CADETs Learn Acting for Video Games

SAG CADETs recently experienced a special workshop that taught specialized acting techniques for video games. The workshop was led by Nathanial “Than” McClure, CEO of Scientifically Proven Entertainment, a video game development company that has worked on or produced such games as Man vs. Wild the Game (360, PS3, Wii) (2011) Crave/Scientifically Proven/F84 Games; Real Heroes: Firefighter (Wii)(2009) Conspiracy Entertainment/Epicenter Studios; Call of Duty 1, 2, 3 and 4 (360, PS3, Wii) (2002-2007) Activision. One of Than’s favorite exercises is to ask the students to reveal an emotion through exaggerated body movement while wearing a mask. Assisting with the workshop was SAG member Dan Lemieux, an experienced stunt coordinator and performance capture artist (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, as well as many video games). Dan demonstrated the various stances and movements that are basic to performance capture work for video games. The highlight of the workshop was the opportunity for the students to name their favorite video games and learn how the games’ movements and special effects were created. Special thanks to Detroit SAG councilor Ele Bardha for loaning the auditorium that is connected to his Bardha Productions studio.

The CADET — Cultivating Actors with Direction, Experience and Training — program is a program that offers middle and high school students the opportunity to participate in workshops and other events that will set them apart from their fellow acting and filmmaking classmates. CADET membership is a membership to a Screen Actors Guild Conservatory and does not constitute membership in Screen Actors Guild.

 
From left, SAG members Tina Gloss, Judy Dery, Tom Force, David Herbst, Eric Wydra and Pat Allison

This item was originally featured in the March 2012 local newsletter.