MTF Set To Host Masterclasses On Acting For Camera

Multichoice Talent Factory (MTF) has concluded plans to host masterclasses on acting for camera in the West African sub-region. To be facilitated by award-winning director, Denny. Y. Miller, the classes will hold in Lagos on January 28 and Accra, Ghana, on January 30.

Speaking on the classes, Femi Odugbemi, MTF Academy Director (West Africa), said, Miller, who won awards for directing Isibaya and Swartwater, would be at the two classes to teach participants drawn from industry groups in new techniques in acting for camera.

Miller, who has been in television for over 25 years, started his career in the television and film industry at the age of 19 when he worked as part of the crew in Egoli- Place of Gold.

Surrounded by notable talent in the industry and some of the best technicians, he acquired experience that would leave him passionate about directing for television.

Miller directed season one of Nigeria’s longest-running soap opera, Tinsel, mentoring a cast and crew that had little or no experience in the genre. He was also the creative director and director on two seasons of Moments with Mo, a hit Nigerian talk show, and wrote as well as directed Kenya’s first talent search reality series, The Presenter.

Odugbemi said the classes would help industry players to understand that imagery matters more than words in performance. “These actors and directors would channel their emotions in a more powerful way when they comprehend the dynamics of acting with camera and not acting for camera,” he stated.He also pointed out that MultiChoice would continue to improve the skills of personnel in the Nigerian film and television industry and that the masterclasses would eventually deliver a more professionalised and networked film/ television industry across Africa by expanding the community of highly skilled professionals in indigenous content creation.

Last week, Ari de Beer, an award-winning Steadicam operator, facilitated a well-attended one-day masterclass in Steadicam operations. It had in attendance seasoned camera operators, who received certificates of participation.Participants at the Acting for Camera Masterclasses are required to have a minimum of five years experience as actors/ actresses and would be drawn from across the industry spectrum in Nigeria and Ghana.