He has worked as an actor in Germany
in numerous productions including in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin.
He has performed in Budapest, London, Stockholm and
in New York.
His theater directing credits include the most recent reworking of Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey Into Night': Eugene's Ghosts (The Actors' Ensemble, New York 2009), Between
Worlds (US Premiere, Chekhov Theatre Ensemble, Off-Off Broadway, New
York City, 2005), For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again (The Actors’
Ensemble, New York, 2004), Oscar und die Dame in Rosa (WerkBühne
Berlin, Germany, 2004), Monsieur Ibrahim und die Blumen des Koran (WerkBühne
Berlin, Germany, 2003), Waiting for Godot (The Actors’ Ensemble,
New York, 2003 and Adelaide Fringe Festival, Australia 2004), I have
Never Been Here (The Actors’ Ensemble, Off-Off Broadway, New York
City, 2001) and Uncle Ethan Ripley (The Actors’ Ensemble, New
York, 2001).
Recently he directed Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn starring Joanna Merlin, Executive Producer Bob Balaban. The film won "Best Short Film" at the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City as well as the Audience Awards for "Best Short" at the Beverly Hills HD Film Festival in Los Angeles and the Washington DC Independent Film Festival. The film was part of the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival 2009 in France.
Ragnar is teaching in the Graduate Acting Programs of Columbia University and The New School in New York City. Past teaching includes Brooklyn College, Sarah
Lawrence College, Marymount Manhattan College, Michael Howard Studio, Michael Chekhov Acting Studio, Actors Movement Studio, The Linklater Center, as well as workshops in Italy, Japan and the US.
He is a board member of MICHA (the Michael Chekhov Association) and teaches regularly at International Conferences in Europe and the United States. He served as co-artistic director for "Master Classes in the Michael Chekhov Technique", MICHA's DVD series, published by Routledge in 2007.
Private Coaching Sessions
By Appointment
The Michael Chekhov Technique
The Actor’s Presence
Monologues
Scene Work
On Camera
More Information
FILMMAKING for ACTORS
Workshop in NYC with
Ragnar Freidank&
Martin Anderson
April - May 2010
Watch Trailer [quicktime]
DESCRIPTION
The innovations in digital filmmaking in recent years have not just lowered the cost of shooting movies, they have virtually collapsed those costs. Professional quality filmmaking tools are more affordable, portable and simpler to use than ever.
Filmmaking is often called a "director's medium," and indeed there are many examples of directors taking advantage of these leaps in technology to make films that express their individual vision for little money.
What, however, could this revolution mean for the ACTOR? What opportunities, both in expression and collaboration, have been created for the actor by freeing the filmmaking process from the burden of great financial expense?
For the first time, perhaps, it is practically possible to have an actor-centric filmmaking process, with actors informing and guiding rehearsing, shooting, editing, scoring, even the projecting of their film. This workshop will work with such processes, and explore other opportunities in 6 sessions over the course of 2 months.
HOW IT WILL WORK
After signing up, you will have access to an online platform where you can:
* share material, questions and intentions
* set up personal meetings with other actors
* form partnerships to work on scenes
* opt to work individually
During our first sessions we will:
* meet and greet everyone
* get familiar with the sound and video equipment
Over the course of the first weekend we will:
* work on individual material or scenes on location
* shoot the scenes on professional quality digital video
During the 3 weeks that follow you will have time to:
* scout for a location for your exterior shots
* watch your footage online on a secure server
* mark your footage for your work with the editor
* download your footage onto your own computer for future use
Over the course of the next weekend we will:
* shoot additional footage for your film at a location of your choice (1hour/ actor)
A week later you will have time to:
* watch and mark your new footage online
* download your new footage onto your own computer, if so desired.
Over the course of the following 2 weekends we will:
* have individual editing sessions for each scene/piece (total: 4 hours/actor), with the actors participating if they choose
* Add in any music the actor is drawn to
* Add in any voice-over or additional sounds
* Incorporate other footage, including footage shot by the actor, if so inspired
On the last Friday we will:
* Project all the mini-films for the group
* Give participants a copy of their work
Every actor will be involved in the whole filming process and actors can bring in any material they want included in their clips. Material can be any text: scenes, monologues, original material or entirely improvised - or something else we can't imagine!
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Dates:
April - May 2010
Times:
4/2 (7-10PM) meet & greet on location, introduction
4/3 – 4/4 (12pm - 8pm) shooting on location
4/5 – 4/11 (at your own leisure) location scouting for your exterior shots
4/12 – 4/23 (at your own leisure) viewing of your footage online
4/24 – 4/25 (by appointment) shooting on exterior location
5/3 – 5/7 (at your own leisure) viewing & selecting of exterior footage online
5/8 – 5/9 (by appointment) individual editing sessions
5/15 – 5/16 (by appointment) individual editing sessions
5/21 (8-10pm) screening of all participant’s short films
Location:
Brooklyn & Manhattan
Cost:
$540 (incl. materials)
$180 due at sign-up to hold your space
$180 due at first day of shooting (April 3)
$180 due at first day of editing (May 8)
Inquiries:
Email troublesanddreams@gmail.com
Space is LIMITED TO 8 ACTORS.
STRICTLY CHEKHOV
6-Week-Workshop
with Ragnar Freidank
Spring 2010, NYC
A comprehensive journey through M. Chekhov's book "To the Actor"
For more Information about this workshop, please email Salomé Krell
About TAE 
