Comes to Germany
The Otto-von-Guericke-University of Magdeburg, Germany has the pleasure to invite you to an 8-day intensive workshop with the world-famous and award-winning director MARK W. TRAVIS on his revolutionary Travis Technique of Directing.
From 20th– 27th of June 2026 your classroom will be in the little German mountain town of Ballenstedt. Prepare to discover a place with welcoming open-minded people, lots of creative vitality, a big blooming garden, a rich history, and green woods to recharge your concentration and energy. Feel welcome and take the opportunity to join us.
Mark your calendar and reserve your place in this once-in-a-lifetime workshop.
The Travis Technique
8-Day Intensive Workshop for Directors and Actors
20-27 June 2026
Ballenstedt, Germany
MARK W. TRAVIS, founder and director of the TRAVIS INTERNATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE (https://TIFI.us), is the creator of the innovative and director-centric TRAVIS TECHNIQUE of working with actors to elicit instantaneous and authentic performances that translate brilliantly onto the screen.
Winner of over 30 directorial awards, Mark Travis has taught his cutting-edge directing approach at over 50 film schools, Directors Guilds and major film studios. His clients include Academy Award winners and nominees.
His in-depth directing courses, coaching and consultations open up and elevate all phases of filmmaking, from pre to post, including the writing, casting, rehearsal and staging processes, which often result in a noticeable reduction of production time and cost.
HOT TOPICS
How to Find the Vein of Gold Hidden in Each Scene
How to Direct Without Directing versus Result Directing
How to Use the Secret Power of Staging before Staging for the Camera
How to Cast the Character Already Alive Inside the Actor versus the Actor’s Ability to Read
How to Inspire Writers, Actors and Crew to Give You Their Best
How to Play Like a Kid in a Sandbox and Still Be in Full Charge of Your Film
50% of directing has nothing to do with directing. It’s psychology. You’re handling a crowd of gifted film professionals who each come with their own personal issues, insecurities, traumas, ambitions and hidden agendas. Besides keeping your own garbage in check, your job is to inspire them into creative collaboration, keeping in mind that the only thing that matters is what ends up on the screen.
Mark W. Travis
HOW THE TRAVIS TECHNIQUE BENEFITS DIRECTORS
DIRECTORS, you will…
- Be surprised at the treasures you find when analyzing and breaking down a scene.
- Learn how to cast your actors from inside the Sandbox.
- Use Staging to subconsciously affect your characters and your audience.
- Relax your actors by pressuring the characters.
- Play with the archetypes of Ally and Nemesis.
- Lead by Following.
- Launch the moon of your imagination by breaking the rules.
- Discover your own secrets and truths.
- Become fearless by failing.
HOW THE TRAVIS TECHNIQUE BENEFITS ACTORS
ACTORS, you can relax and…
- Learn to think like a director so you can become a better actor.
- Enjoy meeting your character as it emerges from within you.
- Know that during interrogations, nothing you say or do is a mistake because it all comes from the character. You can’t fail.
- Let your character pick what it wants from your bag of research.
- Sense how the Staging is working for you or against you and adjust accordingly.
- Connect with your scene partner through your characters.
- Enjoy rehearsals as you play in the Sandbox.
The Travis Technique
8-Day Workshop on Directing without Directing
In Ballenstedt, Germany
20 June – 27 June 2026
