Training opportunities expand for entertainers open to new directions

The Academy of Film Television Stage and Performing Arts (AFTSPA) is expanding its programs to include comedy workshops, writing and screenplay workshops, movement, dance, directing, cinematography, sound engineering, make up, stage craft, production and voice over classes for those interested in a professional career and participation in projects currently in development in the entertainment industry and, more specifically, those in development by Willy-Gilly Productions, Inc.

The Academy’s one-hour “Acting Anyone Workshop” will be held on August 13 at 11 a.m. at CoLab, 43 St. John Street, in Goshen, and currently offers acting classes in the Sanford Meisner acting technique and voice classes in the Seth Riggs Method of ‘Speech Level Singing.’ (SLS)

Graduates of Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse include Joanne Woodward, Diane Keaton, Allison Janney, Josh Charles, Gregory Peck, Jeff Goldblum Eli Wallach, Robert Duvall, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Sydney Pollack, Sandra Bullock, Tony Randall, Steve McQueen, Terrence Malick, David Mamet and David Patrick Wilson.

‘Speech Level Singing’ (SLS), formulated by Seth Riggs is the method used by Michael Jackson and is still being used by Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Tony Braxton, Michael Bolton, Al Jareau and many ‘American Idol’ and ‘X-Factor’ contestants.

Expansion of the curriculum is due to the increase in filming of feature and TV productions in the Hudson Valley.