Program Overview

VAS ACTING CONSERVATORY DIPLOMA

Program Overview

The Acting Conservatory program is a 9-month graduate acting program designed to expand the actor's toolbox at an advanced level, giving the actor a necessary foundation for booking and performing challenging lead and supporting roles.

Program Details

• Price: $13,900
• Materials Cost: $400
• Duration: 36 weeks
• Total Hours: 870

Program Outline

The program is divided into three terms, each focusing on different aspects of acting:

TERM 1

• ACT-200: Intro to Classic Theatre
  • Students are introduced to works from the Greek Tragedies to Shakespeare's plays, focusing on theatrical/acting elements and their use in exercise to develop the beginning stages of their individual process.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-210: Advanced Audition for Camera
  • Students are given specific circumstances within which they may find themselves in the professional audition industry.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-220: Fundamentals - Improv, Story & Theory
  • Students explore elements of story and its structure through personal story telling, play cold reading exercises, theatre history research, and improvisation exercises.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-230: Voice & Movement with Clown
  • Through a series of exercises and assignments, students are introduced to elements of clown, mask, and bouffon.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-250: Discovering the Actor's Process
  • This class is intended to provide the students with monologue and scene work in which they use the exercises and techniques introduced in other Conservatory classes.
  • 3 credits

TERM 2

• ACT-201: Intro to Hagen & Adler
  • Students work with exercises developed by esteemed acting teachers Uta Hagen and Stella Adler. The focus will be on "object exercises" and "transference/substitution".
  • 3 credits
• ACT-202: Intro to Effective Rehearsal
  • Students are guided through several Rehearsal Techniques to explore the life of the character. Examples include "The Light", "Animal", "Regression".
  • 3 credits
• ACT-231: Advanced Voice & Movement
  • Students explore advanced Improvisation exercises, play cold reading, and theatre history.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-251: Exploring the Actor's Process
  • This class continues to provide the students with scene work in which they use the exercises and techniques introduced in other Conservatory classes. Scene work is strengthened using a variety of games, exercises, and challenges.
  • 3 credits

TERM 3

• ACT-203: Technique in Practice
  • Using the exercises explored throughout Term 2, students rehearse and perform 2 short length plays.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-204: Rehearsal in Practice
  • Using the exercises explored throughout Term 2, students rehearse and perform 2 short length plays.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-223: Performance in Practice
  • Using the exercises explored throughout Term 2, students rehearse and perform a full-length play.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-232: The Devised Piece
  • Students work with Voice and Movement instructors to develop, write, and rehearse a short play using personal stories and experiences.
  • 3 credits
• ACT-252: The Actor's Process in Performance
  • Using the "process" they have developed during Terms 1 and 2, students rehearse and perform a full-length play.
  • 3 credits

Admission Requirements

• Completion of the Vancouver Acting School Acting: Film, Television & Voice-Over program, or a similar full-time program at a recognized post-secondary institution.
• English Language Requirements:
  • International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): minimum score required is overall 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum score required is 68 for the internet-based exam, 190 for the computer-based exam, and 520 for the paper-based exam
  • Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC): minimum score required is 700
  • Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE): minimum level achieved B1

What Students Say

• "The most integral part of the intensive that I've been left with is a sense of community. Sometimes the world of film and television can seem intimidating, but with a good arsenal of friends, mentors, and colleagues, I feel empowered, and enthusiastic. At VAS, my community supported me every day, and acted as though my future success as an actress was an absolute. We learned from one another, and grew, and I feel stronger, and confident as a result. The land of Film and TV doesn't seem so intimidating anymore, because not only has the intensive instilled me with a great foundation of skills to keep me grounded, it's also given me a great community of people to help support me in my continuing journey..." - Ellie Heath, VAS Alumni
• "Pssssst.... I booked my first job out in Toronto! Had an audition on Tuesday and it was all improv and nailed it. So, so, so thankful we did improv training in the intensive! I spent my time in the waiting room thinking about the story, and flushing out my 7 with the details I got from the casting director and voila!! Thanks for VAS and all that you do to help other actors move ahead! Who's happy now? This girl!" - Esther Reich, VAS Alumni
• "Training at Vancouver Acting School was a total game changer for me. It is a cornerstone of the community and the coaches are my heroes." - Marc Silverman, VAS Alumni