ACT 2 CAM
Encyclopedia
ACT 2 CAM is a production company
and acting school
based in Newcastle upon Tyne
, UK.
The company is notable for producing independent films with cast and crew of young people from 8 to 18 years old. Company members devise, perform and shoot the films, using collaborative, creative processes to make decisions.
in Darlington
, originally under the name "DIY Drama" (Devised, Improvised, Youth Drama). Over a period of 2 years DIY Drama invited students from schools in the region to showcase their GCSE and A Level
performing arts
work to camera..
In January 2010 ACT 2 CAM began work with a small group of 20 young people aged 11 to 18 in Whitley Bay
, to devise, perform and film Beanz, which premiered at Tyneside Cinema
. In May 2010 ACT 2 CAM took on more cast and crew, and began delivering screen acting classes to 8-18 year olds. A summer camp
followed in July 2010, where Jo Ward, executive producer of Tracy Beaker
, and Lisa Coleman attended the group. Over one week a cast and crew of 22 young people collaborated to make the film, Mystery Babylon, which premiered at Tyneside Cinema
in May 2011. In 2011 the company opened up 15 more centres in Durham
, Harrogate
, Hartlepool
, Middlesbrough
, Morpeth
, Newcastle
, York
, Sunderland
and Leeds
.
In November 2011 ACT 2 CAM released Such is Life, a collection of dramatic tales devised by young people, with soundtrack by Lee Perry.
The company now has over 200 cast and crew.
features highly in the preparation and execution of ACT 2 CAM's films. All projects begin without a script, and are developed using process drama
and applied drama
techniques. There is an emphasis on corporate creativity, with cast and crew working and making decisions in groups. Techniques are taught which promote teamwork and interactive skills, with a practical learning approach.
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
and acting school
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
based in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, UK.
The company is notable for producing independent films with cast and crew of young people from 8 to 18 years old. Company members devise, perform and shoot the films, using collaborative, creative processes to make decisions.
History
ACT 2 CAM was founded as an after school drama club in 2008 at Polam Hall SchoolPolam Hall
Polam Hall is an independent school located in the town of Darlington, County Durham, England. The Head is John Moreland.-History of Polam Hall :...
in Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, originally under the name "DIY Drama" (Devised, Improvised, Youth Drama). Over a period of 2 years DIY Drama invited students from schools in the region to showcase their GCSE and A Level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
work to camera..
In January 2010 ACT 2 CAM began work with a small group of 20 young people aged 11 to 18 in Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast and has a fine stretch of golden sandy beach forming a bay stretching from St. Mary's Island in the north to Cullercoats in the south...
, to devise, perform and film Beanz, which premiered at Tyneside Cinema
Tyneside Cinema
The Tyneside Cinema is an independent cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the city's only full-time independent cultural cinema, specialising in the screening of independent and world cinema from across the globe...
. In May 2010 ACT 2 CAM took on more cast and crew, and began delivering screen acting classes to 8-18 year olds. A summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
followed in July 2010, where Jo Ward, executive producer of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's book first published in 1991, written by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.-Background:...
, and Lisa Coleman attended the group. Over one week a cast and crew of 22 young people collaborated to make the film, Mystery Babylon, which premiered at Tyneside Cinema
Tyneside Cinema
The Tyneside Cinema is an independent cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the city's only full-time independent cultural cinema, specialising in the screening of independent and world cinema from across the globe...
in May 2011. In 2011 the company opened up 15 more centres in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Morpeth
Morpeth
Morpeth may mean:*Morpeth, Northumberland, England**Morpeth , a former parliamentary constituency*Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia*Morpeth, Ontario, Canada*Morpeth School - a secondary school in the East End of London, England...
, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
In November 2011 ACT 2 CAM released Such is Life, a collection of dramatic tales devised by young people, with soundtrack by Lee Perry.
The company now has over 200 cast and crew.
Techniques
ACT 2 CAM cast and crew work collaboratively with a teacher-director to craft their ideas in film. ImprovisationImprovisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
features highly in the preparation and execution of ACT 2 CAM's films. All projects begin without a script, and are developed using process drama
Process drama
Process drama is a method of teaching and learning drama where both the students and teacher are working in and out of role.As a teaching methodology, process drama developed primarily from the work of Brian Way, Dorothy Heathcote and Gavin Bolton and through the work of other leading drama...
and applied drama
Applied Drama
Applied Drama is an umbrella term for the wider use of drama practice in a specific social context and environment. This practice doesn't have to take place in a conventional theatre space...
techniques. There is an emphasis on corporate creativity, with cast and crew working and making decisions in groups. Techniques are taught which promote teamwork and interactive skills, with a practical learning approach.
Influences
The company uses and teaches the approaches and techniques of several practitioners. The most significant influences on work are:- Antonin ArtaudAntonin ArtaudAntoine Marie Joseph Artaud, more well-known as Antonin Artaud was a French playwright, poet, actor and theatre director...
- Bertolt BrechtBertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
- Augusto BoalAugusto BoalAugusto Boal was a Brazilian theatre director, writer and politician. He was the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed, a theatrical form originally used in radical popular education movements...
- Jerzy GrotowskiJerzy GrotowskiJerzy Grotowski was a Polish theatre director and innovator of experimental theatre, the "theatre laboratory" and "poor theatre" concepts....
- Mike LeighMike LeighMichael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
- David LynchDavid LynchDavid Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
- Vsevolod MeyerholdVsevolod MeyerholdVsevolod Emilevich Meyerhold was a great Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theatrical producer. His provocative experiments dealing with physical being and symbolism in an unconventional theatre setting made him one of the seminal forces in modern international theatre.-Early...
- Constantin Stanislavsky
Films
- Such is Life (2011)
- Case 315 (2011)
- It is Written (2011)
- Happy as Larry (2011)
- Lonely Nurse (2011)
- The Helpers (2011)
- The Caretaker's Son (2011)
- Primo Parmo (2011)
- Liam Leonard (2011)
- Scranna Nannas (2011)
- Sorensen's Whip (2011)
- Go! Go! Gonzalez! (2011)
- Mystery Babylon (2011)
- The Good Barber (2011)
- Blood on the Catwalk (2010)
- Beanz (2010)