The 8-day Travis Technique Workshop in Ballenstedt, Germany takes place 20-27 June 2026. Arrive in Ballenstedt on 19 June and depart 28 June. The workshop is flanked by two ONLINE SESSIONS, one before the 8-day workshop and one after.
ONLINE SESSION #1
will take place 4th of March 2026 between 6-9 pm (MEZ; UTC+01:00) over Zoom.
We will discuss:
Organizational issues
Answer your questions about the meeting place and accommodations in Ballenstedt
The financial support of the Erasmus funding
What you need to do to prepare for your work with Mark Travis
ONLINE SESSION #2
will be held 10 days after the workshop on 8th of July 2026 between 6-8 pm (MESZ; UTC+02:00) over Zoom with Mark Travis. This Online-Seminar will serve as a follow up for evaluation, discussion and integration about what you have learned and how to continue practicing The Travis Technique. This will be your chance to ask Mark the questions that have popped up after the workshop. Mark your calendar to make sure you attend.
For the 8-day Travis Technique workshop schedule, see below.
You will receive 5 ECTS for participating in this workshop and the online sessions.
8-DAY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
In Ballenstedt, Germany
20 June – 27 June 2026
The Travis Technique is not about revealing the truth you think you know.
It’s about revealing the truth you never imagined.
Mark W. Travis
PART I
DAY 1 – Saturday, 20 June, 9 AM – 5 PM
MASTERCLASS on THE TRAVIS TECHNIQUE
Overview of The Travis Technique
with Demonstrations of Staging and the Interrogation Process
PART II
SCENE ANALYSIS AND BREAKDOWN are the first and most important skills of storytelling you need to master before shooting your film. It’s the process through which you discover the truth of each character that needs to be revealed for it to reach the hearts of your audience.
DAY 2 – Sunday, 21 June
- Overview of The Travis Technique with Demos of the Interrogation Process
- Terms and Definitions for Understanding Characters
- The Power of Finding and Harnessing Subtext
- Scene Analysis and Breakdown of Scenes
- Reading/Rehearsals of Scenes with Feedback from Actors and Guidance from Mark
DAY 3 – Monday, 22 June
- Subtext Exercise
- Scene Analysis and Breakdown of Scenes
- Rehearsals of Scenes with Feedback from Actors and Guidance from Mark
PART III
STAGING is the director’s secret power to reveal the subtext of a scene by changing the position and body language of the characters, thereby subconsciously affecting the audience’s response.
DAY 4 – Tuesday, 23 June
- Introduction to the Secret Power of Staging
- Directors Stage their Scenes with Mark Demonstrating the Effect of Alternative Choices
DAY 5 – Wednesday, 24 June
- Directors Stage their Scenes with Mark Demonstrating the Effect of Alternative Choices
- Review of the Secret Power of Staging
PART IV
THE INTERROGATION PROCESS is a transformational approach for directors to generate true-to-life characters in a flicker of time. The Interrogation Process opens the door for directors and actors to ignite the Character together, turning tension and discomfort into improvisation and adventure. With the Interrogation Process, directors can achieve instantaneous and deeply felt performances consistently, even on tight schedules and tiny budgets.
DAY 6 – Thursday, 25 June
- Introduction to the Interrogation Process and Simultaneous Monologues
- Group Exercise: The Committee
- Group Exercise: Ally vs Nemesis
- Light Interrogation of some Directors by Mark (in the style of “Meet Your Characters”)
DAY 7 – Friday, 26 June
- Introduction of the 7 Aspects of the Interrogation Process: Switching, Voices, Insertion, Doors, Reframing, Simultaneous Monologues, and Creating History
- Directors Practice Interrogating their Characters into the Staged Scene
DAY 8 – Saturday, 27 June
- Review of the 7 Aspects of the Interrogation Process
- Directors Practice Interrogating their Characters into the Staged Scene
- Workshop Review & Evaluation
Please note: The workshop schedule is subject to change if circumstances change.
TESTIMONIALS
I was shooting an intimate scene with two actors that were complete strangers, young new actors with their usual awkwardness. I was very stressed about the scene. Then I used a trick Mark taught me on them and within ten minutes their chemistry was crackling, and they could not be separated. Grateful to Mark’s genius for teaching me so much.
Balaka Ghosh, Award-winning Writer/Director
Death in the City, Footprints in the Desert, Red Fairy and the Holy Ghost
Mark Travis is the only practical teacher of directing I’ve ever met. Simply the best, I learned more from him than I did in four years of film school.
Cyrus Nowrasteh, Writer-Director
Sarah’s Oil, The Young Messiah, The Stoning of Soraya M., The Day Reagan Was Shot
The legendary Mark W. Travis is a goldmine to storytellers. Whether you’re a screenwriter, TV writer, producer, director or actor, Mark has developed truly innovative and breakthrough techniques that have been used by Hollywood’s top writers, directors and actors for the last 30+ years.
Derek Christopher, CEO Story Expo
If you want to be truly inspired and energized, I urge you to attend any workshop by Mark Travis, one of the world’s greatest film teachers. I have worked with him and put many of his practical & psychological strategies to the test with great success.
James Lingwood, Director/Producer/Writer, The Wrong Man, Road to Nowhere, The Impact
Mark’s ability to convey a process of achieving deep, truthful work from actors is unparalleled. His approach is unique. The results are amazing and immediate.
Alan Watt, Award-winning Writer-Director, Interior Night
I’ve been an actor for more than 60 years, worked with many directors: Josh Logan, Sidney Pollack, Robert Altman, Stuart Rosenberg, Sidney Fury, and many others. Mark Travis has directed me in several projects, and he is far and away my favorite director.
Cal Bartlett, Actor
Learn more about MARK W. TRAVIS and THE TRAVIS TECHNIQUE
REHEARSAL: SCENE 22
THE POWER OF STAGING
GETTING DRUNK ON STAGING
REPLAY RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART (of Interrogation)
