Renel Brown, the young Bahamian actress praised for her outstanding acting in the movie Rain, got even better at her craft when she completed a two-week course in acting and theatre at the University of California (UCLA) this summer.
Renel studied under outstanding contemporary actors and directors, who helped broaden her horizons and acting insights. Under the tutelage of director Philip Charles MacKenzie (Roseanne, Frasier, Suddenly Susan, Just Shoot Me and the George Lopez Show), Renel learned about developing characters as part of her Acting for the Camera class.
Meanwhile, talent agent Maggie Murphy gave tips on audition techniques and Broadway veteran April Shawhan shored up other acting techniques. Her other instructors included H. Richard Greene, an actor who has shared the stage with James Earl Jones at the Yale Repertory Theatre. In addition, he has appeared on such television shows as The District, NYPD Blue and Without a Trace.
Renel broke onto the entertainment scene at 14 by landing the title role of Rain in her first film effort. Rain, directed by Bahamian Maria Govan, was shown at Toronto International Film Festival and opened the Bahamas International Film Festival in December, 2008.
Now, at 16 years old, she is determined to land other roles and possibly make a career of acting. Her goals led her to enroll in UCLA’s Arts Camp to study Acting for the Camera and Theatre.
“Right now, I just want to concentrate on acting,” she said. “Probably later on, I’ll try screenwriting or directing or something. But right now, my main goal is acting.”
In the photo above, Renel Brown (L) is shown with Bahamas Film Commissioner, Craig Woods, after her Los Angeles study trip.
