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Portland Film Actors Studio , LLC.

 

 

 

The Portland Film Actors Studio is a unique multi dimensional film production educational facility and training model in the United States. The purpose of the concept is to provide a real world film production environment for anyone who has the passion for pursuing a career in the film production arena. The studio is a place where seasoned professionals and beginners alike of all ages can learn new skills, expand their interests or refine current skills in the visual arts. We recognise that with any skill based activity, it requires hands on practise to enhance their knowledge and creative tools to keep up with this competitive and exciting industry. We create a comprehensive and dynamic, collaborative team environment which proves accelerated results for anyone who participates with us at the studio.

 

Our Mission:

 

Our goal at the studio is to provide our members with an alternative approach to film making. We believe that it is important to build a strong foundation to understand the true nature of what the film industry really requires as professionals in the work place. We use a layering system to guide our students to a well rounded undertanding of why? we do things... and how we have to get them done. We encourage everyone to experience the varied functions with in any production in order to build empathies for others and to further strengthen their total knowledge, on set efficiency and professional performance. We don't believe in class room or theory based education. We believe that doing is the best course of action to truly learn this amazing and intricate craft.

 

 

History:

 

Randall Paul began his carreer at an early age working on his first commercial for Datsun at the age of 17. After his schooling was finished he pursued his acting carreer and began to study with many of the top acting coaches in Los Angles. Years later he was cast in Stephan Verona's No Tell Motel giving him his Screen Actors Guild membership and later casted in Tom Cole's Medal of Honor Rag which won the Drama-Logue Critics Award in 1981. Randall Continued to study and was able to land one of the top agents in Los Angles J. Carter Gibson. After doing many commerials and involving himself in varied industry jobs while studying. He took on a position with EFX Systems as general manager of one of the largest post production houses in Hollywood. In 1987 Randall Relocated to London where he studied and worked for 15 years. Randall has since worked on well over 140 productions in over 30 countries ranging from television, commercials and film. His experience with working with Directors Stanely Kubrick, Brian De Palma, Stephan Norrington, Mike Newell, Tarsem Singh and other well noted directors has offered Randall an in valueable experience and insight to how he approaches his business today. He founded Portland Film Actors Studio in 2012 realizing the need for actors to work for the camera in a real production environment. Although there are many film schools in the United States. PFAS is possibly one of the most effective and energized learning venues offered as it centers its formats on real world production requirements and sets the stage from the beginning on what it takes to be a professional in this industry. It is my belief this can not be taught by university graduates and no degree can replace the the real world experience that we instill in everything we do at PFAS. The programs we put together are from years of study and detailed analysis and our students even the most seasoned have complimented us on how thorough and ground breaking our approach is when it comes to our teaching formats

 

 

For the actors: 

We recognize that actors do not have the opportunity to work on set regularly in the work place. They also do not in most cases have a full understanding of what true professionals are

aware of when on set or on location when working with production teams. Because of this lack of production time, we present a full on going production environment that facilitiates their needs as actors working for the frame. Our emphasis with the actors is to build understanding and experience towards all of the production components as a core foundation. We believe that if actors learn the basics with lighting, camera, sound and editing along with producing and directing they become totally aware of the process of real film making.

Example: The actors learn a multiplicity of operational skills, disciplines and tasks. They are introduced to camera operation, lighting set up, sound, direction, script continuity, writing and editing as a core requirement. We believe that when an actor fully understands these varied operations, it helps them immensely as a professional actor. Our actors when they go into an actual work environment are prepared and highly skilled as a result of the work we do at the studio.. Time is money and productions do not need to educate an actor while shooting. It is all about efficiency

Topics we cover: Camera lenses and depth of field, Framing the shots and body movement, lighting and exposure variances while on set and working the light, blocking, marking, eye line references, matching for the camera, pacing for the shots, cheating the shots, leading in and tailing out for the editor. body continuity for the different shots i,e. wide, mid and close ups for each take. close up camera work (the Cross).working with inserts and how to present objects. Sound and vocal registry, working with sound. i,e boom mics versus lavalieres, understanding techniques for utilization of props and essential sound bites versus non essential sound bites when physical action is taking place. Set awareness and the do's and don'ts. These components are an essential understanding that all actors should posses in their arsenal of personal tools. The techniques we cover are introduced while working any of the scenes we shoot. We believe the best results for comprehension of all the techniques are from doing the job not discussing or lecturing the topics in a workshop environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For The Crew:

In addition to the actors division, we also provide an educational platform for individuals whose focuses are on specific production skills, i,e. Camera / cinematography, sound recording, editing, lighting, screenwriting, directing, script supervision, etc. In all capacities people gravitate to the studio to be able to be a part of an incredible and diversified production environment and to work on their crafts. This is a rare and fantastic alternative to going to film schools which are highly expensive or lack the diversification and flexibility we offer at PFAS.

 

 

 

Operation:

Individuals who participate with us have all the production tools necessary to thoroughly immerse themselves into the production process. The advantages are they get real practical experience on all the essential equipment and functions of the studio necessary from the start of a production to post production. We conduct varied workshops at the studio. The studio constantly presents specific courses designed around certain desciplines. It is our focus that each student through practise learn the language of film making and to be able to intigrate efficiently with other team members in any given production environment. We encourage the use of different equipment and will show operationaly how each piece of equipment is used and why we use it. Dollies, Jibs, cranes, sliders, microphones boom and lavaliers and lights are all essential apparatuses to create the different shot criteria's.

Advantages:

We are supporters of the film community in total . We open our doors to anyone with ideas and who have the passion for learning. Many young talented people can only dream one day they might have enough money to pursue their passion because of equipment costs and the network of individuals to make it happen. Once they are selected to join the studio then everything is at their finger tips. We provide writers with a venue to shoot test scenes for their scripts. No where in the world is this flexiblity available to them as the costs would be prohibitive. We provide camera operators, editors and soundmen and lighting crew with the director of photography, production crew and actors to help facilitate their creative needs. The studio is like a gym because once you open those doors the array of man power and equipment is there for you to work out in at what ever capacity you wish to be involved with. Everyone needs everyone else to work as a team. The bonding that takes place is incredible and the lasting relationships that are built are invaluable. We create a solid community of like minded people who want to see their ideas come to life and to start building their career tools.

 

 

 

Because of the nature of the studios operations we have the capacity to make available to the community our expertise to help them with their visual needs. Schools, special needs groups, charities, counsels and government bodies who may want to put together learning or training video's or visuals for tourism or community awarenss messages. We can help in all areas of the communities visual requirments which again exposes the students to a diversified mix of media applications.

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