2025 Workshops
Queens Film Festival is proud to announce the following workshops:
QFF Horror Film Writing Workshop With Dennis Paoli (Re-Animator, From Beyond & Suitable Flesh)
July 7, 2025
5 PM-7 PM EST
$10.00
Court Square Theater - 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City
Queens Film Festival is proud to have legendary screenwriter Dennis Paoli teach two hours on how to write effective horror scenes to best sell your frightening stories and scripts. Dennis is a master of the horror genre and his work is renowned making him one of the best horror screenwriters in the world. And he will spill the terrifying secrets to you to make your work scary as hell. Dennis will answer all your questions and offer autographs at no additional charge for attendees.
Hit the Buy Ticket button below it to reserve your spot.
Payment is required to attend the workshop.
Dennis Paoli (co-author) has written screenplays and plays, many of them adaptations of the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Suitable Flesh, The Pit and the Pendulum), many of them collaborations with other writers (Bleacher Bums, Bodysnatchers, Mortal Sins), most of those collaborations with Stuart Gordon (Dreams in the Witch-house, The Black Cat, The Dentist). The stage adaptation Re-Animator—The Musical has won a number of theater awards, and Nevermore, An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe has been performed on stages across the continent. He taught Gothic fiction (and Irish literature, among other courses) and academic writing at Hunter College of the City University of New York and has been published in The Writing Center Journal and several series of literary encyclopedias and collections of literary biographies. He is Donor-Advisor of The Heidi Paoli Fund, to support cancer patients.
Queens Film Festival is proud to present three interactive acting workshops with Tessie Herrasti.
Masterclass
Actor’s Best Practices for Self-Taping at Home and On the Go
July 8, 2025
4 PM-5 PM EST
$10.00
Court Square Theater - 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City
Oh no, self-tapes!
But fear not. Queens Film Festival will guide you through the daunting world of self-tapes for your next audition and how you can master it with ease.
We are offering a masterclass workshop that will guide you in creating a professional home studio, no matter your budget. You’ll learn about essential equipment, optimizing your space, camera techniques, and basic editing software. Through interactive demos and personalized assessments, you'll gain the skills to deliver high-quality self-tapes with confidence. Plus, you'll get tips on building a travel-friendly studio kit for on-the-go auditions. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, this masterclass will help you shine in every self-tape opportunity.
Hosted by Tessie Herrasti. A versatile SAG-AFTRA actress, writer, and filmmaker from Mexico, now based in New York City. Her rich life experiences and passion for languages, drama, and community shape her diverse storytelling. Tessie's work is deeply committed to mental health awareness, justice, and equality. Her global performances span cities like Mexico City, Paris, and Los Angeles. Currently, she’s developing Jewels of Light, a TV series based on her novel, which has won 26 awards. With prestigious training and a dedication to compassion, Tessie aims to drive positive change in the entertainment industry through her art.
A perfect resource for actors, actresses, and performers of all types alike.
Hit the Buy Ticket button below it to reserve your spot.
Payment is required to attend the workshop.
Script Analysis Mastery: Navigating the Terrain of Text
July 8, 2025
5 PM-6 PM EST
$10.00
Court Square Theater - 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City
Unlock the secrets of compelling script interpretation where actors will delve into the rich landscape of text through the lens of Michael Shurtleff’s renowned guideposts.
This workshop is an essential exploration of the dynamic methods that have empowered actors to create memorable and authentic performances.
Drawing from the wisdom of Michael Shurtleff’s seminal work, “Audition,” this workshop offers actors a structured approach to dissecting scripts and understanding characters at a profound level. The 12 guideposts +3 more added later, are a cornerstone of Shurtleff’s teachings, providing a practical framework for actors to navigate the complexities of their roles and bring depth to their performances.
Participants will learn to:
Identify Relationships: Uncover the intricate web of connections between characters.
Embrace Conflict: Recognize the driving forces of desire and opposition that fuel the drama of a scene.
Understand The Moment Before: Grasp the significance of what precedes a scene to inform a character’s immediate objectives and actions.
Utilize Humor: Use humor as a tool to cope with and convey the absurdities and sorrows of life.
Play with Opposites: Explore the duality of human desire and the tension it creates within a scene.
Make Discoveries: Stay alert and responsive to the unfolding events, ensuring a performance that is alive and reactive.
Workshop Highlights:
In-depth analysis practical exercises.
Scene work to apply the guideposts in a collaborative and dynamic setting.
Techniques to personalize scripts and make clear, unique choices.
Strategies for creating importance and urgency in a scene.
Guidance on how to translate these principles into dynamic work on camera, on stage, and on mic.
Viewpoints work: After analizing a script it is important to rehearse, Anne Bogart and Tina Landau’s viewpoints are essential to the actor and a wonder to deepen storytelling.
Whether you’re preparing for an audition or seeking to refine your craft, this workshop offers the tools to transform text into truthful, impactful storytelling.
Bonus: Line Learning Techniques & Tools.
A perfect resource for actors, actresses, and performers of all types alike.
Hit the Buy Ticket button below it to reserve your spot.
Payment is required to attend the workshop.
GARDEN OF THE SOUL:
Self-care for Creatives to build resilience and reducing stress
July 8, 2025
6 PM-7 PM EST
$10.00
Court Square Theater - 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City
Whether you’re grappling with the pressures of performance or seeking a deeper connection with your artistic identity, the “Garden of the Soul” offers the tools to thrive both on and off the stage. Embark on this journey with us and watch as your resilience blossoms, your stress wilts away, and your emotions find their true expression through this guided workshop.
“Garden of the Soul” is a transformative workshop designed for performing artists seeking to nurture their inner well-being. Facilitated by Tessie Herrasti, a seasoned actress, writer, and filmmaker with a rich background in drama and conflict resolution, this workshop is a sanctuary where creativity meets healing.
Participants will engage in an expressive writing exercise that will allow them to cultivate resilience and self-care by addressing and reflection on their thoughts and feelings as they walk through their artistic paths.
Workshop Highlights:
Interactive writing sessions to explore personal stories, goal setting and celebrating successes.
Techniques to harness stress and channel it into creative energy.
Group discussions to foster a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
SKILLS DEVELOPED
Garden of the Soul is a workshop that offers social & emotional skills development tools to allow the participants to build resilience, reduce stress and process emotions through writing.
Social/Emotional/Cognitive Goals:
Social: Taking turns, Cooperation, Teamwork, Create a common ground, Reading non verbal cues, Sharing & Connecting through a shared experience. Emotional: Being in the present moment, Relaxation, Self-awareness, Embracing Self-definition, Decreasing Self-judgement, Self-management, Developing Coping Strategies, Identifying and Labelling Feelings, Building resilience & Self-Compassion.
Cognitive: Memory, Attention to detail, Imagination development & Sustained Focus.
WORKSHOP LAYOUT
1) INTRODUCTION TO WORKSHOP & PARTICIPANTS
THE FACILITATOR INTRODUCES THE LAYOUT OF THE WORKSHOP AND SPEAKS ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF AN IMAGINARY GARDEN FOR THE SOUL. EACH PARTICIPANTS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES BY SAYING THEIR NAME AND HOW THEY'RE FEELING USING ONE SINGLE WORD. THIS IS A SHORT INTRODUCTION.
2) VISUALIZATION MEDITATION
THE FACILITATOR WILL GUIDE THE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A SHORT GUIDED MEDITATIVE VISUALIZATION INCLUDING THE DRUIDS WHEEL OF TIME TO GROUND PARTICIPANTS, CALM THEIR NERVOUS SYSTEM & INTRODUCE THEM TO THE IDEA OF THE GARDEN FOR THE SOUL.
3) WRITING &/OR DRAWING &/OR COLLAGING GARDEN FOR THE SOUL
THIS IS THE CORE OF THE WORKSHOP. THE FACILITATOR WILL GIVE A PROMPT TO THE PARTICIPANTS SO THEY CAN WRITE &/OR DRAW &/OR COLLAGE THEIR GARDEN INCLUDING THE SEEDS THEY WANT TO PLANT FOR THE NEXT HARVEST, THE WEEDS THEY'RE REMOVING AND LETTING GO AS WELL AS THE FRUITS OF THEIR WORK THAT ARE RIPE OR READY TO BE UTILIZED.
* IF THERE IS MORE TIME, SOME PARTICIPANTS CAN SHARE THEIR PROCESS IF THEY WISH TO DO SO. THE FACILITATOR CLOSES ASKING EACH PARTICIPANT HOW THEY'RE FEELING AFTER THE PROCESS BY USING ONE SINGLE WORD.
REQUIREMENTS: PEN OR PENCIL, PAPER TO WRITE ON OPTIONAL: COLORES PENCILS OR CRAYONS AND MAGAZINES FOR COLLAGING. A COMFORTABLE/QUIET SPACE
A perfect resource for actors, actresses, and performers of all types alike.
Hit the Buy Ticket button below it to reserve your spot.
Payment is required to attend the workshop.
