MultiChoice Talent Factory Introduces Acting for Camera’s Virtual Masterclass

The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) will, on 2 March, hold its maiden Acting for Camera Masterclass in partnership with the world-renowned American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. AMDA is ranked the number one college for performing arts in the United States and will add a game-changing dynamic to the MTF shared-value initiative oͿering.

Since the introduction of the MTF industry Masterclasses in 2018, MTF has provided some of the most sought-after masterclasses facilitated by Àlm and TV experts, including renowned Nigerian Àlmmaker Tunde Kelani and veteran Kenyan producer Appie Matere, with notable global partners including Dolby, CBS Justice Africa and the London Film School to mention a few.

AMDA’s collaboration with MTF seeks to further enrich the knowledge base of emerging creatives and seasoned professionals through technique-driven and performance-based learning. The virtual Masterclass will delve into crucial elements including basic Àlm theory, camera focused actor warm-up, on-camera scene work and more. It’s holistically designed to perfect acting for Àlm, TV and new media and will be facilitated by AMDA faculty members Jason Chaet and Ray Virta.

Chaet is an award-winning Àlmmaker, theatre director and producer and serves as the Supervisor of First Semester Acting, Acting for Camera and Screenwriting at AMDA. Chaet’s Àlm credits include multiple-award-winning Àlm Putzel and Àlm and TV credits including Remember, Kissing Jessica Stein, Avenues and more recently, Seneca.

Ray Virta has over 40 years of teaching experience at AMDA, New York University and the Playwrights Horizons

Theater School.

His Àlm acting and theatre legacy includes Broadway, all incarnations of the legal drama TV series Law and Order, as well as directing credits in New York for Comedie of Errors, The Way of the World and As You Like It, among others. Virta has been an AMDA faculty member since 2001.

“AMDA College of the Performing Arts is excited and honoured to begin this enriching partnership and collaboration with Multichoice Talent Factory. We see this as an opportunity to connect our world-renowned faculty with individuals who are already rich with storytelling and performance talent throughout Africa. This MTF and AMDA collaboration is an example of our commitment to the global endowment of humanity through the arts,” says Blake Babbitt, AMDA Director of Outreach.

Alongside the Acting on Camera Masterclass, AMDA will facilitate additional Masterclasses with MTF throughout 2021 including on-camera acting technique, musical theatre performance, dance and industry tips.

“This partnership with AMDA couldn’t have come at a better time as the continent is experiencing a surge in the demand and consumption of original African content and the exponential growth has resulted in youth seeking careers in the performing arts industry. Since the launch of our industry masterclasses, we have been inundated with requests for acting masterclasses. We’re excited to kick-oͿ 2021 with a global partnership that will help us respond to this need and to continue to tell great stories that resonate with diverse audiences and honour Africa’s oral cultures and traditions,” says John Ugbe, CEO: MultiChoice Nigeria.

AYKO Agency is set to present AYKO2021- a talent and modelling competition open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 with a compelling story. Emphasis is on supporting the upskilling and employment of the winners at the end of the competition.

The agency was born of a shared passion of the co-founders, and with a simple vision of creating a platform that enables African talents and models to have equitable opportunities and an unbiased start in life.

The agency was formed out of the names of its co-founders, Ayoola Bakare and Koya Onagoruwa. Both have always been driven and inspired to “give something back”, and in addition to the aforementioned, are committed to supporting other worthwhile causes including mental health awareness, digital poverty, and community support.

Entries are open from March 8, 2021 to young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. Twelve talents will be selected from the poll of applications and presented before the judges on June 11, 2021, at a glitzy event managed by Pride Rock Entertainment, where they will pick Àve lucky winners. These Àve winners will be going home with a cash prize of N500,000 each, a three-week intensive Bootcamp training session with AYKO Agency to help them hone and develop their skills, Ànancial literacy and personal development and an exclusive sign on as a model or talent with the Agency.

The Agency is not only out to develop the creative capacity of the models and talents, but strongly believe that investing in the wellbeing and improving the lifestyle of the talents and models will encourage self-growth, which will help the talents and models to realize their own potential. Hence, they have a Foundation whose main goals is to drive mental health awareness, digital poverty and community support in Nigeria. In addition to all other prizes, they will be partnering with indigenous NGOs to focus on these aforementioned areas.