Valleywood 2025 Week 2 – Shadow Detectives

Audition email will be sent on Friday May 17th, 2024 with all the details on the audition process.

SUPER IMPORTANT: We are going to use our professional casting software that we use for all of our professional national castings year round.

In order to make this happen we need each camper to create a free actor profile at this website – www.castingnetworks.com Every actor should create a personal profile (please create a non-agent affiliated profile if you are currently represented and have a profile with your agency)

Once you have created the profile, please email us to confirm this step so we are certain you will get your audition request with self tape instructions and sides.

The audition request will come from Casting Networks to the email you used to set up your account. Step by step instructions will be attached to your request. Have a parent or sibling handy to help you access the information and video/upload your audition. This will be great practice and a vital skill for actors and parents for when you are given opportunities in the commercial and film market in AZ and beyond!

We would like to ask that everyone complete their auditions and submit no later than 9:00PM on Wednesday, May 22nd 2024.

The final script and casting information will be sent out on or before the morning of Tuesday, May 28th 2024.

There will be two pre-camp meetings that will all be done via zoom. Please do your best to be in attendance and communicate if you cannot make the meetings.

MEETING ONE: Thursday May 30th 2024 (6:00PM-6:45PM)

This meeting will be approximately 45 minutes. The agenda for this meeting will be:

1. Quick introductions
2. Opportunity to ask questions regarding your character choices
3. Costume and Prop discussion and planning. Our goal is to have everyone find these items either in their household or borrowed from friends or family. If anything needs to be ordered or bought, we will navigate this at this time.

*Pre-Camp Meeting 1 – Link –  Props, Costumes & Character Questions

MEETING TWO: Saturday June 8th 2024 (11:00AM – 1:00PM)

This meeting will last 1-2 hours. The agenda for this meeting is rehearse and get to know each other a bit. It’s important for actors to build trust with one another. So we will break the kids into various groupings in order to develop chemistry in timing and delivery of their lines. **Ideally everyone will show up to this meeting having already memorized their lines.**

*Pre-Camp Meeting 2 ––  Scene Rehearsal & Memorization Testing Link

Dearing Acting Studio specializes in actor training and thus much of camp is focused on skills related to film acting.

Additionally…

The camp is designed in such a way that our staff does most of the “heavy lifting” when it comes to production, post-production etc.

However, actors are given opportunities to help on set and if an actor has a special interest in production more so than acting, please communicate this with our team before camp starts so we are able to adjust casting and get them as involved as possible on set. The crew on all sets and productions are an essential and honorable part of the movie making process and the actors are forever grateful to these highly regarded members of the team. We allow 1-2 campers per session to be full time production crew.

Through camp workshops and on set experience actors will learn about the following and more:

• Slating
• Script supervision
• Cinematography
• Audio engineering
• Editing
• Post Production
• Production / Set processes
• Lighting
• Character
• Set design
• Acting techniques
• Set etiquette

Valleywood Movie Camp is action packed. On most days, when time allows, we create a fun highlight reel of “behind the scenes” fun. Once camp starts come back here and click on the following link – VALLEYWOOD PLAYLIST – to see the latest videos posted. And while your there, go ahead and subscribe the to page :)

• Plan to arrive at 7:45 am every morning. Wait in the car until doors open at 7:50 am.

• Plan to pick up at dismissal time (2PM each day). If an issue arrises please communicate via studio text message at 480-313-9901.

• Actors should have a printed copy of their script in a three ring notebook with their name on it. This notebook should be with them each day and taken home each day.

• Campers and staff (other than one studio admin) are asked to give up their cell phones for the duration of camp each day in order to minimize distractions and maximize learning. If any parents/guardians need to communicate with a camper, please call or text the studio at 480-313-9901. Campers are always allowed to communicate with parents using the studio phone.

• Actors are expected to be professional and respectful to all staff, actors, faculty, facility and any props and/or equipment.

• All actors must be memorized prior to camp and show up on day one fully prepared to perform for all their scenes.

• Curious on how to memorize effectively? Check out this blog written by Valleywood Director Matthew Dearing.

• A memorized actor will give a higher quality performance and help with the efficiency of camp. We want you to perform at your best and have as much FUN as possible. That requires all actors to have all their lines memorized before camp starts. We are happy to work with any campers who are struggling with a few lines here and there.

• All actors need to bring their own costume. Actors will bring any costume options they have from home based on the look book on day 1.  We will then make any final decisions from there. 
  
• Actors must have their costume on DAY ONE OF CAMP. We will not be able to film an actor if they do not have their costumes on day one.
  
• Costumes need to be brought SEPARATELY from actors’ regular day clothes.
  
• Costumes will be left at the studio for the duration of camp–we recommend labeling your items and having an identifiable bag to store it for easy access.

• Actors will change into their costumes DAILY. 

• ***NOTE – Bathrooms are not always available. Please wear shorts and a tank top under regular clothes to make “quick changes” possible and appropriate. Each student will be able to use our facilities to change and will be given time to do so each day. 

• Once castings are completed, a “Look Book” document will be sent out. Refer to the LOOK BOOK document for ideas on how your character should dress and be creative.

• In regard to costumes… if you need help financially or in any other way don’t hesitate to reach out.

• Props make the set realistic!

• We ask that anyone can kindly donate any props listed below to help us bring this movie to life. Please deliver any set decorations and props to the studio by Thursday May 30th. (please label your items so we know who to return it to at week end)

• ***Please note – Due to the pace of camp and nature of film-making, we cannot be responsible for damaged or lost props or costumes. We will of course try our best but if losing or damaging an item would be devastating, please don’t bring it. It will be the actor’s responsibility to keep track of props and costumes. 

• Plan to arrive at 7:45 am every morning. Wait in the car until doors open at 7:50 am.

• Plan to pick-up at the 2PM dismissal time each afternoon.

• All campers and staff are asked to turn in cellphones for the duration of camp each day in order to minimize distractions and maximize learning. *Exception for staff using phone for camp purposes

• If parents/guardians urgently need to reach a camper please call or text studio number at 480-313-9901.

• All actors are required to bring a packed lunch to camp daily.

• Actors will NOT be allowed to leave the premises for lunch.

• Please note that our fridge space is limited to staff only (Small). So please pack knowing that is not an option.

• There is a microwave available.

• If any parents are willing and able to donate healthy snacks and/or drinks for the actors to keep them energized and feeling great during camp we would appreciate the gesture.

• If ANYONE has ANY food allergies- please let us know as soon as possible ahead of camp so we can make appropriate accommodations, have their epi-pen accessible (if necessary), and clearly communicate and identify the camper to the staff and anyone donating snacks to avoid any issues.  

If parents/guardians are looking for a way to be involved please reach out to the studio. We are always looking for extra help in the following areas:

• Building/Preparing sets and film equipment (This will be done Saturday June 1st)

• Make-up

• Providing healthy snacks, drinks for energy.

• Prepping for lunch/snack, cleaning after lunch/snack.

• Supervising changing areas at the start and end camp.

• Any other special skills you have that might benefit our campers? Please let us know and we will do our best to get you involved. We have had parents come in with some amazing talents in the past and love sharing your knowledge with the kids whenever there is time. 

Actors will spend these days filming and producing the movie. While actors are not filming, they will be busy working on various elements of the production process, rehearsing, learning new skills, games and acting techniques taught by our team of instructors. 

• Starting Monday morning campers will begin production on their movie!

• Make sure to have all props/costumes with you and lines memorized.

• Actors will arrive at camp at 7:45 am (as usual). Please wait in the car until doors open at 7:50 am. 

• Actors should wear regular day clothes to camp and must bring formal wear to change into after lunch. This way actors look their best for the red carpet walk, speeches and photo station.

• In the morning actors learn public speaking techniques, then write and practice their premiere speech.

• 11:45AM – Parents and guests arrive.
  • Note: Doors will not open until after the red carpet walk. If outside conditions are too harsh, feel free to wait in your car’s AC for as long as possible. Just keep track of time as we will be doing our best to start right at 12:00 pm. We will have misters running.

• 12:00PM – Red carpet walk and photos for friends and family.

• 12:30PM – Official Premiere of “Meteor” the movie.

• 1:00PM – Speech Ceremony. 

• 2:00PM – CONGRATULATIONS! YOU MADE A MOVIE!

ALL ACTORS MUST TAKE THEIR COSTUMES, PROPS, BELONGINGS ETC WITH THEM. ANYTHING THAT IS LEFT BEHIND AT DEARING ACTING STUDIO WILL BE DONATED.