Workshop

Cologne 2025

Germany
March 2025
About the workshop

The CBI Workshop is an intensive five-day experience!
It has two strands: Actors create unique, three-dimensional characters, building them over several days through multiple improvisations – while directors have that all-important overview and access to all the CBI tools within the process.

The impros become more layered and complex, demonstrating the potential for intense drama outcomes. 

These tools can be put to use straight away, whether to build a drama from scratch or to enhance ongoing scripted work. The CBI Process offers a refreshing and innovative pathway for creating characters.

This is a one day workshop for filmmakers and actors, an introduction to the CBI Process. Participants will engage with the formative aspects or character creation relating it to drama outcomes. This one day session provides a valuable overview of a process that is full of useful tools to any actor and - from a different perspective - any filmmaker!

Number of participants: Maximum 12

Costs: 60 € (including VAT)

Deadline: 27th of February

apply

Length

TBC

1

days

day

Dates

March 6th, 2025

TBC

Time

10am - 6pm

TBC

Location

Cologne

,

Germany

Venue

Filmhaus Köln

TBC

Address

Maybachstr. 111, 50670 Köln

TBC

Cost

€60

TBC

Application Deadline

February 27, 2025 5:00 PM

Apply

Please email Erica Chestnut at cbiworkshops@gmail.com, including your headshot, CV, and a short statement on why you would like to participate.

Registration open until 28.02. 2025 via rausgegangen.de

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FAQs

What can I expect from this workshop?

An empowering experience, a journey of creative discovery, new tools for developing character and working on scripts.The workshop is intensive, experiential, and very hands-on. The atmosphere is one of trust and great good humour – participants interact with others in a creative, collaborative way – it often leads to partnerships for new projects.

What will I get out of it?

Opportunities to explore, experiment and play – to reconnect with your skills and develop your potential in an excitingly different way. The great thing about the CBI Process is all the fantastic tools it offers participants, whether creating a character, working on scripts or prepping for auditions.

Who’s going to be there? How many people on the workshop?

This is a small-scale, intimate workshop designed to give each actor one-on-one time and each director maximum experience of the actor’s work and the process. Generally, there are no more than 10 actor participants and up to 4 director participants. (Note: some of the workshops commissioned by drama schools, industry groups, and acting studios are tailored for their student needs and feature larger groups.)

How does it work having actors and directors together in one workshop?

Having both in a CBI workshop is practically unique and is great for breaking down any barriers and fears. Directors have described how valuable it is to connect with actors away from the stresses of auditions or filming – and for actors, with directors watching them all the way through, seeing their skills applied and work build, it’s like doing a live showreel!

How is the workshop structured?

The workshop starts with a full explanation of CBI process, then actors start to create their own characters from scratch. Relationships are formed; improvisations become more complex – there is always a drama template running underneath the work! – and it builds to an unexpected conclusion.

Do I need to have had previous improvising experience?

Not at all. This is a very practical, easy-to-understand process which will complement your existing acting skills.

Is this workshop a way of trying out scenes in my script?

The focus is on the characters and their relationships: the script is quarantined, often being treated as an event up ahead in everyone’s lives and for the purposes of the characters in the workshop ‘unknowable’. This is a very effective way to work with character without being locked in to the script. By the end of the workshop the director and the actors are ready to ‘step into’ the script and begin rehearsals.

Why are workshop rates different in various countries?

Pricing depends on several factors like local currency rates, venue costs, and other expenses. These differences impact the overall cost of running the workshop, leading to variations in pricing.

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