Course 3: Silent Film Acting: Comedies

A course for students entering grades 7-12

No lines? No problem. Let your movement do the talking! 

Learn the secrets of slapstick, master facial expressions, and create a cinematic masterpiece. 

Discover the history and style of silent film comedy and the techniques used by classic performers like Harold Lloyd, and Laurel & Hardy.  Students explore how actors communicated emotions and humor without spoken dialogue.  Through fun exercises, improvisation and short scene work, participants learn the basics of pantomime, physical comedy, facial expression, and comedic timing. 

By the end of the course, students collaborate to create and perform their own short silent comedy scenes, applying the skills they have learned. The program encourages creativity, confidence, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation of early film history while providing a playful introduction to acting and visual storytelling.

Course Instructor: Nikoletta Dimopoulou, ACS Athens Faculty