Acting Programs at MSDA — The Working Actor Certificate

The MSDA Working Actor Certificate Program is a comprehensive four-semester acting curriculum designed to transform aspiring performers into working professionals. Founded by acclaimed actor Marc John Jefferies, MSDA provides the rigorous, practical training that prepares actors for real careers in film, television, and theater.

The program is structured as a progressive sequence of four semesters. Semester 1, Core Acting Technique 101, builds the essential foundation every serious actor needs, covering physical action, emotional truth, verbal action, and the imagination techniques that separate compelling performances from surface-level acting. Semester 2, Scene Study for Film and Television, applies those foundational skills to the specific demands of performing for the camera, including close-up technique, emotional continuity across takes, and partner work.

Semester 3, Core Acting Technique 201, pushes students into advanced territory with complex character transformations, sustained emotional arcs, and the deep preparation required for leading roles. Semester 4, The Art of the Audition, is the capstone course that transforms trained actors into booking actors, covering cold reading technique, self-tape production, callback strategy, and the business skills needed to navigate the entertainment industry professionally.

Each semester spans 12 weeks of intensive instruction with small class sizes and personalized feedback from industry-active professionals. Students work with professional scripts from current television productions, building real-world skills with the same material working actors encounter in their careers. The curriculum is continuously updated to reflect the current demands of the industry.

MSDA alumni have appeared in major productions including Spider-Man, Notorious, Luke Cage, She-Hulk, Law and Order SVU, Fallout, Blindspot, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and Manifest. The program produces actors who book real roles because every element of the curriculum is designed around the skills casting directors and directors are actually looking for in professional performers.

Tuition is $450 per semester with flexible payment plans available. Complete all four semesters to earn the MSDA Working Actor Certificate. Classes are available online with live instruction, giving students everywhere access to New York-caliber training from the comfort of their own space.

MSDA Online

The Working Actor
Certificate Program

Our online Certificate Program is well-balanced and all-encompassing; it was created to develop students into successful Industry Professionals.

This program includes four semesters, spanning 12-weeks per semester, with each focusing on different aspects of the craft while working in tandem to equip students with the skills needed to become working Actors.

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4SemestersComplete Program
12WeeksPer Semester
2HoursWeekly Classes

Four semesters are required to complete MSDA's Certificate Program, however, students can sign-up for single semesters without certification. Our online program is non-binding, therefore students interested in our Certificate program are required to enroll in each new semester at the completion of the previous one.

JOURNEY
Curriculum

Your Path To Becoming A Working Actor

Each semester builds upon the last, creating a comprehensive journey from foundational technique to professional audition mastery.

01
Semester 1

Core Acting Technique 101

This class is step 1 of 2 of our foundational technique. It focuses on unlocking and fostering a student's imagination, which is essential to becoming a versatile performer.

12 Weeks$450
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02
Semester 2

Scene Study for Film & Television

This class is your start to becoming a professional actor. Our Scene Study for Film & Television course focuses on bringing authentic performances to camera work.

12 Weeks$450
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03
Semester 3

Core Acting Technique 201

This class is step 2 of 2 of our foundational technique. This semester will equip students with the skills needed to genuinely embody any character.

12 Weeks$450
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04
Semester 4

The Art of The Audition

Auditioning can be one of the more daunting tasks for a majority of actors but it is a mountain that all actors must climb to succeed in this industry.

12 Weeks$450
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Start Your Journey

Ready To Transform
Your Acting Career?

If you are passionate about Acting as a career, then this is the program to propel you on the path to success.

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