CREDIT: MAURICIO PRADO
Fanshawe College’s latest program, Acting for Screen and Stage, has experienced significant growth.

In Sept. 2022, Fanshawe College launched a new program for those passionate about performing and expressing themselves through acting on stage. Since its launch, the Acting for Screen and Stage program has experienced significant growth.

“Launching this program with the hand of the passionate and dedicated faculty has been an incredible experience,” said Professor and Coordinator of the Acting for Screen and Stage program Romy Goulem.

Goulem said that while developing this two-year program, they aimed to provide students with an immersive experience covering a wide array of skills within a professional actor’s career while making it fun.


“We are achieving this goal quite well,” Goulem said. “The program has reached maximum enrollment in its second year since it started.”

The Acting for Screen and Stage program encourages students to explore their acting abilities through its curriculum, establishing the foundation for a lucrative future in performance-based media.

“We have seen such an overwhelmingly positive response. Due to this high demand, we have reached a point where early applications are crucial for securing a spot,” Goulem said.

Acting for Screen and Stage program student Luis Marin said taking this course has been one of the best decisions he has ever made. He adds that it has helped him to increase his confidence and passion for arts and plays.

“Acting and performing in this program has helped me to broaden my skill set. With acting, you can do so many things with film, voice acting, and theatre,” said Marin. “It has helped me achieve that in reallife scenarios with the public sense.”

On Dec. 7, 8 and 9, the first batch of students had their first live public performance of A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

Student Chiezda Gondoza said she was nervous because it was my first performance in front of a real audience. Still, the learning experience was “amazing.”

“It was an amazing experience with a modern take on the Shakespeare play. The play perfectly contrasted the human and fairy worlds,” Gondoza said.

Marin said the play made him “expand his love for Shakespeare.”

“I hope I can do more Shakespeare plays in the future,” Marin said. “I have been having fun while learning in this program.”

Goulem said they have received positive feedback from students so far. The program offers a blend of crucial foundations for a successful acting career, mixed with engaging and diverse projects and exercises.

“What sets us apart is our unique collaborations with various media programs within the school, mirroring the industry itself,” Goulem said. “In today’s world, professional actors do not limit themselves to stage performances.

Goulem stated that the new generations of actors work in film and television, voice acting for animation and video games, and projects in motion-capture and green-screen studios.

“This program offers students the opportunity to learn all these skills and enjoy applying them in collaborative projects with peers from other programs,” Goulem said.

He said that students in the program can expect a solid foundation to kick-start their acting careers.

“Our faculty has extensive industry experience and is deeply committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise with our students. We regularly host guest speakers and attend theatrical productions once a month,” Goulem said.

Graduating students leave with a personalized website showcasing their professional headshots, a comprehensive resume, and video and audio demo reels highlighting their diverse work in film, animation, motion capture, and voice acting.

“This platform is an excellent springboard to start an exciting career,” Goulem said.