VANCOUVER ACTING
CLASSES + WORKSHOPS
No tricks.
No shortcuts.
No false promises.
Just passionate creativity and uncompromising
respect for the craft of acting and
all that it demands.
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VANCOUVER
ACTING
WORKSHOPS
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
INTERESTED IN UPCOMING WORKSHOPS?
EMAIL INFO@HAVENACTING.COM TO BE FIRST ON THE LIST!
2-DAY IMPROV for ACTORS WORKSHOP :
Master Storytelling, Bold Choices, and Dynamic Performances
with Veena Sood
DESCRIPTION:
Led by award-winning performer/educator Veena Sood, this dynamic 2-day improv course is designed for actors looking to enhance their craft—whether you're preparing for scripted work or looking to perform improv live on stage. Veena's unique approach draws from her 35 years of experience working with Improv master Keith Johnstone and her extensive career in theatre, film, TV, and improv.
You’ll dive into full-length improv scenes that create compelling stories, moving beyond simple jokes to craft engaging narratives. In this course, you’ll learn how to:
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Let yourself be shaped by your scene partner.
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Make your fellow actors shine and support their performance.
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Embrace bold choices that push your boundaries.
Veena also brings her expertise in exploring Status relationships, teaching exercises that help you make meaningful connections on stage. You’ll learn how to focus on creating relationships rather than focusing on trying to be “good,” resulting in deeper, more authentic performances.
In addition to improv games, the course will include exercises that are perfect for rehearsing text, designed to help you unlock your creativity and spontaneity. Veena will guide you in exercises that allow you to release personal barriers, helping you unlock a freer, more dynamic version of yourself in every scene.
With her background as an instructor at the Motion Picture Arts program at Capilano University, an onset acting coach, and a co-founder of TheatreSports, Veena’s class will equip you with powerful tools to enhance your performances both on stage and on screen.
Whether you're refining your improv skills or expanding your approach to rehearsed text, this course will give you the tools to create memorable, spontaneous moments that captivate both onstage and in rehearsals.
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2-DAY IMPROV FOR ACTORS WORKSHOP with VEENA SOOD
(IN PERSON)
Click the link to add your name to the waitlist.
2 DAY ON-CAMERA 'BEYOND THE BOOKING' WORKSHOP
with Aprill Winney
DESCRIPTION:
This two-day workshop is designed for trained actors who are ready to bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional set. Through lectures, performance exercises, scene study, and on-camera work, participants will gain hands-on tools that go beyond technique—focusing on what it takes to be truly set-ready. Actors will also explore how camera placement and lens choice impact performance, building confidence through technical awareness and informed choices.
Footage will be for in-class review only.
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YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Aprill Winney is a film and television director based in Los Angeles. She has directed over 45 episodes of television including Tracker and True Lies for CBS, The Resident for Fox, and Agents of SHIELD for Marvel/ABC. She has been nominated for two Daytime Emmys for her work on The Mysterious Benedict Society for Disney + and Ghost Writer for Apple +. She is proud to direct across many genres including sci-fi, medical, family drama, children’s programming, and action. Aprill participated in the ABC/ Disney Emerging Director’s Program. She was also selected into the Director Development Initiative Mentorship Program at the DGA in its inaugural year. Aprill has a passion for working with actors and has recently curated her own acting workshops, specializing in the actor/director collaboration.
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Day 1: Scene Work & Script Analysis
The workshop begins with a group introduction and lecture, followed by short performance exercises designed to open actors up physically and emotionally. Actors will then be paired in two-hander scenes chosen to suit their individual strengths. With guidance from Aprill, the class will dive into script analysis and begin exploring the scenes in depth.
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Day 2: Performance for Camera
Each pair will present their scenes, this time incorporating on-camera elements. Aprill will introduce actors to key technical concepts including camera placement and lens size, demonstrating how these factors influence performance. A monitor will be used so actors can review their work and better understand how to make informed, grounded choices on set.
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This workshop is open to trained actors who have put in the work and are ready to prepare for the realities of a professional set. It’s designed for those who are either starting to book, or right on the cusp—whether they’ve had a few on-set experiences or none at all. If you’re feeling intimidated or uncertain about stepping into that world, this class will give you the tools and confidence to meet it head-on. Ideal for actors looking to build camera confidence, understand set dynamics, and sharpen both their artistry and professionalism.
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2 DAY ON-CAMERA FILM & TV SCENE STUDY INTENSIVE
with Carl Bessai
DESCRIPTION:
Join acclaimed director Carl Bessai for a two-day intensive scene study workshop that blends traditional script work with collaborative, improvisational exploration.
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YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Acclaimed filmmaker Carl Bessai has helmed 25 feature films in Canada, The US, and internationally. He has also directed numerous episodic and TV Movies. He has directed many of the top actors in the industry, from Academy Award nominated actors like Sir Ian McKellen and Bruce Dern, to younger stars like Cory Monteith (Glee) and Amanda Crew (Silicon Valley).
Carl’s distinction as an actor’s director comes from a deep respect for the collaborative process between actor and director, and a long history of filmmaking across many genres, from drama, to comedy, to horror and beyond.
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​Haven Acting Studio founder Ben Immanuel has acted in 8 of Carl’s feature films. Says, Ben, "Many of my most rewarding experiences as an actor have come while collaborating with Carl Bessai. He gives absolutely everything he’s got to his actors and demands the same in return."
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Day 1: Scripted Foundations
Students will be paired in two-hander scenes carefully chosen to match their unique personas, drawn from a wide range of styles and genres. Working in groups, each pair will perform their scene and receive detailed feedback and direction from Carl and fellow participants.
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Day 2: Improvised Discovery
Using the same scenes, students will break away from the script through guided improvisation. This process will uncover emotional depth, hidden dynamics, and new creative directions, leading to more personalized and layered performances. The group will collaborate to reshape the work based on collective insights.
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Both sessions will be filmed, giving students a valuable record of their on-camera growth and performance evolution.
Open to actors looking to deepen their craft, expand their range, and engage in a collaborative creative process.
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Not currently scheduled, please register for a different workshop or put your name on the mailing list for when we do this workshop again!
DESCRIPTION:
Unlock your comedic potential with Michael D. Cohen’s holistic approach to comedy! In this workshop, you'll work on sitcom scenes, dive into comedic text analysis, and master jokes, tone, and pacing—all while bringing your authentic self to the role. Learn essential audition techniques and scene study to stand out in the industry.
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Michael D. Cohen, a series regular on Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger and Danger Force, brings 20+ years of acting, writing, and directing experience to the table. He’s worked on hit shows like Modern Family, The Mindy Project, and films like Whiplash and Suburbicon.
Don’t miss this fun, informative, specific genre workshop with Los Angeles based industry pro Michael D. Cohen! ​​​​​​
AUDIT POLICY:
To maintain the safest and most focused atmosphere for the students in class, drop-in audits are not available.
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SCHEDULE:​
ACTING FOR SITCOMS WORKSHOP with MICHAEL D. COHEN (IN PERSON)
COURSE COMPLETED - REGISTER BELOW FOR FUTURE DATES