The Dirt Underneath Actors' Space

How are we almost halfway through February already? Session 2 Registration now open! JOHN GORDON’s (Master Class) On-Camera Scene Study: SESSION 2 Mondays: 5:30-9:30 pm March 17 – April 21 Fee for 6-week Scene Study: $525 inc. HST (early-bird $475) * The MASTER LEVEL class is for actors who are working regularly in film and television and theatre or who have studied with John for at least two terms. * Type of Class: APPLICATION JOHN GORDON’s Regular On-Camera Scene Study: Wednesdays: 6:00-10:00pm March 19 – April 23 AND Thursdays: 12:00-4:00pm March 20 – April 24 Fee for 6-week Scene Study: $525 inc. HST (early-bird $475) Type of Class: APPLICATION SHAUN MCCOMB’s On-Camera Scene Study – 3 options: Tuesdays: 6:00-10:00pm March 18 – April 22, 2025 OR
Wednesdays: 12:00-4:00pm March 19 – April 23, 2025 OR Fridays: 11:00am-3:00pm March 21 – April 25, 2025 Fee for 6-week Scene Study: $475 inc. HST (early-bird $425) Type of Class: APPLICATION VICTORIA URQUHART’s Grant Writing 101 Introduction Workshop Session 1 ONLINE: TUESDAY MARCH 25TH 4-6PM PT A/ SATURDAY MARCH 29TH 12-2PM PT B OR Session 2 ONLINE: SUNDAY MARCH 30TH 12-2PM PT A/TUESDAY APRIL 1ST 4-6PM PT B  Grant Clinics (ONLINE) you can choose one: * ONLINE: SUNDAY MARCH 30, 2-5PM * ONLINE: THURSDAY APRIL 3, 4-7PM * ONLINE: TUESDAY APRIL 8, 4-7PM * ONLINE: SATURDAY APRIL 12, 12-3PM Fee: $175 – HST exempt (early-bird $150- 2 weeks before the 1st class) *** First-time Auditor’s Discount – if you are a first time student at The Dirt AND you have audited any class in the last 3 months, you may take an additional $25 off either the early-bird rate or regular rate *** Type of Class: OPEN EARLY BIRD DEADLINE FOR SCENE STUDIES: Sunday, March 2 @11:59PM REGULAR DEADLINE FOR SCENE STUDIES: Wednesday, March 5 @11:59PM EARLY BIRD FOR GRANT WRITING is 2 weeks before first class. LINK TO REGISTER IN BIO Keep Digging! #thedirttoronto #acting #method #workshop #actingclass #act

Are you eager to learn more about Jonelle Gunderson’s 3-week On-Camera Character Embodiment Class? Ready to bring your characters to life in a way that captivates, connects, and communicates without words? Jonelle Gunderson’s 3-Class On-Camera Acting Series is designed to help you dive deep into the art of physical character creation. In this dynamic series, you’ll explore how to use body language, movement, and physicality to transform into memorable, multi-dimensional characters. Whether you’re playing a confident dramatic lead, a highly charged guest star, or a villain with a twist, these classes will teach you how to: Master Character Movement: Learn how to embody your character’s essence through posture, gestures, and physicality. Create Impactful Performances On Camera: Discover how to make your physical choices read clearly and powerfully on screen. Work with Your Body: Develop an intuitive connection between your physical choices and your emotional arc, bringing depth and authenticity to your performances. Each class is packed with hands-on exercises and guided coaching. During class 2, we will be recording scenes ‘self-tape’ style from both a wide AND close-up perspective to investigate the nuances and subtleties of physicality on camera. You’ll leave with the tools and confidence to connect with your character both physically and emotionally. Maximum number of students: 6 [Sign-up will be first come, first serve.] Fee: $300 (inclusive of HST)…early bird $275 (December 30th, 11:59PM) #thedirttoronto #acting #method #workshop #actingclass #actorslife #keepdigging #keepcurious #craft #storytelling #Selftape #theatrescenestudy #artistresidencyprogram

HOW DO I AUDIT A CLASS? The Dirt encourages new students to drop in + audit our On-Camera Scene Study classes for free. 1. Check our schedule of classes. Choose one to audit. 2. Email the instructor directly the day before to check on exact class start time. Please note there are no auditors allowed for Movement Classes or Grant Writing Workshops. Contact emails: [email protected] for John’s classes and [email protected] for Shaun’s classes. 3. We just ask you to arrive 10 minutes before class and stay for as little or long as you like. The address of The Dirt is 636 Pape Avenue (entrance off Cavell Avenue, behind John’s Video, through the black gate). 4. Be a respectful observer of class and please refrain from giving acting notes. 5. Once you’ve audited a class and then applied to take Scene Study within 3 months after, you will qualify for the First-time Auditor’s Discount (which is an additional $25 off either the early-bird rate or regular rate). 6. ** the discount does not apply if you only watched a live-stream class ** Keep Digging! #thedirttoronto #acting #method #workshop #actingclass #actorslife #keepdigging #keepcurious #craft #storytelling #Selftape #theatrescenestudy #artistresidencyprogram

On this day, in 2014, John and Cynthia opened the doors on our first on-camera workshop. Since then, we have had a continuous stream of students, many returning, who have secured major roles for CBC, CTV, HBO, HULU, AMAZON PRIME, NBC, ABC, BBC, and all the major streaming services. Our students have also appeared in indie shorts to Golden Globe and Academy Award winning feature films. As the popularity of The Dirt continued, more instructors were added to the mix. Shaun McComb has become an invaluable addition to the growing on-camera scene study network. Jonelle Gunderson’s passion for movement and character embodiment continues to challenge and empower her students. And, when his busy schedule allows, Peter N. Bailey, graces us with his powerful voice work. And finally, we have incorporated the technical wizardry of Eric Allin, who goes all in (see what we did there) to ensure professional looking takes to show one’s agent. Thanks you for all the support over the years and thanks for being brave enough to get your hands dirty by going deep and finding the dirt underneath. The work pays off. It always does. Keep Digging! @thedirttoronto #acting #method #workshop #actingclass #actorslife #keepdigging #keepcurious #craft #storytelling #Selftape #theatrescenestudy

This has certainly been an unprecedented and disappointing year so soon after emerging from the challenge of a pandemic. Stay the course and don’t lose faith. Thank you to all of you who continue to support us and to our many curious fans, stay tuned. We have lots of exciting irons in the fire for 2024. Stay safe, stay strong, stay focused. We are wishing you all a wonderful holiday season surrounded by loved ones.

New for 2024, the Dirt Underneath is offering our inaugural DIRT TEEN ACADEMY. Thursdays 6:00-9:00pm from January 18th - February 22, 2024. This ensemble class offers professional on-camera acting training for burgeoning performers who are serious about studying the technique of acting. The curriculum will include both acting and movement exercises, as well as contemporary scene study geared towards producing professional, believable results. Actors can expect to have an expert understanding of story structure and flow, and a heightened sense of body awareness and imaginative energy so that acting and character choices are as informed and as fun as possible. Most importantly, actors will leave with a process to apply to their self tape auditions and work on set. Classes will be led by Shaun McComb and Jonelle Gunderson, both members of The Dirt Underneath’s faculty, with assistance by junior instructor Carmen Kruk. Important Details: * There will be a 15 minute break each week in the middle of class. * Parents will be invited to a Showcase on the last day of class. * Age range: 14-19 years old (student must be at minimum Grade 9) * Parents and students will be required to sign the DTA’s Codes of Conduct Document before beginning participation in class. Registration deadline is January 4th, 2024, 11:59PM EST Fee for 6 week course is $550 including HST LINK IN BIO to register. For additional information, reach out to Shaun via [email protected] Photo credit : @gettingcaptured Keep Digging! @thedirttoronto #acting #method #workshop #actingclass #actorslife #keepdigging #keepcurious #craft #storytelling #Selftape #theatrescenestudy

Applications are now open for The Artist Residency Programme (ARP) This will be awarded to one recipient on an annual basis. The 2023-24 ARP will be specifically for an Established Artist.* The recipient will have free tuition and access to: 1. One session (6 classes) with John Gordon (On-Camera Scene Study) 2. One session (6 classes) with Shaun McComb (On-Camera Scene Study) 3. One session (3 classes) with Jonelle Gunderson (Movement + Character Embodiment) 4. Three hours of business coaching with Cynthia Chan Applications will be accepted for the 2023-24 Residency until April 30, 2023 (6:00pm EST) Short-listed candidates will be granted an interview mid-May and the recipient of the 2023-2024 ARP will be notified by June 15, 2023. * Who can apply to The Dirt’s ARP? This year’s ARP will be award to an Established Artist. For the purposes of this application process, we define ‘Established’ to mean any combination of the following: * do you have at least five professional credits in film/television or theatre? * did you graduate from a conservatory program? * did you start your own theatre company and have been performing shows? (i.e. have fringe credits) * have you played a principal role in a production that wasn’t a student production? * do you have representation? * are you actively studying different techniques to enhance your career? ** If you are in the first 3-5 years of your acting career and cannot answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, please wait for the next cycle (ARP for an Emerging Artist 2024-25) to apply KEEP DIGGING! LINK IN BIO for more information. #thedirtcommunity #actortraining #oncamerascenestudy #torontoactingstudio #torontoactingstudios #torontooncamerascenestudy #laban

*PLEASE NOTE NEW REGISTRATION END TIME* Regular Deadline for all Session 1 classes (Jan/Feb 2023) ends tomorrow at 6PM, not 11:59PM as per usual. These classes include: John Gordon’s: - On-Camera Master Class - On-Camera Scene Study - Weekend Theatre Intensive. Shaun McComb’s - On-Camera Scene Study - The Sandbox Intensive (Acting Foundations) Pascal Langdale’s - Intro to Laban - Advanced Laban (Character + Camera) Click in BIO to register. Keep Digging! #thedirtcommunity #actortraining #oncamerascenestudy #torontoactingstudio #torontoactingstudios #torontooncamerascenestudy #laban

More insight into @pascallangdale and his upcoming winter classes at the Dirt. Link in BIO to register.

More information from @pascallangdale regarding his upcoming classes offered at The Dirt in the New Year. Click LINK IN BIO to register. #torontoactingclasses #torontooncamerascenestudy #keepdigging #thedirt #thedirtcommunity.

What is Laban?

On-Location Scene Study

We have another On-Location Scene Study coming up starting October 13th! Registration deadline is THIS FRIDAY, October 9th. Students get the opportunity to act in 3 scenes over a 4 week period – shooting on location on Tuesdays and receiving their talk-back via Zoom on Thursday afternoons. See the video below for a taste of what we did in the first round. You will get multiple takes within each setup (wide/medium/close). And every week you will receive an edited version of your scene as well as all of the footage from each take. Click here to register: https://dirtunderneath.com/register/