Dolphin Talent’s Acting + Industry Guide

With all of the access people have to the internet these days, a good majority of arts advocates have resorted to the web for tips and tricks on acting and entertainment related information.  Probably one of the most visited websites for both students and teachers alike is the Internet Movie Database or IMDb.  IMDb is home to a wealth of information and according to their site receives visits from 57 million viewers each month.  This is the ideal place to visit if you are curious what movies are coming out this weekend or how certain films did at the box office.

In addition to being home to all kinds of information about movies specifically, people often go there to find out the credits of people in the entertainment industry.  By entering a particular person’s name in the search bar, you can discover a bio and the various roles they have served on different projects.  So if you are curious what other movies the lead actor in the movie you just saw was in, just enter his name in the search bar and it will inform you on everything from his first project to what he is currently working on.

The beauty of The Internet Movie Database is that it is not just an information resource for actors, but everyone in the entertainment business.  So it is a wonderful place to find out about producers, director, and writers too.  The next time you are trying to find out more information about someone in the business, check out: http://www.imdb.com

For those of you interested in being filmmakers yourself, it’s a great way to find out who produced a particular movie and what they had as a budget.  Not to mention it’s always fun see how it scored in popularity!

-Jenn

I recently saw Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards, one of the best films I have seen in a very long time by the way. It got me thinking about what an incredible actor Brad Pitt is. A lot of focus is centered on his tabloid life, but I would like to take a moment and return to his talent. Pitt chooses characters that challenge him, as we can see from the vast array of individuals he has chosen to portray. As I tend to like lists, below are my five favorite Brad Pitt characters.  If you have not seen the movies, do so as soon as possible!

5) Louis de Point du Lac in Interview with a Vampire. Pitt plays the original anguished/beautiful Vampire in the Ann Rice adaptation.

4) Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Another great book to film adaptation, and Brad’s physique isn’t bad either.

3) Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglorious Bastards. He plays the gritty nazi-killing general of the rogue group.

2) Jeffrey Goines in Twelve Monkeys. This character won him a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in the 1995 post-apocalyptic thriller.

1) Joe Black in Meet Joe Black. Pitt plays the admirable guy in the coffee shop that chats up Claire Forlani’s character. He then transitions into “Death.” The two characters truly show his talent. His chilling yet poignant portrayal of Death is very moving and my favorite Brad Pitt character.

Certainly some good characters worth studying as an actor or teacher trying to persuade students on deeper character analysis.

-Emerson

As we continue to reach out to educators and talent across the country to help them navigate the entertainment industry, we are proud to announce another addition to our company.  The latest chapter in Dolphin’s story is the birth of Dolphin Digital Media.

We are deeply troubled by the preponderance of predators and inappropriate content on the internet. We have devoted our time and resources to developing state-of-the-art technology that protects children when they are online by blocking unsuitable material, and, in a social chat setting, helping to authenticate who they are “chatting” with through state-of the-art fingerprint identification technology.  We are proud of this significant contribution to the effort to keep our children safe and are thrilled that Dolphin Digital Media, a creator of secure social networking websites for children, has announced September 29th as the launch date for their signature product, Dolphin Secure.

Dolphin Secure is a groundbreaking family Internet solution that gives parents the tools to protect their children from online threats such as cyber bullying and unsolicited chat requests while they are using their home computers. Children registered within Dolphin Secure automatically become members of Dolphin Surf, which is a customizable gateway to the internet with full social networking capabilities, wherein the children can establish profiles, search for friends, IM one another, write blogs, upload photos and play games.

Dolphin Secure will debut next week, and it will change the face of internet safety. It is testament to our continued investment in the World’s children.

-Jennifer

First let’s address the difference between a theater performance and a film one.

In a theater performance you:

• Have to speak loud and clear (The person in the back of the auditorium wants to hear you!)

• Can use the entire stage (Only the stage set your limits.)

• Will run from page one until the end

In a film performance you:

• Speak in a normal voice (You can blow out the sound man’s ear if he is not ready for you to project.)

• Have limited space to perform (You will be surprised to see how tight the shot can be.)

• Never shoot in order (Normally you shoot in order of location.)

• Have different types of shots  (like a close up, mid shot or long shot, whereas in theatre the audience can choose where on stage to look)

After all these considerations, you must realize that in making your performance from theater to film, it will take a lot longer to shoot for film than acting it out once on stage.  So make sure you project less, stay in frame for the shot and know your lines well since the scenes are shot out of order! 

-Manny

As everyone preps for back to school (or if you’re in FL- gets adjusted to having started school), there are many lists available to you with suggestions and tips for starting the school year off on the right foot. While thinking of what tips I could possibly offer to student and teachers alike, I thought of this scene from Dead Poets Society. While cliche, is there really any better suggestion for back to school than to seize the day?

Best of luck as you all start out a new school year!