Acting for Film + Television
Transform your relationship with yourself and others. Develop an actor's instrument and a comprehensive understanding of the craft and business of acting.
You are inspired by the power of acting. You understand the critical relationship between the actor, the story, and the camera, and how it shapes an audience's reaction to a feature film, TV, or web series. You are ready for relentless self-discovery, and to take the necessary steps on your journey. You possess the commitment to hone your most valuable instrument – YOU. You are an actor.
An Education in Acting for Film + Television
A Year in Acting
VFS Acting faculty offer an overview of the intensive one-year experience you will take on as an actor at VFS, from your first day in the classroom to your last day on set.
Prepare Your Instrument
Gain intense hands-on experiences to develop your vocal and physical instrument, as well as a strong imagination connected to truthful impulse. Build the techniques behind the most prized performances.
Program Breakdown
CLIMB. Begin the mental, physical, and emotional preparation necessary to enter into the craft of acting. You'll encounter the core principles, including acting technique, camera skills, movement, voice, and improvisation.
LEAP. Elevate your acting techniques, critical sensibilities, and performance range. Experience the technical and creative demands of television auditions.
DIG. Expand your range and presence through improv and collaborations with Film Production. Investigate how your life story informs your performances, enabling you to bring greater truth to your work.
EMERGE. Apply your growing skills to deep scene study and personal monologues. Discover the demands of Sitcom and the high stakes skills necessary for motion capture, green screen, and heightened dramas. Share your work at the end of the term in a live presentation.
FREEFALL. Experience an intense acting workshop that aims to free your impulse to elevate every performance. Voice Coaching sessions will further encourage ease and range in your voice to prepare you for the demands of feature film auditions and your introduction to the world of Voice Acting.
HORIZON. Think beyond the school and cement the work you’ve accomplished in the year. Shoot your film project and promo reel in studio to showcase your talents. Define how to be the driver of your own career and consider strategies for getting an agent.
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program length
12 Months
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Time spent with instructors
1000+ Hours
- A Diploma in Acting for Film + Television
- Video of your class's projects, professional headshots, and a promotional package highlighting your acting work
- Access to the VFS Alumni Directory and Job Board
- A graduation launch on CastingWorkbook.com, including a one-year membership
Student Work
Voice Acting
Voice Acting requires a fully engaged actor; body, spirit, and voice. You'll gain valuable experience in a collaboration with students from Sound Design for Visual Media. Be prepared to create exciting animation characters, and face the challenges of prelay and ADR. This is your opportunity to refine your craft on the mic.
Greenscreen Shoot
With the evolution of production technology, you will be required to apply your acting skills to many production venues with unique demands. The greenscreen shoot illustrates how nuances of your physical performance can determine the outcome of a shoot.
Special Skills + Special Effects
As part of the Special Skills and Special Effects for the Actor course, movement classes introduce you to the intricacies of realistic physical combat. Experience armed combat with our partners, Academie Duello, in their specialized training facility.
Key Faculty
Our Acting instructors come right from the industry, and offer an unparalleled education based on decades of real-world experience, designed to give students the skills, contacts and confidence to kick start their careers.
Jennifer Clement
Head of Department
Jen has acted in over 100 theatre, film and TV projects in the course of her professional career. She has been teaching for ten years, sharing her years of experience, and passion for acting, with her students.
Bill Marchant
Creative Specialist
Bill's feature film Everyone won Best Canadian Film at the Montreal World Film Festival and was nominated for four Leo Awards. Along with numerous roles in Canadian television, Bill has written and directed short films and plays.
Nancy Sivak
Instructor
Nancy has been a professional actor in Vancouver for over 25 years. She has worked on the stage, as well as in television and film. Her involvement in the world of independent film has taken her to film festivals around the world.
Michael Robinson
Instructor – Improv
Michael has been teaching acting for over 32 years at institutions around the world. He has over 80 credits in film, television, and commercials, has won both a BAFTA and a Leo award, and is a two-time World Theatresports Champion.
See more Instructors and staff
Faculty Career Highlights
Supernatural
Kurt Evans – FBI Special Agent Carl Reidy
Jennifer Clement – Wendy Rice
Bill Marchant – Deputy Frank
Everyone
Bill Marchant – Shepard (Bill also wrote, directed, and produced Everyone)
Cara McDowell – Rachel
Nancy Sivak – Madeline
Campus Life
Your year in Acting for Film + Television puts you in close contact with students in a host of other VFS programs, from writers and filmmakers to makeup artists and sound designers. This downtown training facility features near round-the-clock access to rehearsal space, computers, and everything you need to perform at your best. You'll also be surrounded by the city's best cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions – not to mention some of the leading film and television production studios.
Program Events
Guest Speakers
Gain valuable career insights from industry guest speakers. Recent guests include Matthew Lillard (The Descendents), Jamie Lee Curtis (True Lies), Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle), and Actors Workshops Canada with Jennifer Cooper.
Film Production Collaboration
Participate in a collaboration opportunity with students from the Film Production program. The resulting short film project will become part of your portfolio and allow you to demonstrate your growing comfort performing for the camera.
Interactive Q + A with Industry Professionals.
Engage with experienced professionals. Participate in demonstrations and ask questions about the intracacies of working as an actor.
Slice
Build an initial network of actors who are on the same creative path. This event brings the whole VFS Acting department together and occurs once during the four-month Acting Essentials program.
CAREERS IN ACTING
As a graduate of the Acting for Film + Television program at VFS, you’ll be trained to act in a variety entertainment media. Each avenue draws upon a unique aspect of your acting training and will encourage the ongoing pursuit of your artistic growth.
Feature Films and Television Series
As an actor for film and television, you may take your first step as an extra or with a guest role. An opportunity in a feature film could raise your profile, helping you to land future roles, while securing the role of a continuing character on a series can provide you with years of lucrative work.
Voiceovers and Animation
There is a burgeoning demand for actors with particularly expressive voices and wide vocal ranges. You provide the voices for animated characters, or bring words to life for radio and voiceovers.
Commercials
Acting in commercials is often considered the "bread and butter" of the acting world, and relies heavily on strong improv skills. Engagements are short-lived but pay well.
Explore Your Other Career Options
Casting Director / Talent Agent / Webseries / Greenscreen and MoCap / Theatre Crossover
Alumni Success
Vancouver Film School grads are some of the most successful professionals in the film and television industries. Take a moment to browse some of their accomplishments and achievements. The Alumni Success Stories feature tales of triumph and fame, and will open in another window to take you to the VFS Blog page. Grad Career Highlights offers a glimpse at some of our amazing alumni credits and contributions to the industry.
Alumni Success Stories
Grad Career Highlights
Supernatural
Adam DiMarco — Actor, Aidan
Aili Storen — Actor, Alice
Andrew Dunbar — Actor, Jake
Anna Williams — Actor, Blonde Ruby
Ava Vanderstarren — Actor, Connie
Colby Johannson — Actor, James
Cole Vigue — Actor, Seth
Emilie Ullerup — Actor, Mia
Holly Dignard — Actor, Lucy
Iain Belcher — Actor, Trevor McAnn
Jovanna Huguet — Actor, Bloody Mary
Laci Mailey — Actor, Emily
Matthew Anderson — Actor, Officer Karl Henry
Peter Benson — Actor, Joba
Sara Canning — Actor, Lydia
William Vaughan — Actor, Sheriff Deputy Atkins
Almost Human
Iain Belcher — Actor, Julian
Romuald Hivert — Actor, Security Guard
William Vaughan — Actor, James
Testimonials
Admissions Info
To make sure you have accurate admissions information please select your region based on country of citizenship.
Tuition
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Start Dates
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Requirements
You will be asked to submit one of the following along with your application. Your advisor can help with selecting the best option.
Department Standards
Upload your audition to a video hosting site (YouTube, Vimeo, a personal website, etc) and send a link to the school.
Please note that the audition must be specifically created for VFS according to the Content Requirements provided below and must be clearly identified as such.
Content Requirements
The tape must be a maximum six minutes in length and must be in the following format:
- State your name on camera
- Demonstrate a contemporary monologue in less than one minute
- Demonstrate a short contemporary scene (applicant should be on camera and the reader off camera) in less than one minute
- If desired, provide a maximum one-minute demo of a special skill (e.g. singing, dance, physical action, etc.)
- Provide answers to the following questions in a maximum of two minutes:
- Why did you choose your audition pieces?
- How long have you wanted to act?
- Who inspired you to want to pursue an acting career?
- What are your strengths & weaknesses as an actor?
- If you can't be an actor, what would you choose to be?
When you talk to your Advisor, let them know that you've completed the Essentials program and they will put a copy of your diploma in your file for you.
For more about language requirements and other information for international students, visit the International Students page.
We Can Help
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LOGISTICS
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