Our first Seminar and Workshop went well. We have decided to offer several upcoming classes that we hope can be a tool for you to further your career.

From our students:

"You are a great teacher. I imagine there are a lot of directors, producers, etc. out there that do not have that ability to be able to teach! Anyway, I just thought you might like to know how motivated i am by this past weekend."

"I really enjoyed your seminar.  I found it extremely informative.  I also like that it was structured.  While some seminars/workshops drift from one subject to another, the presentation made yours very easy to follow."

"Valuable information from a director's perspective, something you seldom hear."

Our seminars are taught by working professionals and are carefully crafted to bring the most important information you need to the front. In many cases, there is a minimum number of students for the class to make. If that is not reached, you will receive a full refund. When you register, you will be contacted will more detailed information.

 

Daniel Millican

Made the leap from the commercial/ corporate/music video industry to feature films in 2000 and has written and directed five feature films, distributed all over the world.

"I enjoy teaching these seminars and hope the students can take what they learn and apply it towards helping their careers."

IMDB Listing
Dan's Blog
Wikipedia

 

 

 

Current Seminars

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOUR SEMINAR:
* Shoot/Edit/Demo Workshop * Greenlight Yourself * Writing Great Chracters

All seminars held at 6125 Airport Freeway, Suite 102, Fort Worth 76117, in the Studios 121 building.

New! Child Acting: A Director's POV WORKSHOP!

March 27, 2010, All Day Workshop for $99 includes both the minor and the parent/guardian.

Feature Film Director Dan Millican teaches a hands-on, all day workshop/seminar for the child/teen actor, all from the Director's POV. He will speak to the minors as well as cover important, need-to-know stuff for the parent or guardian.

Millican understands the special dynamics with children (and also that it's hard to sit still for a seminar!) and will teach using proven methods for children and teens. He also routinely casts children in his movies and knows how to direct them.

The Workshop will possibly cover:

* Getting started-- good training practices and places
* Agents, managers and coaches
* Acting shortcuts for the child actor
* Auditions-- what the Director looks for
* On the Set etiquette-- what to expect
* Things every parent should know about their child actor

Class will be held at Serendipitous Films in Fort Worth (6125 Airport Freeway, suite 102) unless otherwise notified. Workshop begins at 9am and goes until 4pm, lunch not included, but plenty of restaurants nearby.

 

$99 includes both the child or teen AND the parent/guardian. Saturday March 27, 2010.

 

Shoot/Edit/Demo!

None scheduled-- if you and a couple others are interested, contact us. Cost is $350.

“As a Director, I often take a look at an actor’s demo, even more so than the headshot, to determine if I want to see them or not,” says feature film director Daniel Millican.  As he was casting his most recent movie, “Rising Stars” last summer, he realized that many of our local, Texas actors had very little quality screen time for their demo reel.

This is an all day workshop-- in the morning we shoot scenes with you. In the afternoon, you sit in on editing to learn what helps on the set so you stand a better chance of not being left on the cutting room floor. When we're done, you'll have a high-def short 60 second or less scene, shot professionally, you can use on your actor's demo reel.

If you would just like to audit the course, costs is $50.

In the afternoon, the participants will be able to sit in on the editing, learning what the editor and director decide and why—hopefully gleaning tips on how to avoid the cutting room floor.

Upon registering, each participant consults with Millican and an original short scene is selected to be prepared.  All scenes will be shot in the morning, which is why the workshop has a very limited number.  The cost is $350, which provides for professional crew and equipment.

When it’s all done, you will have a very polished high def quicktime to add to your demo reel.  If you cannot afford to do the full demo, people can audit for $50.

 

$350-- participant. You will get a consultation call to determine what role, demo-need you have to accomodate. Plus, you'll be given a script to read and prepare beforehand.

$50-- Audit the course. You will get to see allt he shooting and editing, just no demo.

 

Greenlight Yourself!

None currently scheduled. Cost is $99, minimum 8 people for the class to make.

 

Testimonials for this class:
"Well organized, loved the workbook."
"I would absolutely recommend this seminar to any aspiring, first time filmmaker who's looking to kickstart their career."
"Excellent. Very informative and detailed."

Each student receives a workbook that includes budget, business plan, breakdown samples and much more.

Possible Topics:

  • The 6 Phases of Filmmaking
  • How to find ideas
  • The second hardest part of filmmaking-- FUNDRAISING
  • Budgeting/Breakdowns
  • The Business Plan
  • What paperwork do you need to get started raising money?
  • The Script-- things that will help/things that will hurt
  • Who do you hire first?
  • Getting name actors
  • The battle is won in pre-production
  • The shoot
  • Post Production
  • Distribution-- the end game and how to find it

$99 Seminar

If you have any trouble registering, please contact sales@s-films.com .

 

Acting: A Director's POV

None scheduled at this time.

Testimonials for this class:
"Everything we learned today was a totally different view of an actors job, good to know!"
"Valuable information from a director's perspective."
"Dan was extremely thorough. I would definitely recommend this seminar to anyone who seeks the truth of what goes on behind an audition, behind the camera."
"The scene breakdown was valuable."

Possible Topics:

  • So You Wanna Be An Actor—getting started in the biz
  • How to distinguish yourself or get noticed from a Director
  • Agents and Managers
  • The Headshot and Resume—how a Director looks at them
  • The Audition—The other side of the table
  • The Callback – Myths and superstitions
  • Preparing for a Role-- yes, homework counts
  • On The Set:
    • Etiquette
    • Mental preparation
    • How to help your fellow actors
    • What the director expects
    • Ways to influence the editor
    • Savvy actor secrets
  • The Edit Room—why your scene got cut down or why it got enhanced-- The Scene Breakdown

What sets this apart, is that it’s not actor to actor.  This is from a feature director to actors.  It’s a unique perspective that’s not discussed enough in the industry.  This seminar is designed to help you become a better actor, from the headshot to the wrap party. 

Writer/Director Dan Millican has directed five feature films that have been distributed by Sony, First Look Media, Curb Entertainment and seen on Showtime, Starz, Lifetime and many others.  He has directed such actors as Adam Baldwin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Patrick Flannery, Joey Lauren Adams, Mimi Rogers, Yancy Butler, Fisher Stevens, Barry Corbin and Catherine Mary Stewart.  A local to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, Millican wants to see local actors thrive and succeed.  This seminar is birthed from the questions he constantly receives from actors.

If you have any trouble registering, please contact sales@s-films.com .

Writing Great Characters

Saturday, February 20, 2010 INFO TBD, sponsored by the Dallas Screenwriters Association

For registration to this Writer's seminar, CLICK HERE.


 

 

Contingency

Serendipitous Films reserves the right to cancel. If it is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.

The Seminars are a great place to see actors up close, but is no guarantee of future casting in projects of Serendiptious Films.