back into acting after a long hiatus of having 3 kids and taking a different path in life. Until I was half way through Expression I didn’t quite realize how many thick walls I had built up around me. How normal it was to constantly be pleasing others while forgetting myself and my own needs. And how much I watched myself through other peoples lenses to make sure I fit in. Doing Expression allowed me to clue into the habits I held onto and I was able to just switch them off. This in itself has been revolutionary to me. As a 40 year old woman, I feel like I’m living life with a new found freedom. Up until this point, I’d allowed myself to feel strangled with confines of ‘how I’m supposed to be’, and I no longer have that. People around me notice too. They often say, wow you seem like you’re doing so well, you look great, what have you been up to? I love to tell everyone how much Actorium has changed my life. I really have Michelle to thank for creating such an amazing course. The way it’s been put together, and the way she’s such a patient, knowledgeable and creative human herself, she’s just so incredibly inspiring to me. The best thing that Michelle does, is she’s mindful of her own needs, and allows her imperfections to be seen, so this allows her students to bring their own authentic selves to class. It allows us to come as we are.
This course helped me with getting out of my head and experiencing freedom!! The environment is very supportive and feedback is provided on every assignment.
I’m writing to extend to you my deep gratitude for the work that you do. I admire your ability to see each of us in the class and speak so directly and clearly to something in us that we can’t articulate ourselves. The space and intimacy that you create is really beautiful, unlike anything I have experienced before.
In a world inundated with tips and tools for personal development, it’s so nice to be part of a community where failure and humiliation is encouraged. It’s liberating. It encourages you to stop running towards goals and instead start connecting with your self. A place to start pivoting towards what matters.
I signed up for Actorium because I was tired of managing my own fear. The classes encourage you to open up to that fear and step into it. It’s a really great way to get to know the parts of yourself that you have disowned, and have fun with it. A values-driven platform that attracts amazing and loving people who support and challenge each other. The online class was a great way to immerse yourself in character development from home and get courageous and creative in front of a camera. A good tool for self critique and awareness.
Michelle adapted very quickly to this shift towards online classes and it feels like their team has done it long before. Classes were pertinent and well constructed. Michelle is as good a teacher online as she is in person!
I have been taking classes at Actorium on and off for a few years now. Every time, I learn something new and go deeper into the creative process. It is not always easy, in fact, it can be really painful at times. But Michelle and Rebecca have created a very safe and supportive place to do this exploration and growth. And it translated very well to a virtual space. If you are someone for whom acting is an important expression of your creative being, you absolutely cannot go wrong with these classes.
I started off from the Supernaturally Shy class but due to Covid-19, my class was reformed into one of the online classes. The idea was definitely a little uncomfortable (like jumping into the deep end). I’m glad I was open minded though because I learned a lot and felt a genuine connection, and felt supported and encouraged throughout the lessons.
I highly recommend the online workshops at Actorium. There is helpful take-home content as well as fun practical exercises. It helped me understand more about performing in front of a camera and how to bring out more complexity and depth in my expression of characters. It’s also great to connect with other actors in this format. It feels a lot more intimate.
Since I started attending Actorium, my social anxiety levels dropped significantly. My initial goal in attending classes had nothing to do with acting, but self discovery. Thanks to Michelle’s work, I’m now emotionally more open and generally a more alive human being.
Thank you!
As a shy and self-conscious person, this class not only helped me get more used to acting, but also to observing and accepting myself.
The programs at Actorium always make me uncomfortable in the best way possible. Learning to push past that discomfort to see what lies beyond it has been a tremendously gratifying experience and I’m excited to keep exploring it.
I’m learning a lot in your classes – on many levels.