University News Last updated 17 March 2014
Postgraduate acting students will now have the chance to perform alongside animated characters and pre-rendered backgrounds on our giant green screen, as part of Birmingham School of Acting’s (BSA) Acting MA.
The postgraduate course is the first to use the University’s new £62m TV production facilities at Parkside, Birmingham, of which Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) is a part.
“I am thrilled that we are able to offer students this unique training opportunity,” said Head of School, Stephen Simms.
“These incredible facilities mean acting students will be able to work with green screen in one of the largest and most advanced studios in Europe; using state of the art MILO equipment costing over £650,000.”
The Acting MA course will also give students a chance to work with animators and VFX artists to make the most of working with production-level, green screen backgrounds.
“Students will be doing contemporary scenes to multi camera setups – directed by industry professionals – adverts to green screen with animation, monologues to camera and auditions to camera,” said Acting MA course leader Lise Olson. “We are also delighted to be collaborating with TV Production MA students from Birmingham School of Media next year.”
The move signals an intent from the drama school to provide greater screen time for acting students, to mirror the modern challenges of an actor.
“Our students will now have the experience of acting with animated characters in specially created scenarios,” said Simms.
“With so much work taking place in virtual environments - think of the Oscar-winning Gravity – the ability for students to train for this important aspect of the profession is a great asset for Birmingham School of Acting.
“The professional multi-camera studio facility offers our students unrivalled experience in working for the screen and should greatly enhance their preparedness for the world of television.”
Birmingham School of Acting are running a free postgraduate taster day on Friday 21 March. Running from 10am until 5pm, the day will provide an opportunity for those interested in learning about postgraduate acting courses, to experience drama workshops as well as see a student performance and meet course tutors.