The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors

Opening sequence.

Story, Moral, and Spine. Breaking down the script. A practical example from the movie Casablanca.

Analyzing the headshot. Meeting the Actor. Evaluating the actor. Casting Sessions.

Have a good gatekeeper. Setting up the room. Sloppy actors. Grungy actors. Don't help. What not to say.

Partnering Exercise: Hot objects. Hot objects examples. Entrances and Exits: Airport. Scene Adjustments: Jerry Maguire.

Video scene analysis: Eat Drink Man Woman, Boogie Nights, Notting Hill, The Graduate, Who is Afraid of Virginia Wolf?, Sex and the City.

Limitations of cameras. Downstage eye and indirect partnering. Empty entrances.

Two truths come together. What's sexy? Share your life. Correcting bad habits. Dialogue handles. Close your eyes and listen. Directing narration. Stick to the script. Don't rush the table read. Include the writer. Let the script guide you. Learn the Actor's craft. Be prepared. I can't hear you. Furniture is movable.

Win this fight. Actors who drink. The 10-minute nap. When an actor forgets lines. Don't yawn. Marking props and wardrobe. Funny Feet. Filling the entrance. Book recommendations.

Don't look down. Drunk, drugged or insane. Sources of power. Getting turned on. Filling entrances and exits. Sequential linkage. Building character beats. Tap dance therapy. Know the setups. Make it organic. Lizards and Tarragon. Going to zero. Relaxation techniques.

Nina teaches essential short lessons.

An American in Paris. Billy Wilder. Lawrence Olivier and being foolish. John Wayne was right. Cecil B. DeMille. William Holden and Lee J. Cobb. Cloris Leachman's banana. There are no small parts. Lillian Gish and the poorhouse. Coaching "The Diary of Anne Frank". Griselda Weberser Piffle. Wherever I'm standing is the center. The Nina Foch Memorial light.

Don't be late. Failure is your friend. Demand your best. Be brave.

Closing thoughts.

Clips from the Tribute to Nina Foch by the USC School of Cinematic Arts held April 2009 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California.

Quotes from Nina.