Workshops & Seminars
I offer a variety of workshops and seminars for my private students. I am also available for acting and auditioning workshops and seminars nationally, which I tailor to meet the needs of each particular event. If you don't see a workshop or seminar listed that you'd like to have me offer, feel free to contact me and suggest your idea.
Some past workshops include:
Some past workshops include:
- Getting Started in the Business Seminar
- 3-Day Weekend Competition Prep Workshop
- Auditioning for Agents
- 30-Day Monologue Workshop & Book
- On-Camera Commercial Technique for Kids
- 2-Day Cold Reading Intensive
- Monologue Bootcamp
4-hour Getting Started in the Business Seminar
My 4-hour intensive Getting Started in the Business seminar teaches you about how the business side of the acting industry works. This is not an acting class. It is an informational seminar covering everything you need to know to start working in the industry. (See info below.) This seminar will teach you how the industry works, cover tips to make you a smart actor/parent, help you avoid getting ripped off, give you sources for further assistance, inform you about local agents and casting directors, and let you proceed with confidence. This is definitely a "leave the kids at home and let's talk about the business" meeting.
I will give you handouts including local Agent and Casting Director lists, questions to ask potential Photographers, Acting Resume guidelines, and websites for actors (including where to find legit local auditions for theater and film). Additionally, I will show you sample headshots, comp cards and acting resumes.
TOPICS COVERED
I will give you handouts including local Agent and Casting Director lists, questions to ask potential Photographers, Acting Resume guidelines, and websites for actors (including where to find legit local auditions for theater and film). Additionally, I will show you sample headshots, comp cards and acting resumes.
TOPICS COVERED
- How do you get started in theater, commercials, television & film work?
- What are the different types of Theater?
- What are Talent Agencies and Agents and what do they actually do?
- What are Personal Managers and what do they actually do?
- How much does it Cost to Sign with an Agency?
- In what Areas of work do Agents Represent Talent?
- What are Clients?
- What are Casting Directors and what do they actually do?
- How do you get auditions through agents? The Path from Client to Actor.
- What is Typecasting?
- What is the difference between Union and Non-Union Agencies?
- What are SAG, AFTRA (the new SAG-AFTRA) & Actor's Equity and what are the Pros & Cons of joining?
- How does the Pay structure work with Agents?
- What should you Expect From your Agent & what will she Expect From You?
- What does it mean to Multi-list or Sign Exclusively and what are the Pros and Cons?
- Who’s Who in the Chicago Scene: Casting Directors, Agents & Extras Casting Directors?
- What do you need to start working with a Talent Agency?
- What do you need to start auditioning for Theater?
- What is an Acting Resume and what specifically goes on it? What are Directors & Agents' Pet Peeves about Resumes?
- What is a Cover Letter and what goes in it?
- What are Headshots and Comp Cards?
- Headshots: what to look for, the different kinds, where to get them done, questions to ask Photographers
- Comp Cards: what to look for, do you need them, what they are used for, the different kinds, where to get them done
- Make-up artists: to use them or not and where to find them
- What do you need to know, study, prepare to start Auditioning?
- What should you include in Mailings to Theaters & Agencies?
- Acting Training: How important is it & what kind of training do you need?
- Where can you find information about local auditions?
- Things to beware of - Potential Scams
- Questions & Answers
Cold Reading for Film & TV 1 Workshop
In this workshop, actors will learn tips for auditioning (in general) and specifically for auditioning on-camera with sides from TV & Film. We will cover topics such as:
Students will participate in mock auditions with sides from TV & Film. Auditions will be played back for actors with constructive feedback. Actors will work with each other as readers. This workshop is limited to 3-4 actors to maximize individual focus.
- How an audition can be broken down into parts and what is needed in each part.
- How to make a good first & last impression.
- How to get your eyes up out of the script.
- How to break down sides effectively and quickly, and mark them in a way that is useful to you in the room.
- How to making strong choices.
- Taking direction.
- Doing your homework - what you can find out about projects in advance.
- Working with the camera (slating, focal points, spacial changes, marks, frames, etc.)
- Working with a reader vs. working with another actor.
- Staying alive and connected after the final word.
- Expecting the unexpected at auditions.
- How to be an actor people want to work with.
Students will participate in mock auditions with sides from TV & Film. Auditions will be played back for actors with constructive feedback. Actors will work with each other as readers. This workshop is limited to 3-4 actors to maximize individual focus.
Cold Reading for Film & TV 2 Workshop
In this second workshop on Cold Reading for Film & TV, actors will receive sides the evening before the workshop in order to replicate a real TV/Film audition.
This workshop is limited to 3-4 actors to maximize individual focus.
- Actors will audition on-camera with sides from both Film & TV.
- Auditions will be played back for actors with constructive feedback.
- Actors will then work through the scripts to identify choices that could be stronger or information that might have been missed.
- Actors will rework their auditions on-camera with direction.
- The reworked auditions will be played back in contrast with the original auditions and with additional feedback.
- Actors will work with each other as readers and or as two actors auditioning together.
- Actors will repeat this process with all scripts.
This workshop is limited to 3-4 actors to maximize individual focus.
3-Day Competition Prep Weekend Workshop
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Award-winning acting coach, actress, & best-selling monologue author, Janet B. Milstein will come to your school to work with your entire group of contestants in a specially designed 3-Day Intensive Weekend Workshop focused on polishing all acting competitions and preparing students to compete on the highest possible level.
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"Thank you for the amazing weekend of IPOP training. You truly elevated our entire school's performances well beyond what anyone thought they were capable of, even their adoring parents. I can not thank you enough for all the extra time and effort you put in above and beyond what you were paid for." |
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Janet will teach students her winning method of mastering cold reading, commercials, scenes and monologues.
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Janet will give students invaluable tips on attending the convention, self-promotion, callbacks, and follow-up. Plus, she will let them in on some unanticipated dos & don'ts.
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Janet will introduce students to the specifics of how each acting competition will take place so that contestants are prepared and know what to expect.
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Janet will use her effective acting exercises to free students of inhibitions and promote group bonding and trust.
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Janet's workshop will be a fun, challenging, personalized experience for all who are involved, as well as a great credit to add to students' resumes!
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Janet is a master acting coach who brings over 16 years of experience as an actor, private audition coach, acting teacher, director, national workshop coach, and best-selling monologue author.
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Janet's students continually acquire representation and book commercials, industrials, and voice-overs and are cast in theatre, film, and television in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago & more!
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Janet has successfully coached hundreds of iPOP!/IMTA contestants, resulting in countless callbacks, awards, and agent representation!
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"At iPOP! I won 3rd runner up for my monologue. It was such an honor. I can't thank Janet enough for helping me. Janet did an amazing job developing my monologue, helping me become my character, and giving me the confidence I needed to succeed at iPOP!" |
"Janet Milstein came during iPOP training and allowed us to have a say on our material so it would be more us, and it came out good. Because of her help, only 3 out of the Top Ten girls' monologues weren't from Atlanta. And I won "Best Monologue" in my age category!!!" |
Directing Actors Workshop
Understanding the Actor’s Process, Terminology, Script Analysis & How to Effectively Give Direction
This 3.5 hour workshop is designed for directors (or anyone) to learn more about the actor's process, concepts, terminology, and how to communicate better with actors in order to become better directors. This workshop leaves the technical aspects of the camera, lights, and sound aside to hone in on the important process of directing actors. As a result of this workshop, directors will learn to communicate more effectively with actors, improve their actor-director relationships, have a better understanding of the actor’s process, and learn how to get the results they want from their actors.
Participants will all be given a scene to analyze. The scene will be broken down by learning Acting Technique & Concepts. Participants will be led through the process of analyzing a script from an actor’s point of view (as well as making directing discoveries.) Script analysis of a scene is crucial to good acting and directing and participants will build their skills and understanding of differences in the ways those on the other side of the camera may approach their work.
Participants will learn tips on how to effectively (and non-effectively) communicate with actors when giving direction.
Volunteers will then work with actors & give direction as they perform the scene.
This workshop is open to anyone who would like to learn. Writers, Actors, and Directors should find this workshop extremely valuable to their process. Actors will sharpen their analytic and choice-making skills, as well as learn how to better take direction.
This 3.5 hour workshop is designed for directors (or anyone) to learn more about the actor's process, concepts, terminology, and how to communicate better with actors in order to become better directors. This workshop leaves the technical aspects of the camera, lights, and sound aside to hone in on the important process of directing actors. As a result of this workshop, directors will learn to communicate more effectively with actors, improve their actor-director relationships, have a better understanding of the actor’s process, and learn how to get the results they want from their actors.
Participants will all be given a scene to analyze. The scene will be broken down by learning Acting Technique & Concepts. Participants will be led through the process of analyzing a script from an actor’s point of view (as well as making directing discoveries.) Script analysis of a scene is crucial to good acting and directing and participants will build their skills and understanding of differences in the ways those on the other side of the camera may approach their work.
Participants will learn tips on how to effectively (and non-effectively) communicate with actors when giving direction.
Volunteers will then work with actors & give direction as they perform the scene.
This workshop is open to anyone who would like to learn. Writers, Actors, and Directors should find this workshop extremely valuable to their process. Actors will sharpen their analytic and choice-making skills, as well as learn how to better take direction.
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Participants will leave with a greater understanding of:
The workshop is $16 per person in advance or $20 at the door. |
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On-Camera Commercial Workshop
The Workshop will cover:
Students will:
Contact Janet to Sign up for the next Workshop!
- The different types of commercials (MOS, Tag Line, One-liners, Dialogue, etc.)
- Slating
- Tips on working with the camera
- Breaking down the copy
- Making strong choices
- Opening actions
- Cold reading tips
Students will:
- Participate in mock auditions with different types of copy
- Learn how to choose a strong opening action, "other" and problem that the product solves
- Break down copy
- Receive feedback on the impression they make "entering the room"
- Work on their delivery
- Receive feedback on how they handle direction given in mock auditions
- Leave with an on-camera commercial audition technique they can use for all future auditions
Contact Janet to Sign up for the next Workshop!
