SIFF 2022 carves path for aspiring talents to become actors

The acting workshop targeting teens was led by Emirati trainer Mahmoud Al Kattan who outlined the essential elements of acting, the skills needed to become a good and successful actor, and ways to keep developing these skills.

Following the brief introduction, the workshop moved to a step-by-step hands-on training where aspiring artists learnt basic film acting techniques such as portraying different moods and emotions, dialogues delivery, and improvisation techniques.   

Commenting on the interactive session, Al Khattan said the workshop was aimed at sowing the seeds of acting potential in the younger generation and equipping them with the basic knowledge to unearth their creative abilities and acting talents. He added that the youth must be encouraged to pursue their passion through research and enroll in acting classes to carve a career in the film and artistic world.

Aspiring actors were also taught the similarities and differences between acting for the screen and for the stage. 

At the workshop titled  ‘Discover Your Voice with Majid Platforms’, trainers Fatima Mohammed and Najla Al Mansouri introduced young participants to the world of creative content and skills required to be a voice-over artist.

The young attendees learnt the basics of writing styles to produce creative content in various formats including stories, scenarios and social media posts and how to adapt it for television and other media types. Trainer Fatima Mohammed said the workshop aimed to introduce aspiring talents to the various media and tools to build their strengths in the field.

Teaching participants voice-over techniques to break their fear of the camera, she said the ‘Discover Your Voice’ session targeted aspiring actors or presenters who are camera shy.  

“Doing voice-over requires some form of acting talent as the actor needs to embody the character. Voice-over is a great way to break out of one’s shyness and be bold enough to stand in front of a camera,” she added.

The trainers taught various voice coaching techniques including warm-up exercises to practice before the start of any recording. The young participants at SIFF 2022 had an entertaining time learning to use the different layers of their vocal chords to get the right voice for various characters.