Miller Arts Scholars
Miller Arts Scholars
Elena Anderson

Elena Anderson

Semester of Mini-grant
Year of Mini-grant
2017
Disciplines(s)
Grant Description
An actor’s headshots are one of the most important tools in her arsenal. It is usually the first thing a director sees, the first thing an agent sees, and the first impression of you in any audition. A professional-looking headshot is vital to an actor just starting out in the business. Unfortunately, they can be expensive for someone on a student’s budget.
Original Proposal
Proposal Outcome
Title
Professional Actor Headshots with Ted Ely
Class Year
2017
Disciplines(s)
Arts Award Type
Proposal Outcome
Grant Description
I chose to come to the University of Virginia, and I have thrived in the liberal arts setting, pursuing a history major and Spanish minor in addition to my degree in Drama. However, as I approach my third year as an undergraduate in Drama, I realize there are certain limitations of time and opportunity that arise from not pursuing a specialized arts education. In the last year, I have come to the important conclusion that my skills as an actor are in need of more specialized training. Therefore, I am proposing a project involving six weeks of intensive study at the prestigious Michael Howard Studios in New York City.
Original Proposal
Title
A Summer at Michael Howard Studios (New York City)
Class Year
2017
Disciplines(s)
Arts Award Type
Proposal Outcome
Grant Description
I am proposing a project that will allow me to attend a one-week intensive film-acting workshop at the New York Film Academy. The NYFA is recognized as one of the top film schools in the country and offers a variety of workshops, short courses and conservatory programs. The one-week acting for film workshop is an introductory course on the basics of acting on-camera, focusing on filmed scene study and audition technique classes and exposing students to the technical realities of working on a film set.
Original Proposal
Title
One-Week Intensive at the New York Film Academy

Elena Anderson has been an avid participator in the arts her entire life. She started with piano lessons at 8 years old, which she continued for 10 years. She started voice lessons at 13 and has continued then off and on ever since. However, it wasn't until she was 14 that she discovered theater. Though she had always been an avid musical theater fan, she had never been given the opportunity to pursue that interest until she was cast in a community production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2008. From then on, she has been constantly involved with theater and music, participating in her high school choir and drama club as well as community theater. At UVA, she is involved in the Drama Department, Shakespeare on the Lawn, First Year Players and HoosITS (the only musical theater a cappella group on grounds). She is a drama and history double major, with a minor in Spanish.

2017