Acting for Film & Television
DIPLOMA | 12 MONTHS | FULL TIME | ON CAMPUS
Become a screen-ready actor in one year. Train on-camera, build professional audition skills,
and graduate with a portfolio built for film, TV, and voice work.
Program Overview
Train on camera from Day 1 – through filmed exercises with review and feedback – and graduate with a professional demo reel including filmed scenes and industry-readiness (audition skills, networking with agents, and career tools).
Duration:
12 months (4 terms, full-time)
Location:
Vancouver, Canada (Campus)
Credential:
Diploma, Acting for Film & Television
Grad Deliverable:
Demo reel, filmed scene portfolio, and professional headshots
Core Training Areas:
On-camera acting, audition technique, voice & speech, movement, improv, voice acting, combat, performance capture
Career Tools:
CastingWorkbook membership (1 year)
What You’ll Graduate With:
A powerful demo reel for submission to talent agents and for securing auditions.
Start Dates:
Multiple intakes per year
Tuition:
Domestic students: C$22,950
International students: C$30,750
Career Paths:
Film Actor, Television Actor, Theatre/Stage Actor, Commercial Actor, Voice Actor, Motion Capture Performer, Audiobook Narrator, Radio/Podcast Performer, Live Event/Immersive Performer
START YOUR TRAINING
Program Focus Areas
Develop a Focused Demo Reel Across Multiple Acting Disciplines
VFS Acting students train hands-on to craft a pro demo reel across a variety of industry disciplines spanning on-camera, audition, and voice work.
- Filmed scenes from camera courses (TV, feature, comedy)
- Promo/demo reel showcasing 3 characters (audition/screen test format)
- Self-tape audition pieces, with feedback-driven refinement
- Polished agent-ready audition presentation (Term 6 focus)
- Professionally edited voice sampler (Voice Acting 2)
- Optional footage/experience from combat, green screen/virtual production, and performance capture
Explore Student Portfolios
While training at VFS, students are immersed in the Acting industry, and spend a lot of hands-on time creating professional-quality work. And, nothing is a greater testament to the incomparable industry resources and career preparation that define VFS’s education model, than the top quality work our students produce. Here, building a professional actor portfolio of outstanding work is just the beginning. Just take a look.
Love Knot
Starliner Trailer 1
Starliner Trailer 2
What You’ll Learn
- Authenticity, relaxation, spontaneity for the lens
- Technical on-set demands: marks, eyelines, continuity, coverage setups
- Build confidence through filmed exercises with review
- Script analysis: Objectives, given circumstances, relationships
- Rehearsal technique and advanced scene study progression
- Filmic naturalism and modern method approaches (advanced term work)
- Audition prep and performance under pressure
- Working with sides; adjusting in the room/on tape
- Self-tape audition craft developed across terms
- Breath, sound, articulation, operative words
- Vocal range, expression, clarity, confidence
- Accent/dialect training including modern non-regional American sound
- Alignment, breath, neutral; ensemble physical awareness
- Rhythm, spatial awareness, character physicality
- Mask work, animal study, subtlety vs bold physical choices
- Voice Acting (mic technique; auditions; characters; ADR / pre-lay intro)
- Combat special skills, safe choreography, green screen/virtual production application
- Performance capture (mocap) terminology and processes, partner studio shoot
- Headshots/resume/agents/casting strategy basics
- Marketing plan and portfolio template (mission statement, materials)
- Actorpreneur: Building your website, social media, pitching projects, grants, and self-created work
SPEAK WITH A VFS ADVISOR TODAY
Career Outcomes After Graduation
VFS’s signature, hands-on training starts from day 1. By the time you graduate, you’ll have developed an industry-ready skill set that will prepare you for a variety of careers:
- Film Actor
- Television Actor
- Theatre/Stage Actor
- Commercial Actor
- Voice Actor
- Motion Capture Performer
- Audiobook Narrator
- Radio/Podcast Performer
- Live Event/Immersive Performer
Faculty
VFS’s Faculty consists of the most highly trained professionals in the creative industries. While our full-time instructors provide more one-on-one time with students than any other school, our part-time instructors are pulled right from the heart of the industry, equipped with the most current, relevant industry experience and credits.
Course Content
- Arrival Week (onboarding, ensemble trust/play, face the lens)
- Acting: The Ensemble (listening, text analysis, actor vocabulary)
- Improvisation: Spontaneity
- Camera: Objective in Performance (filmed exercises and review)
- Movement: Your Body (alignment, breath, group awareness)
- Voice: Foundations (breath/sound/language connection)
- Process: Core Actor
Outcome: Work in an ensemble, analyze text, and perform truthful objectives on camera with foundational voice/body control.
- Acting: Rehearsal Technique (character creation and workshop)
- Improvisation: Character (longer scenes, partner focus)
- Movement: Exploration (space, rhythm, physical communication)
- Voice: Exploration (range and expression)
- Camera: Television (ensemble TV scenes, continuity, multi-marked blocking)
- Audition: Knowing the Room (commercial/film/TV sides, playback review)
Outcome: Rehearse scenes professionally, handle TV set demands, and deliver stronger auditions with technical consistency.
- Acting: Scene Study (given circumstances, world of script)
- Intimacy for the Actor (consent, boundaries, protocols)
- Movement: Mask and Beyond (bold vs. subtle physical choices)
- Voice: Discovery
- Camera: Feature Film and Edit (shoot, assist editing, big-screen viewing)
- Audition: Exploring Television (genres and self-tapes)
Outcome: Analyze and build deeper scenes, work safely with intimacy staging, and perform feature-style on-camera work with editing awareness.
- Acting: Advanced Scene Study
- Acting: Writing for Actors (write and perform a monologue)
- Voice: Integration
- Voice: Accents & Dialects (non-regional American and variations)
- Camera: Comedy Project (multi-camera sitcom shoot)
- Industry: Voice Acting 1
- Industry: Combat Special Skills (green screen/virtual production application)
Outcome: Perform across comedy/drama modes, speak in dialect work, and begin building employable specialty skills (voice and combat).
- Acting: Return to Impulse (intensive)
- Acting: Rhetoric (argumentation and persuasion in text)
- Production: Final Film Pre-Production (audition/rehearse/wardrobe meetings)
- Voice: Dynamic Voice and Coaching (one-on-one depth)
- Audition: Exploring Film (multi-scene, advanced self-tape)
- Industry: The Business of Acting (business plan, materials)
- Industry: Voice Acting 2 (advanced mic, ADR/pre-lay intro, edited sampler)
- Industry: Performance Capture (prep and partner studio shoot)
Outcome: Prepare professionally for a film production, audition at higher stakes, and leave with real industry-facing voice and mocap experience.
- Acting: Filmic Naturalism
- Production: Final Film Studio Shoots (professional-level set protocols)
- Camera: Modern Method (two challenging film/TV scenes, close-up work)
- Audition: Landing the Role (polished piece for local agent)
- Industry: Promo Reel (3 characters; agent-ready reel)
- Industry Prep: Actorpreneur (website, pitching, grants, self-created work)
- Special Topics (guest teachers, advanced workshops)
Outcome: Graduate with a diploma, pro promo reel, and polished on-camera portfolio – ready to approach agents and audition professionally.
SPEAK WITH A VFS ADVISOR TODAY
Program Delivery
ON-CAMPUS
Our 1 year, fully in-person production-based experience, preparing you for the industry’s current practices and technologies.
VFS’s Film Production Centre is located at 151 West Cordova St. in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Our state-of-the-art facilities include a 64,000 cubic ft. motion capture volume, 280-degree green room, black box studios, screening rooms, and much more.
Portfolio Outcomes
Your Portfolio by Graduation
Every piece of your reel is built with the same, proven process: preparation à performance à review à refinement.
Admissions
VFS Advisors are here to answer any questions about the applications process, help you book a tour, or set you up for a free portfolio review with our industry faculty.
How to Apply Refund Policy Contact an Advisor
For more information about language requirements and other information for international students, visit the International Students page.
Tuition
On-Campus Delivery
Domestic: $22,950 CAD
International: $30,750 CAD
Start Dates: May 4 | June 29
Demonstrated post-secondary acting experience and a recorded audition that meets Department standards.
Department Standards
Upload your audition to a video hosting site (YouTube, Vimeo, a personal website, etc) and send a link to the school.
Please note that the audition must be specifically created for VFS according to the Content Requirements provided below and must be clearly identified as such.
Content Requirements
The tape must be a maximum six minutes in length and must be in the following format:
- State your name on camera
- Demonstrate a contemporary film audition monologue in less than one minute
- Demonstrate a short contemporary scene (applicant should be on camera and the reader off camera) in less than one minute
- If desired, provide a maximum one-minute demo of a special skill (e.g. singing, dance, physical action, etc.)
- Provide answers to the following questions in a maximum of two minutes:
- Why did you choose your audition pieces?
- How long have you wanted to act?
- Who inspired you to want to pursue an acting career?
- What are your strengths & weaknesses as an actor?
- If you can't be an actor, what would you choose to be?
See this video on How to Submit a Self Tape
OR
Completion of VFS's Acting Essentials program
Program FAQ
Yes. This acting program is designed for beginners and experienced performers alike, with foundational acting classes that build your skills from day one.
No prior experience is required to join this acting school; our acting course structure supports all levels and helps you progress quickly.
Admissions may include a short audition or creative submission, designed to assess your potential for success in this acting program.
This acting diploma is a 12-month, full-time acting program delivered across six intensive terms.
Tuition varies for domestic and international students. Contact a VFS Advisor to explore full costs for this acting program and available payment options.
You’ll graduate with a professional demo reel, headshots, and a portfolio developed through hands-on acting classes and production work.
This acting program prepares you for film, television, voice, and performance capture roles through industry-focused acting classes.
Yes. Vancouver is a major production hub, making it an ideal location for an acting school with direct industry exposure.
VFS offers a variety of scholarships throughout the year. Payment plans are also available. Speak with VFS Admissions to learn what options apply to the Acting program.
This Acting course is currently held on-campus, with the potential for hybrid learning options in the future.
Yes, completing VFS’s Acting program earns you a recognized acting diploma focused on film and television performance.
Acting school can range from short acting classes to multi-year degrees, but VFS’s Acting program is completed in just one year.
It’s never too late to start training. Acting classes regularly include students in their mid-20s and beyond.
Acting income varies widely, but VFS’s Acting program prepares you with the skills and business knowledge to pursue paid opportunities.
Attending an acting school gives you structured training, professional materials, and industry connections that are difficult to build alone.
Yes. Even a single acting class can improve confidence, technique, and on-camera performance skills.
The 3 C’s often refer to commitment, concentration, and creativity—core principles developed throughout this acting program.
An acting diploma is a credential earned after completing a structured acting program focused on performance and industry readiness.
An acting program is a structured series of acting classes and production experiences designed to train performers for professional work.
Michelle Danner teaches a holistic method blending emotional truth, imagination, and technique drawn from multiple acting traditions.
The best acting course depends on your goals, but a hands-on, production-focused acting program like this one offers the most industry-ready experience.
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