As a reaction to Czech art schools‘ lack of film and television acting classes, Lenka Olšanová conceptualized Před Kamerou (Before the Camera) out of a desire to establish a school that would merge together the worlds of quality lecturers and, above all, active filmmakers from the TV and film environment. Před Kamerou courses began in 2015 as a logical next step for Lenka Olšanová, who had already been an acting lecturer for various art schools, theatres, and casting agencies since 2010, working in both English and Czech.
Před Kamerou courses focus on comprehensive and practical, not just theoretical, preparation of young actors before filming on set. The perspective of the human eye in front of a stage is quite different from that which is viewed through the lens of a camera, and so it is often quite difficult to adapt to that environment without first practicing in the presence of professional filmmakers – predominantly with a cinematographer and a director.
„While the study of drama acting at theatre faculties allows us four years of intensive training – from stage speech and movement to acting and much more – in the Czech Republic, an actor learns to act in front of the camera on the fly and only through practice. For a budding actor to understand the different systems and methods of filming and gain confidence in his expression in front of the camera, he needs to have clocked many days, whether on a series or a film.“
In our workshops, we like to facilitate the first acting steps in front of a camera for actors, but also encourage young directors to join in order to work on their communication methods with actors in a safe space
Lecturers
Miloslav Holman
cinematographer
Professional cinematographer of feature films and many successful series such as #annaismissing , The First Republic, Mr Professor, Doctor Martin: The Mystery of Beskyd Mountains, Emmy International award-winning series #martyisdead and others. As a FAMU graduate, this lecturer has been filming with the biggest domestic stars and young talents for 28 years. He brings the best of his experience to each of his workshops.
Showreel: https://vimeo.com/214248782
Lenka Olšanová
acting coach and Founder of the workshop
Lenka Olšanová is a Czech and English theatre and TV actress, as well as acting teacher or, as many Americans say, acting coach. After performing theatre for more than 20 years, she began acting on camera in 2015, most performances of which have been in English. She has attended workshops in English by Ivana Chubbuck, as well as masterclasses by David Penn, Nancy Bishop, and Bernard Hiller. She has also studied the Meisner Technique at Prague Playhouse Acting Studio and has taken the Directing Actors/Acting for Directors course at FAMU.
Lenka teaches a variety of skills including foreign acting techniques for the camera, acting preparation for filming, work with text and much more. At her workshop, she will introduce to you some of these acting techniques and students will be able to test their functionality directly on set.
Lenka chose her teaching path early on by selecting the Theatre and Education major at JAMU, which combined acting, teaching, and psychology. Since then, she has taught over 900 students at various schools and agencies, preparing them for theatre, film, and series. Her most recent project as an acting coach is the upcoming feature film #annaismissing produced by Bionaut. She remains an active actor herself and has developed a particular love for improv comedy shows in English.
Radim Špaček
director
Radim Špaček is a professional director and alum of directing at FAMU and acting at the Prague Conservatory. He was cast in his first leading role by the renowned Czech director Karel Kachyňa in the film Fools and Girls (1989) and his very first film, Young Men Discovering the World (1995), a semi-documentary about wartime life, was selected for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. He thus proved a strong talent straight out of the gate and has made numerous documentaries, feature films, and television series for both Czech Television and private production companies over the years.
Since 2003, Radim has organized the annual PRAGUE BOLLYWOOD FESTIVAL as its creative director. With Bionaut Films Production, he directed his third feature film Chains (2009), which won 5 Czech Lion Awards and 5 Czech Film Critics Awards and, most impressively, he also spent over a year in Afghanistan working on the documentary Incoming.
Radim’s fourth feature film, Places, released in 2014 and, in 2017, he directed 4 episodes of the acclaimed TV series World under Head, which won the Czech Lion Award for Best Dramatic TV Series. He also directed the successful series Shadows in the Mist (2022, 2023) and The Life and Time of Judge A.K..
In 2018, he directed the historical drama Golden Sting, a film that tells the story of the legendary first generation of young basketball players in Czechoslovakia between 1938 and 1951. His latest film, THE FOREST KILLER, is set to premiere in 2023.
As a theatre director, he has worked with several theatres such as the Komedie Theatre, Meetfactory, La Fabrika, and the Theatre in Řeznická.
Jakub Machala
director
Jakub Machala is a versatile director and screenwriter with a wide range of experience that includes commercials, fiction, children’s programs, and theatre. He graduated with a degree in Directing and Screenwriting from the Audiovisual Production Studio of the Faculty of Film and Television Studies at the University of Technology in Zlín. While we can list many interesting films from Jakub’s studio period, Higher Principle, Squats in Feathers, and In the Bath, for example, his most famous film to-date is certainly Avalanche of Love (2022). Right after graduation, Jakub devoted himself fully to directing, focusing especially on advertising and television projects. By 2018, these experiences led him to direct the popular series Stylist and the Olo show, which was based on a script by Luděk Staňek. He has won the Anděl Award for Music Video of the Year two years in a row (2017 and 2018), as well as several awards for his advertising spots. Jakub Machala is known for his ability to bring out the best in his actors and create visually stunning works. His attention to detail and passion for storytelling make him an excellent choice for any project
Showreel: https://vimeo.com/kubamachala
Workshops offered
For Schools
Před Kamerou workshops are primarily intended for students and graduates of acting schools, as well as those who majored in acting at theatre faculties such as DAMU, JAMU, VŠH, and acting conservatories.
By filling our course with participants who already have an education and experience in acting, we can allow ourselves to focus on applying that base knowledge and skill in front of a camera.
Our foremost goal is to prepare actors for shooting live-action scenes. We do this through both theoretical instruction and practical exercises. This approach helps actors understand the system and method of filming, feel confident in their acting, improvise effectively, and follow precise instructions from the creative crew.
Because the perspective of the human eye is quite different from that of a camera lens, we encourage our students to learn these practical acting techniques for cinematic framing with guidance of professional filmmakers such as cinematographer Miloslav Holman and director Radim Špaček. Furthermore, our workshop is an ideal starting point for graduates thanks to our cooperation with acting agents Lenka Daňková (Artagent), Selma Ročková (Selma for Actors), and their Actors Office. Thanks to their expertise in self-promotion, self-presentation, and navigating the world of casting, among other things, actors have a better chance of making a name for themselves in the current television and film market. In addition to a professional director, cinematographer, acting coach, and several agents, casting director Gabriela Dorant will also be available to guide students.
Our team of six experienced industry professionals will guide students through the journey of becoming a series or film actor. This includes mock exercises in self-presentation, contract negotiation, role preparation, casting, and an actual shoot, plus students will receive valuable feedback throughout the entire process.
Would you like to book a workshop for your school?
Contact us here: predkamerou@gmail.com
Please put “For School” in the subject field.
Individual Lessons
In addition to our workshops, we also offer year-round individual acting lessons for our students. This is a great opportunity for those who have a specific role or shoot that they need to prepare for, or if they need a consultation.
Our experienced instructors will work with you one-on-one to help you achieve your goals and improve your skills. Whether you’re preparing for an audition or want to take your acting to the next level, our individual lessons are tailored to meet your needs.
To learn more about our individual acting lessons, simply send an email to predkamerou@gmail.com with “Individual Lessons” in the subject line. Don’t miss this chance to receive personalized instruction and take your acting to the next level.
Courses for the Public
Exciting news! Starting April 2023, our Před Kamerou workshops will be open to the public in addition to students and graduates of theatre schools. This is a great opportunity for those who already have some experience with filming or have attended other acting workshops and want to take their skills to the next level.
You do not need to have graduated from a specialized acting school to participate in this workshop. In this case, please submit a showreel or other references to your previous acting work and this will be sufficient enough to apply.
To apply, simply send an email to predkamerou@gmail.com with “For the public” in the subject line.
Join us and expand your knowledge. Don’t miss this chance to learn from six industry professionals and continue forwards on your journey to becoming a successful series or film actor.
Před kamerou 