Admissions

At Toronto Film School, our goal is to provide you with a seamless admissions experience—one that offers personalized support should you need it.

TRAIN TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR

Acting for Film, TV and the Theatre | 18-Month Diploma

MEET THE PROGRAM’S DIRECTOR

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

You will study the history of performance, from the Renaissance to present day, trends, and social context.   

You will learn how to adapt for different camera shots by “working the frame”, practice blocking for different types of shows, and be taught techniques for acting when scenes are shot out of order.  

You will practice vocalizing the written word, and learn warm-up exercises, breathing techniques, accents and dialects, how to portray emotions, and more.    

You will be trained on how to read scripts, move and talk on stage, conduct rehearsals, improvise, and perform in front of a live audience.   

You will study techniques that will allow your body to move more freely (including dance), so that you can create believable characters, motivations, and stories through movement.    

You will be taught the strategies for self-promotion upon graduation. You will learn how to develop and produce self-tapes, head shots, a resume, and strategies for procuring an agent.   

You will learn warm-up techniques, industry standards, how to conduct research, risk taking, script analysis, monologues, improvisation, character development, and more.  

You will be introduced to dramatic structure, how to properly write and format a script, and storyboarding. You will then write your own short film script from scratch. 

You will learn how to function in the roles of a director and producer by pitching, planning, budgeting, auditioning, casting and assembling a film crew to shoot a short film.    

You will be trained on the techniques and best practices of video editing, including instruction on editing software so that you can produce your own demo reel.     

You will develop your creative, organizational and technical skills by producing, directing and performing in your own short film or scenes. 

You will learn how to voice radio and tv spots, animation, documentaries, eBooks, corporate videos, and video games. You will also be taught dialogue replacement and foreign film dubbing techniques.   

You will be trained to master the illusion of physical combat during stage performances, without injury to yourself or co-stars.   

You will become versed in industry protocols for the audition process and learn how to prepare and perform for on-camera auditions.   

You will be trained on performance through physicality, by honing your improvisational skills, taking risks, living in the moment, and pushing your performance to new levels.   

You will be coached on how to talk naturally in different accents and dialects, by understanding how pronunciation, intonations, and cadences play a part.  

You will learn how to read scripts, talk, move, rehearse, and perform in front of a live audience on stage. 

You will create original scenes, sketches and songs as you learn the fine art of improvisation, an essential skill for actors when appearing on camera or on stage. 

For a full list of our Acting for Film, TV and the Theatre program courses, visit the TFS website.

Our students graduate with a membership in theWorkbook, eligible for their first ACTRA credit, and a demo reel and portfolio that showcases their new skills in:

  • a Short Film
  • a Live Theatre Performance
  • a Commercial
  • Show Hosting
  • Voiceover Recordings  

By the time of graduation, students will have also developed an acting resume and be provided with a head shot for distribution to casting agents, producers, and directors.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR BIOS

TFS School President Andrew Barnsley

His dream is to see Toronto Film School students on the sets of every major production in Canada.​

AGENCIES THAT REPRESENT OUR ACTING GRADS

AFFILIATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND ACCOLADES

TFS Festival

Our annual TFS Festival is an awards show that allows students to showcase their work and be rewarded for their creativity.

YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM

Accessibility & Academic Accommodations

Yorkville University (YU) and Toronto Film School (TFS) are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all learners.

Career Services

You will learn the best practices for finding work related to your career ambitions, receive 1:1 professional resume writing support, learn online profile optimization techniques, networking strategies, and more. 

GuardMe Mental Health Support Program

GuardMe offers our students in Canada and abroad a safe and inclusive space for mental health support. This program offers 24/7 counselling support, an online peer-to-peer support community, mental health resources and assessment tools, counsellor matching, and more.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion​

At Toronto Film School, we’re working to ensure that everyone’s human rights are protected. Learn how our students, faculty and staff are being equipped with the resources and tools they need to reach their full potential.


OUR DEGREE PATHWAY

Bachelor of Creative Arts Degree Pathway (BCA)

Earn your TFS diploma and seamlessly transition into our BCA program at our degree pathway partner, Yorkville University. Here you will gain the leadership and management skills required for senior roles in today’s creative industries.

Save $10,000 with our Dual Enrolment Program!

Enrol in both programs at once, complete them back-to-back in just 3-4 years, and save $10,000 in tuition while graduating with two qualifications*.


*$10,000 bursary is applied to the last two terms of the BCA program. Conditions apply, contact an admissions advisor for full details. 

 

 

 

Andrew Barnsley

President

Toronto Film School President Andrew Barnsley is one of Canada’s most celebrated television producers, with an Emmy, a Golden Globe and six Canadian Screen Awards to his name. As CEO of Project 10 Productions, a Toronto and Los Angeles-based production company, he continues to dedicate his career to sharing Canadian stories with the world. Barnsley has spent the last 20+ years producing content across multiple genres and formats, including comedy, animation, live-action, children’s, documentary and multiple live concert specials. He has overseen more than $250M in production spending! He believes his dual roles as a working producer and TFS president have proven mutually beneficial to both.