Programs

Choose the basic package for a MOVIExperience™ or ask ACT NOW! to customize one.

The Basic MOVIExperience™:

• An initial client briefing with the project manager and/or coach
• Guidance in selecting a location and shooting a location tape
• A brainstorm session with the participants, client staff and ACTNOW! coach to inspire story ideas, identify a story line and characters and explore scene ideas
• Crew position sign up for participants
• Coach's Signals video demonstrating games to loosen players up for the camera
• A customized, fleshed out scenario with 16 - 20 scenes from the ideas generated at the brainstorm
• Printed materials developed by David Shepherd including:
  1. Coach's Signals (to help players feel comfortable on camera)
  2. What Makes a Good Scenario
  3. What Makes a Good Scene
  4. What Makes a Good Location
  5. Crew Position Descriptions
• One 8-10 hour day consisting of warm-ups, improvising scenes and video taping
• An opportunity for participants to shadow the professionals
• A screening at the end of the day
• One VHS copy of the unedited tape
• A short debriefing with staff two weeks after the movie
• A standard press release

Options

Options you can add to the Basic MOVIExperience™:

• A facilitated 2-hour debriefing after the screening conducted by a trained communicator who has been present throughout the taping
• A form that helps participants observe and understand their own work, play and team styles
• Certificates of Participation
• A second screening accompanied by a 2-hour follow-up session by a trained communicator to further discuss the impact of the experience
• A digital master of the movie tape edited with title, credits and music
• A second camera documenting the brainstorm, the movie-making process, interviews with all of the participants, the debriefing and the follow-up sessions
• A VHS copy of the raw movie-tape, plus all documentation with minimal, if any, edits
• A VHS copy of the documentation tape unedited or edited
• A digital master of the documentation tape unedited or edited

Related Programs

MOVIExperience™ Winter Playshop
for girls 11 to 14 years old
December 27 - 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thornes Marketplace
Northampton, Massachusetts

(Call 413 256-3471 to sign up)

Say in the Matter
90 Minute Lecture and Video on Girls' Plummeting Self Esteem:
Threats, Impacts & Antidotes

In on the Act
Presentation on MOVIExperience™ with sample video clips

Sketch
A McMOVIExperience™; a taste of the real thing

Take Charge
Workshop on Coaching

Adliberation
Workshop on video improv games

Telling
Workshop on story development

Act Together
Workshop on Improvised Relationships

Iris
Workshop on Videography

Put Yourself in the Picture
Workshop on Locations and Scene Set Up

Face
Workshop on Screen Testing and Casting

Storyweb
Online Workshop on Scenario Development

Coaches Training
For Prospective ACT NOW Staff

MOVIExperience™ Training
for Youth Workers and Teachers

Book ACTNOW!

ACT NOW! Inc. charges one price for a basic MOVIExperience™ with travel expenses for engagements beyond a two-hour radius of its Western Massachusetts headquarters extra. Other options, which are charged separately, include documentation of the entire process, a facilitated debriefing, sweetened final tape with music, title and credits, and special screening with certificates, etc.

ACT NOW! generally works with up to 30 participants for a total of 13 contact hours. Preparation and other behind-the-scenes work can take the ACT NOW team up to an additional 40 hours over several months depending on the options elected. We prefer to schedule three months in advance and require a signed contract and deposit equal to 1/3 of the price, excluding travel expenses, to book a date. Our goal is to offer MOVIExperience™ programs to as many girls as possible. To this end, we continually seek funding to accommodate organizations' needs.

Related MOVIExperience™ programs are shorter and offer different price levels. (Link this to the other programs)

What about the boys?

Please note that although ACT NOW's primary focus is girls, MOVIExperience™ can also benefit boys. Since character development is so vital for young people, no matter what gender, our team is willing to work in all male or coed situations as well. MOVIExperience™ will enrich the lives of all who participate.

Do you ever have festivals?

Occasionally, we showcase MOVIExperience™ movies at what we call a "Shine Festival." The first one may be held in 2004 in the Pioneer Valley co-sponsored by the Northampton Film Festival. It will showcase up to nine movies made over the last two years around the country.

Once your region has had three or more MOVIExperiences™, contact us and you can help put on a Shine Festival in your area.

We schedule festivals at least six months in advance. Please email or call Nancy Fletcher on (413) 256-3471 to get on the master calendar.