Dive deep into acting skills and boost your craft with hands-on training at THE LAB, in person!
THE LAB: INTENSIVE ACTOR'S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
THE LAB is an immersive, hands-on actor development program created for new and developing actors who want to strengthen their confidence, performance skills, and ability to work in front of the camera. This is not a program where you spend the day sitting and listening to someone talk about acting. You will get on your feet, work with other actors, rehearse scenes, receive direction, make adjustments, and perform.
Throughout the program, actors will work directly with instructors on scene development, character intention, blocking, listening, emotional processing, natural reactions, scene partner connection, camera awareness, and taking direction. Actors will be paired with scene partners and given scripts to rehearse and perform while instructors provide hands-on coaching and feedback. You will have the opportunity to take that direction, make adjustments to your performance, and approach the scene again.
Meet Melissa Darling, an actor, model, and creative from Selma, California, and one of the instructors and mentors joining THE LAB: Intensive Actor’s Development Program. Melissa began acting and modeling as a teenager, landing her first commercial 16 years ago. In 2018, she decided to take the craft more seriously, diving deeper into acting while beginning work on her first feature film. At THE LAB, Melissa brings her years of experience in front of the camera and her continued dedication to developing the craft to help encourage and guide actors as they grow.
Meet Joy Ndombeson, an actor, writer, director, and creative leader here in Fresno, California, with more than 15 years of performance experience across theatre, film, commercial media, and live performance. A graduate of Fresno Pacific University with a B.A. in Performing Arts and a minor in Music, Joy is also the founder of Ndombeson Productions, where she creates, writes, directs, and produces original theatrical and multimedia work. Her experience includes dramatic and musical theatre, independent film, improvisation, character-driven storytelling, script analysis, and actor coaching. As an instructor and mentor for THE LAB: Intensive Actor’s Development Program, Joy brings a strong focus on emotional authenticity, character development, stage presence, and helping actors connect personal truth to their performance.
Whether this is your first time stepping in front of a camera or you are a developing actor looking for more experience, THE LAB gives you a place to learn, experiment, make mistakes, take risks, and grow in a supportive environment. No professional acting experience is required.
Come ready to learn. Come ready to work. Come ready to perform.
Welcome to THE LAB.
Good to know
Highlights
- 4 hours 30 minutes
- ages 12+
- In person
- Free parking
- Doors at 10:15 AM
Refund Policy
Location
North Via Del Rio
North Via Del Rio
Fresno, CA 93720
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
1. ACTOR HEADSHOTS
Participants will begin THE LAB with a quick individual headshot session. This gives each actor an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera from the moment they arrive and provides a professional opening to the experience.
2. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Instructors will officially welcome participants to THE LAB, introduce themselves, explain what actors can expect throughout the program, and establish the goals for the day. Actors will also briefly introduce themselves and begin getting comfortable with the group.
3. ACTING WARMUP & MINI LESSON
Actors will participate in a fast paced warmup designed to loosen up, build energy, encourage interaction, and reduce performance anxiety. This will transition into a short instructor-led discussion on the fundamentals of acting, including character intention, listening, reacting, being present, and understanding the “why” behind the words.