NEWS haios fike W: eld FORMER TELEVISION series director Michael Berry prepares two stu- dents enroled in acting classes at ATV Studios before filming begins. The class is often filmed by video camera, used as a learning tool at the stu- dio. Berry. has directed such shows as the Beachcombers, Ritter’s Cove and Danger Bay. . By KIM PEMBERTON . News Reporter : -finger- “nail should be oval-shaped a: >, : Vancouver, V6éH ES 13 - Sunday, April 13, 1986 “4 hore News oto Mike Wakefield ATY STUDIOS’ first acting class listens attentively to instructor Michael Berry. The 11 students were chosen as the best in their class by school drama teachers and rewarded with a 12-week free acting course at ATV, a new * West Vancouver business. N. Shore school turns-out first modelling and acting graduates WITH DREAMS of becoming another Michael J. Fox, 11 ’ North Shore high school students are participating in an ac- ting course seared for television work. The students will graduate this June from a 12-week acting course at ATV Studios, a new West Van- couver business offering profes- sional acting and modelling in- struction. To start the business, owner Andrew Van Slee, 23, a former substitute drama teacher in West Vancouver, is giving one free ac- ting course to the top. drama stu- dent from each North Shore high school. By KIM PEMBERTON News Reporter ‘The talent there is incredible,” Van Slec said about ATV Studios’ first acting class. “They’re all such characters — just like in the Breakfast Club.°’ . BREAKFAST CLUB As part of. their classroom in- struction, Van Slee said. the stu- dents have been acting scenes from that popular movic, which features young Hollywood actors. “Even if they don’t go off and become a Michael J. Fox, they do get some benefits personally.”’ Fox, who comes from Burnaby, stars in the TV show Family Ties. Van Stee said the course helps students build confidence, which will serve them in any career. He noted one of the 11 high school students doesn’t. plan to follow an acting career, but is wat- ching Van Slee to learn how to operate a business. She has. plans to start her own business one day. VIDEO AIDS ‘The course helps students to learn .about themselves through video. All of our classes are set up like a set so they’re getting prac- tical experience,” he said. ‘About 85 per cent of the work we do in class is filmed.’’ Van Slee said the tapes are -played back to help the students learn television acting techniques. Since the acting classes began last. month 28 students have enrolled. and are being taught by former Capilano College instructor Michael Berry. Berry's credits include series director on the Beachcombers, Rit- ter’s Cove and Danger Bay. The modelling division has only recently begun at ATV Studios, with instructor Cathie Jarrell. Jarrell has modelled profes- sionally in Vancouver for Ski Magazine, Fairweather, « Eaton’s and the Bay. ; Van Slee attended the American Academy of. Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles for one year in 1981 and for a year and half headed the teen acting program at Vancouver's John Casablanca’s Acting Division — now ATV Studios’ competitors. “We're not a McActing or McModelling school, where you take a short course and before you begin the owner promises you everything,’’ said Van Slee. “We can give students all the tools they'll need if they want to pursue a career, but whether they continue on all depends on them.”’ Van Slee said before students “pays for the course they are first given a 30-minute screen test, free. of charge, to help the instructors " judge whether the course would be of some henefit.