OVerview
Program Details:
- Start Date: TBD
- Course Type: Live Webinar
- Cost: $125 (Auditor) / $325 (Participant)
- Enrollement: 10 Participant / Up to 100 Auditor
- Certificate-Earning: No
About the Building a Character Course
When it comes to building multi-dimensional, interesting characters, where do you start? Often, actors are overwhelmed by all the choices they can make, when discovering a new character.
In this six-week workshop, explore the building blocks and tools you can use to develop strong characters. From incorporating EDP Theory and Animal Work into your scenes to exploring the physicality of emotions, participants and auditors will get a hands-on look at what it takes to Build a Character.
This course includes six live 2-3 hour sessions:
What to Expect:
- Enhance your ability with physical and emotional characterization
- Explore the best ways to start a character
- Identify the difference between physical action and thinking as a character
Week 1 - EDP Theory
Explore EDP (Emotional Distancing Phenomenon) Theory and experiment with exercises like Netural Mask to begin building character.
Week 2 - Animal Work
Use Animal Work to continue to build character and add nuance.
Week 3 - Elements
Explore how working with elements - earth, fire, water and air - informs the inner state of your character.
Week 4 - Adjectives
Work with character adjectives - like "selfish" or "naive" - to inform your body and inner state.
Week 5 - The Interview
During an in-depth interview, your character will revisit his/her whole life from childhood to the present moment.
Week 6 - Live Performances
Actors will put what they've learned about character building into practice, while working on scenes.
Gulu Monteiro
About Instructor
Gulu Monteiro is an award-winning theater and opera director, and since 2006, he has been a professor at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. During a career spanning more than 30 years, Gulu has experimented with a multitude of theater languages. With “Companhia do Gesto,” a company he founded in Rio de Janeiro, Gulu introduced Brazilian audiences to the language of clowns, masks and motion, and since founding Ipanema Theater Troupe in Los Angeles in 2001, he’s continued to experiment with language. Today, Gulu has developed an approach to acting that encourages actors to explore the mind-body link. In his workshops, actors experiment with animal behaviors, natural elements and psychology to build stronger, more complete characters, and he’s toured his workshops internationally, including in Paris, Berlin, Madrid and London. As a director, his work has earned wide acclaim. Ipanema Theater Troupe has earned coveted awards in Los Angeles, including an Ovation Award, Maddy Award and LA Weekly Award. In the past, Gulu has worked as a visiting director at LA Opera, Broad State, the Getty Villa and more.
Teacher Courses
American English, Business, College, Junior Arts, Master Performer, Youth
USC SDA: On Camera Acting Certificate
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All courses in our Performance Programs include two levels of participation: Auditor and Participant. Auditors listen to and watch live class sessions, but don’t participate and interact with the instructor/other students. Auditing is great for students who want to experience a course without participating. Auditors can watch live sessions, access on-demand replays of live classes and have access to course materials.
Participants, on the other hand, attend live classes and interact with instructors and other students. In addition, participants can access class recordings, course materials and contact instructors.
No. Our Performance Program courses are taught by master instructors, coaches and other arts professionals, and not affiliated with a partner university. If you’re interested in earning a certificate or joining a degree-earning course, explore our University Programs.
Choose the Instructor tab to learn more about the instructor for your class. All of our Performance Program instructors are in-demand coaches with decades of industry experience. Study with the best!
No. There are no prerequisites. However, our Performance Program courses are designed primarily for intermediate and advanced actors, dancers and performers. If you’re unsure if you’re ready for a course, contact an EMERGE learning advisor.
To enroll, select “Register for Course” on the course details page. Then, create an account and select which course and participation level you prefer for that course, e.g. Auditor/Participant. Finally, complete checkout.
After successfully enrolling, the EMERGE team will be in touch to help you access course materials and answer any questions.
Participants should plan to attend weekly live course sessions. If the student can’t make a course, arrangements should be made with the instructor.
Another option: If you can’t make a course’s regular weekly live sessions, consider participating as an Auditor and viewing class recordings each week.
Our classes are live webinars offered via Zoom. All you need to attend is a stable internet connection and a connected device. Students may wish to upgrade audio or web cam, but this is not required.
Courses must be paid in full prior to enrollment. Enrollment is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Our courses do fill up quickly; if you’re interested in participating, enroll as soon as you can.
