Acting for the camera
As one of the only acting schools in Flanders, we focus on believable acting for the camera. Most acting lessons are actually covert theatre courses, where unfortunately the acting is often 'too grand'. As a result, it often becomes a little less believable, while a camera picks up the smallest detail and the audience can immediately see that you come across as a bit 'fake'.
Some takes of each lesson are recorded and discussed afterwards. Are you still camera shy? That's no problem, with us nothing is mandatory and everything is allowed! Taking lessons at your own pace and according to what you feel comfortable with, that's important to us! Do you still have obstacles that you have to face in acting? Then we will help you to push your boundaries in a fun, relaxed way.
Acting techniques
At Badass Intensive Acting we don't believe in a silver bullet technique.
Each method has its pros and cons. You may feel better with a specific approach, while you find it emotionally too difficult with another. Or you may find that you prefer to use a different method in certain situations. That is why we teach you different methods, from which you can choose what suits you best.
We teach you principles from:
Classical Acting (Stanislavski, Saint-Denis)
Method Acting (Strasberg)
Acting techniques of Adler, Chekhov, Hagen...
Meisner
Practical Aesthetics (Mame, Macy)
REPEAT, our own acting approach
In addition, we also teach you improvisation. We even have our own improv group, the Improvfessionals, which will start up again as soon as the SARS-CoV-2 measures are behind us! Improvisation not only sharpens your comedic talent, you also learn to remember better and work better with your environment!
Just like our workshops, courses are non-refundable after the initial 14-day legal decision period. However, you can always swap courses with each other.
'As an actor, you spend your whole life trying to do something that would put people in asylums.'
Jane Fonda
Other Techniques & Physical Acting
Acting is a very broad field, covering many different domains. That is why we also use techniques from various psychological movements and more movement-oriented approaches to be able to offer a unique course that you can only find at Badass Intensive Acting.
After all, we also use concepts from:
Neuro-linguistic programming
Self-relations by Stephen Gilligan
Facial Action Coding System
Ericksonian speech
Permissive hypnosis
Directive hypnosis
Hellinger's Family Constellations
Concepts from Gestalt Psychology
Our head teacher, Dirk Vandereyken, is a coach, hypnotherapist and Master in NLP himself. He has had years of training in the movements we mention above. In addition, he has been following martial arts since he was fourteen, so that during your training you will also receive a few lessons on stunts and fighting in front of the camera. Before that, Dirk took lessons from one of the most famous stuntmen in Hollywood.
For the regular classes in Leuven, you have the option to also participate in the 'Physical Acting' classes. These are provided in collaboration with Tim Ost, who has built up an excellent reputation in Belgium and teaches you how to fight, fall, use weapons and do stunts for the camera. For the Physical Acting part, you pay a supplement of 200 euros (good for 10 lessons, which always start an hour and a half before the regular course). Some martial arts that are reviewed are:
You can do it
Jun Fan gung fu
Wing Chun kung fu
Kali/escrima
Penchak silat
Muay Thai
MMA
Brazilian jujutsu
Judo
Nipon Kenpo
Wado-ryu karate
H'sing-i kung fu
Savate
Western boxing
'Acting is a matter of absorbing the personalities of others and adding a little of your own experience.'
Paul Newman
Audition training
If you want to get a job as an actor, you will probably have to go to auditions regularly. At Badass Intensive Acting, we guide you through this.
How do you make a good first impression? How can you present yourself? What should you do and especially not do when you go to audition? We help you with all these questions and more!
'The best thing about acting is that I get to lose myself in another character and even get paid for it… It's a fantastic way to express myself.'
Leonardo DiCaprio
Experience
Admittedly, not everyone is equally experienced. Many acting courses therefore divide their students into different levels… but what do you do if a beginner can already act very well? Or if someone has already taken fifteen lessons, but is not yet acting as credibly as someone who has only taken five?
We brought our solution from the United States, where we took classes with JS and Sonia (Screen Actors Studios); Kent Skov, the teacher of Matthew Perry and Will Ferrell (LA Connection); Bobbie Chance, who trained Scarlett Johansson and had Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in her classroom; and various other acting teachers, casting directors and talent agents: you have classes together in groups of maximum 15 people, but you get scripts and assignments that are adapted to your level!
Those who are already very good at acting will also receive more responsibility from us – if desired – and may sometimes introduce or conclude a lesson. By sometimes acting together with students who have more or less experience, you create a different dynamic and you can also learn a lot from each other. By receiving more intensive or difficult assignments when you are advanced, you will progress faster and you will not get stuck with the same lessons over and over again. Of course, with our courses, just like with any other course in the world, there are no refunds after the statutory 10-day reflection period once registered: we expect you to commit yourself and decide on your own responsibility whether or not to come to the lesson.
"Every actor has to make terrible movies sometimes, but the trick is never to be terrible in them."
Christopher Lee
Photoshoot & resume
Also included in the course is a free photoshoot. We will help you with your portfolio, create your resume with you and choose the best ones.
For that we also give ourselves a deadline: at the latest during your second lesson you will have everything in your possession! Do you need extra help? Then you can also come to us for your own website!
'Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've made it.'
George Burns
Guest teachers
At Badass Intensive Acting we believe that you will become a more complete actor if you can also take lessons from other teachers.
That is why we organize an extra – free – lesson from a guest instructor once a month. These are famous Flemish people, professional actors, voice coaches, singing teachers or talent agents, who can all teach you something from their own perspective.
Realm
The atmosphere in class is also very important to us. That's why there's always a bottle of water ready when you come in and after class we all go for a drink - at the expense of the Badass Intensive Acting Studios!
We treat the first round – a good moment to catch up, give feedback and ask questions that there was no time for during the lesson. Our lesson locations are centrally located in Leuven, which makes the location ideal for this kind of initiatives.
Realm
The atmosphere in class is also very important to us. That's why there's always a bottle of water ready when you come in and after class we all go for a drink - at the expense of the Badass Intensive Acting Studios!
We treat the first round – a good moment to catch up, give feedback and ask questions that there was no time for during the lesson. Our teaching locations are centrally located in Leuven, which makes the location ideal for this kind of initiatives.
Showcases
We regularly organize shows: a unique concept for our country, where we let our students prepare a number of scenes that they can perform for talent agents and casting directors present.
It is an excellent way to get in direct contact with casting agencies and to showcase your own skills extensively, so that you do not remain just an anonymous photo or text.
‘Ik heb enkele vergissingen gemaakt in drama. Ik dacht dat drama was wanneer de acteurs weenden. Maar drama is wanneer het publiek weent.’
Frank Capra
State-of-the-art Software
The film world is constantly changing. With Augmented Reality ('AR'), Virtual Reality ('VR'), 4DX and other modern technologies, filmmakers try to attract even more people to their films. At Badass Intensive Acting, we also keep our finger on the pulse and ensure that you are 'in' with the latest developments.
Acting in a VR film is a bit different than acting in front of one or two cameras, so it makes sense that we pay attention to that, but there is more. For example, we have the latest trend watching software, we show you what is 'hot', which films, series and themes are most in demand, and so on - very useful to know if you are looking for work as an actor!
Syllabus
After quite a few lessons in which we also cover theory, you will receive a syllabus about that lesson. This contains some more theory, supplemented with facts, summaries and photos.
Because learning to act is not a positive-scientific subject, we often adapt our lessons according to who is coming. In this way, we take into account questions, wishes and different levels. That is why we only provide a syllabus 1 to 7 days after the lesson. In this way, we can work flexibly and you have a very nice reference book full of fun information!
TV lesson
Recently, you can now also participate in a unique TV course. The possibilities for progression are almost unlimited and both the acting courses and the TV courses of Badass Intensive Acting are ideal for people who want to become more self-confident, want to be seen on television or on an online channel, are interested in providing shows, aspire to a journalistic career, like to do social activities or are simply looking for a fun hobby.
Highlights
Learn to present
Learning to lead debates
Learn to conduct interviews
Learning to read texts from an autocue
Those who have already acquired sufficient skills can show them on a new online YouTube channel launching in May
Membership of the AEJ (Association of European Journalists)
Customized syllabus
Help with the resume
Basic camera and lighting techniques for those interested
Discounts on other courses and workshops
Many reasons to participate + opportunities for growth
Quizzes
If desired, you will also receive a quiz after a lesson with questions about that lesson. You do not have to answer them, but it is a very fun way to refresh your memory and check your knowledge! You will also receive the results immediately. These are private, only your teacher can see what you have filled in.
At Badass Intensive Acting we don't believe in giving points. After all, acting is too subjective. We do ensure that you can also constantly improve your theoretical knowledge, if you feel like it. Moreover, you won't find any points on your certificate and no one has ever 'failed' on the whole. However, after each course series you will receive a certificate on which we explicitly state what you can already do. It is a much more positive and motivating way to approach acting than dry diplomas or assessments.
Also never forget: the most important thing is that you act well and credibly! Practice is always our top priority, as it should be.