PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2021/2

Module Overview

The module engages students with a range of areas relating to industry practices, protocols and resources in pursuit of developing the necessary skills to undertake and sustain a career within the Performing Arts Industry.  This will be underpinned by promoting and developing an awareness and comprehension of the continually developing Global perspective within the Industry.


The practical part of the process within this module is a distinct component of the training at GSA:  A panel of practicing industry professionals alongside staff members, advise students on their choice of audition material, presentation and associated materials.

 

For the Professional Development Portfolio students will undertake activities to promote themselves in the industry. This may include an Industry Showcase, Auditions and Self-tape exercises designed to demonstrate that the student understands the processes for gaining work in the professional theatre industry.  For the Industry Showcase, rehearsals will be under the guidance of a professional director in preparation for the production which is designed to introduce the students to the industry at large.  Students will be advised and guided in developing a realistic awareness of casting potential and perceived type in order to ensure that employability and suitability of the material chosen demonstrates a confident and assured performance of the chosen scene.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

NICHOLLS Stewart (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

CV generation
Understanding of industry standard formats for CV - including Spotlight
Reflective practice
Self-assessment stratagems
Personal presentation
Selection of material
Vocal, dance and performance techniques
Audition Technique

Selection, Preparation and Presentation of appropriate audition material
Rehearsal processes

The Professional Development Portfolio may include a Industry Showcase, Self-tape portfolio, CV, Headshot, websites etc. The content of this portfolio will be determined by current standard industry practices.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate rigorous research practice for auditions, and the integration of techniques to achieve a high level of performance in audition and showcase scenarios.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Performance to Agent Panel: 50%.

• Audition technique


• Integration of disciplines


• Selection, Preparation and Presentation of appropriate audition material

Professional Development Portfolio: 50%  

• Contextual understanding


• Audition and/or Performance technique


• Integration of disciplines


• Selection, Preparation and Presentation of appropriate audition/performance material

Formative assessment and Feedback

Formative assessment is crucial to this module. In mirroring industry practice, students are given detailed constant verbal feedback and during classes and rehearsal, which enables students to develop and act upon notes given. Students are encouraged to create a reflective journal which encourages and develops their own reflective practice.

Student Activity Link to Learning Outcome(s)

• Contextual Understanding


• Understanding and Application of theory


• Integration of disciplines


• Ensemble work

• Selection, Preparation and Presentation of appropriate audition material

Module aims

• To prepare the student for professional performance and casting process
• To encourage a high level of self-presentation
• To develop a sophisticated awareness of professional discipline and presentation
• To prepare the trainee actor for a life-long commitment to the process of seeking and acquiring creative, artistic and commercial opportunities
• To integrate and effectively deploy Acting, Dance, Voice and Singing techniques acquired and developed at Levels Four and Five
• To provide an opportunity for successful entry into the industry in a professional showcase context

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Encourage students to reflect critically on their progress and their future plans, develop a professional portfolio of performance and auditions that can launch them into the industry and to equip them to be a disciplined auditionee and performer.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Group Seminars

• Group and Individual research sessions

• Rehearsals

• Audition skills classes

The module is delivered over 300 hours study across the term including, class, seminar and self-study.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MUT3016

Other information

Under the three term structure – this module’s delivery is year-long due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Blocks 1, 2 and 3.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.