Nassau, Bahamas - During the 2012 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), students from The College of The Bahamas (COB) will be able to attend Master Classes in Acting and Directing, with help from RBC Royal Bank. The classes, being held on December 8 and 9, will allow the students to learn from experts in the field and participate in interactive sessions where they can act and direct.

“We are pleased to give the COB students the opportunity to attend these Master Classes,” said Brian Knowles, Vice President, Corporate Banking in The Bahamas, Cayman and Turks & Caicos. “One of our goals at RBC is to support emerging artists, who are critical to creating vibrant and sustainable communities. By supporting students who are just entering this field, we are not only helping the students in their pursuits, but we’re ensuring that we have new talent to fuel the growing filmmaking industry in The Bahamas.”

The Master Class in Directing will be held on December 8, 2012, from 9 a.m. to noon, and will be taught by critically acclaimed Director Dan Mirvish. Co-founder of the upstart Slamdance Film Festival, Mr. Mirvish is an active director, screenwriter, producer and author. He is a frequent juror, panelist and guest at various film festivals and independent film events. During the Master Class, students will explore the creative process, style and set management under the guidance of Mr. Mirvish. Participants will also work on scene studies with a camera and actors in a studio setting.

The Master Class in Acting will be held on December 9, 2012, from 9 a.m. to noon, and will be taught by Ellen Jacoby. As founder and president of Ellen Jacoby Casting International, Ms. Jacoby has cast thousands of actors in dozens of films, television shows and commercials. She has won numerous awards and worked with the “who’s who” of Hollywood directors. Under Ms. Jacoby’s leadership, the hands-on class will focus on strategies for the serious and beginning actors, allowing attendees to explore and advance their acting skills.

Both classes will give aspiring students the chance to learn the nuts and bolts of directing and acting and to ask questions of the experts. “These classes will offer incredible experiences for our students,” said Davinia Blair, Director of Development at COB. “We are incredibly grateful to RBC for its continued support of The College of the Bahamas and of our students.”