MFA: Meditations for Actors
Find Your Light
Project Description
MFA Founders:
Both Gin and Alyssa are award-winning, international performers who have been lauded for their skilled and caring work as teaching artists.
Gin Hammond holds an MFA in Acting from Harvard/Moscow Art Theater School, and is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® - a physical approach to vocal training that combines classical voice training methods with variations of body work including yoga, bioenergetics, and much more. Gin works as an actor, director, writer and vocal and dialect coach.
Alyssa Franks holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Washington as well as multiple teaching certifications in Yoga, Mindfulness and Integrative Alexander Technique. Alyssa has been practicing meditation for over a decade, almost as long as she’s been acting.
https://alyssakfranks.com/acting
What People are Saying
"I get very bad anxiety, specifically before auditions, and this felt like it directly and specifically addressed that type of nervous energy."
"The convenience of having an app on your phone that can provide such a short and powerful exercise is awesome. It gives you an excuse/ permission to take time for yourself. "
"I often feel caught up in the energy of the pre-performance buzz and this meditation really got to the heart of alleviating that, and focusing on breath and energy."
With Thanks To
Special Thanks to Maria Rojkova, Kiagen McGinnis, Derick Rodgers, Semaj Miller, Lori Dowe, Dan Weatbrook, Tara Vodihn, Hailey Henderson, Jeff Morelan, Christine Volden, Spencer Weisbroth, Kevin Varner, Andrew and Christine Brown McGinn, Tianna Mendez, Franco Barbaris, Ruchi Loomba, Rachel Taggart, Amy Shearer, Sarah Russell, Paula Wilson Nitka, Rochelle Rapaszky, Freehold Theater Lab/Studio, SCORE, iFund Women, and everyone who participated in our focus group!
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will I get my reward?
- All rewards will be distributed after the close of the campaign. We promise to fulfill all rewards no later than February of 2022.
- What happens if you don't reach your goal?
- We still get to keep the money we raise so rest assured that every penny counts!
- How else can I support MFA?
- Share our crowdfunding page with two friends. Share it on your social media pages. Spread the word, spread the love.
- Where will I be able to get the app?
- Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Just Because I Care
In addition to knowing you've contributed to a one-of-a-kind app that will help make the world a calmer place, this sticker is a beautiful reminder that you can always Find Your Light and that you are now part of a community that really gets you.
-MFA Sticker*
-One Free Month of the MFA App (iPhones require iOS 14 or higher for offer code). A gift of enlightenment and calm for yourself or for the favorite actor in your life.
- MFA Sticker*
- One Free Month of the App**
-Enjoy the unique gift of a Personalized Meditation! We select a meditation especially tailored for you -- or for your favorite actor -- that will empower you to achieve your personal goals. It's like having a best friend and a coach in your back pocket!
MFA Sticker*
-Three Free Months of the MFA App.**
-Personalized Meditation
-Elevate your artistry and add to your actor's toolbox with this exclusive pass to a voice and movement workshop with Alyssa and Gin. Bring your acting to the next level using Fitzmaurice Voicework (TM), Integrative Alexander Technique, and more!
-MFA Sticker*
-Three Months Free of MFA App**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice and Movement Workshop
-PERSONALIZED PHYSICAL OR VOCAL WARM-UPS to give you an edge! Your individualized warm-up will help you get in the zone so you can perform at your personal best.
-MFA Sticker*
-Three Months MFA**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice & Movement Workshop
-Three Private Yoga or Alexander Lessons by Alyssa Franks of MoveWhole.Com. Alyssa combines her passion and experience in movement, mindfulness, and Acting into Move Whole, the only studio offering artist-specific wellness practices - directly applied to the activities you care about most.
"I find The Alexander Technique very helpful in my work. Things happen without you trying. They get to be light and relaxed. You must get an Alexander teacher to show it to you." ~ John Cleese, actor
"Of all the disciplines that form the actor training program, none is more vital, enriching, and transformative than the Alexander Technique. " ~ Harold Stone, Associate Director, Theatre Department, The Juilliard School, New York USA
-MFA Sticker*
-Free Year of MFA App**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice & Movement Workshop
-Three Private Yoga or Alexander Technique Lessons
-One-on-One SESSION WITH CASTING DIRECTOR JEFFREY DREISBACH OF McCORKLE CASTING LTD!
Perfect your self-tape set-up with Jeffrey Dreisbach, host of the Casting Actors Cast podcast, and casting director and partner with the prestigious McCORKLE CASTING, LTD in New York City for over 10 years.
Jeffrey began his performing career in New York accumulating Broadway, Film and Television credits for over 20 years. His last Broadway show, A Few Good men, (original cast) written by Aaron Sorkin was performed over 500 times.
Jeffrey is the author of "Conversation Pieces out of the Studio, The Voice over Workshop for Professional Actors (Dog Ear Publishing 2011) and his podcast Casting Actors Cast has reached a worldwide audience with over 20+ thousand downloads (castingactorscast.com) and is simulcast on YouTube. McCorkle Casting Ltd. has cast over 50 Broadway productions, 65 Off Broadway, 62 feature film projects, 68 shows for television and hundreds of regional theatre credits. mccorklecasting.com
Voted "Favorite Vocal Coach"
— 1st Annual Backstage Readers’ Choice Award
Rewards
Just Because I Care
In addition to knowing you've contributed to a one-of-a-kind app that will help make the world a calmer place, this sticker is a beautiful reminder that you can always Find Your Light and that you are now part of a community that really gets you.
-MFA Sticker*
-One Free Month of the MFA App (iPhones require iOS 14 or higher for offer code). A gift of enlightenment and calm for yourself or for the favorite actor in your life.
- MFA Sticker*
- One Free Month of the App**
-Enjoy the unique gift of a Personalized Meditation! We select a meditation especially tailored for you -- or for your favorite actor -- that will empower you to achieve your personal goals. It's like having a best friend and a coach in your back pocket!
MFA Sticker*
-Three Free Months of the MFA App.**
-Personalized Meditation
-Elevate your artistry and add to your actor's toolbox with this exclusive pass to a voice and movement workshop with Alyssa and Gin. Bring your acting to the next level using Fitzmaurice Voicework (TM), Integrative Alexander Technique, and more!
-MFA Sticker*
-Three Months Free of MFA App**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice and Movement Workshop
-PERSONALIZED PHYSICAL OR VOCAL WARM-UPS to give you an edge! Your individualized warm-up will help you get in the zone so you can perform at your personal best.
-MFA Sticker*
-Three Months MFA**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice & Movement Workshop
-Three Private Yoga or Alexander Lessons by Alyssa Franks of MoveWhole.Com. Alyssa combines her passion and experience in movement, mindfulness, and Acting into Move Whole, the only studio offering artist-specific wellness practices - directly applied to the activities you care about most.
"I find The Alexander Technique very helpful in my work. Things happen without you trying. They get to be light and relaxed. You must get an Alexander teacher to show it to you." ~ John Cleese, actor
"Of all the disciplines that form the actor training program, none is more vital, enriching, and transformative than the Alexander Technique. " ~ Harold Stone, Associate Director, Theatre Department, The Juilliard School, New York USA
-MFA Sticker*
-Free Year of MFA App**
-Personalized Meditation
-Exclusive Access to the Voice & Movement Workshop
-Three Private Yoga or Alexander Technique Lessons
-One-on-One SESSION WITH CASTING DIRECTOR JEFFREY DREISBACH OF McCORKLE CASTING LTD!
Perfect your self-tape set-up with Jeffrey Dreisbach, host of the Casting Actors Cast podcast, and casting director and partner with the prestigious McCORKLE CASTING, LTD in New York City for over 10 years.
Jeffrey began his performing career in New York accumulating Broadway, Film and Television credits for over 20 years. His last Broadway show, A Few Good men, (original cast) written by Aaron Sorkin was performed over 500 times.
Jeffrey is the author of "Conversation Pieces out of the Studio, The Voice over Workshop for Professional Actors (Dog Ear Publishing 2011) and his podcast Casting Actors Cast has reached a worldwide audience with over 20+ thousand downloads (castingactorscast.com) and is simulcast on YouTube. McCorkle Casting Ltd. has cast over 50 Broadway productions, 65 Off Broadway, 62 feature film projects, 68 shows for television and hundreds of regional theatre credits. mccorklecasting.com
Voted "Favorite Vocal Coach"
— 1st Annual Backstage Readers’ Choice Award