Awesome screen workshops with the charismatic Sam O'Mahony

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2807812/

Amidst Sam's busy schedule of making award-winning films, starring in soaps, UK tours, and hollywood movies, he made time to share his talent and wisdom with our actors! After a big discussion about 'identity', the actors went off in pairs to devise a short scene to film. The key being 'less is more' for film. Why add a line of dialogue when the camera can pick up that thought in the movement of your eyes? 
Sam told us about the 'indulgence' of acting for the camera. Take your time...as the editor can always speed it up if they choose to. 
A few little gems that we took away from the 2 sessions: 

" It's so much more interesting to watch when you've got something conflicted in you"
"Make that line harder to say"
"You have to be fully invested in it. The camera picks up every thought"
"Use your takes- give the editor different options. You are one piece of a much bigger jigsaw"
"In a workshop environment, the best thing you can do is fail! Don't play safe and be vanilla"
"The movement you're doing- what does it mean, where does it come from? Take all that emotion and put it into stillness. That is incredibly powerful"
"Have the confidence to hold the look, especially at the end of a scene. That is cinema gold" 

Here are a few snapshots of the workshops. Links to the filmed scenes to follow!