If this is your first visit, welcome, and please read on...
We’re searching for actors, directors or filmmakers who want to learn, explore, or practice the film making process; or stage a play from casting to opening night. We want those who are artistically inspired and need a summer that provides more than simply ephemeral memories of warm nights, parties and cocktail hours at sunset.
The Montauk Group Artist Retreat aims to provide actors, directors, writers, and other artists the oportunity to express themselves in a nurturing and informative environment that will allow them to grow and reach the next level of their chosen profession. Industry professionals will be on hand to guide you and share with you the benefits of their extensive experience, leaving you with the skills, drive, and most importantly, the inspiration to reach your dreams.
In The Beginning
For the last six years my mid summer night’s dreams have come to fruition.
On an adventure and a whim, in the early summer of 2006, I packed the best of my New York City actors in my SUV and hauled them out to my home in Montauk. For the remainder of that summer I worked with them in the warm open air, near the sea, hills, trees, trails, and a home-made garden of organically grown tomatoes…
After 35 years as a working actor, a lifetime Member of The Actors Studio, private coach, teacher, director, and film producer, in 2006 it was the right time to start recording this work on film. But more importantly, to pass this informationand experience person-to person to the young and the old; to those who love theater, drama, and film as much as I do.
With cameras rolling constantly, physical work, rehearsals, exercises, scene work, readings, and improvs, the next five summer retreats, right up to 2010, became a mini version of a Major Hollywood Studio. We produced our own stage productions in Montauk and New York City, and shot films all over the tri state area as new careers flourished all around us. The last five summers have also been filled with actual drama, love stories, comedy, and just plain fun recorded on hundreds of hours of now "in-the-can" footage!
In establishing the Montauk Group, my eight years of personal study in the 70’s and early 80’s with Lee Strasberg and his "Method" conjoined with my decades of experience as an actor and my working knowledge of academia. This created the foundation for my work, allowing me to pass along my astounding fortune and good luck to others.
In 1994 I was invited to help launch The Actors Studio MFA Program at The New School of Social Research alongside James Lipton, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, Arthur Penn, Norman Mailer, and Al Pacino. I was at that landmark meeting at Pete Masterson’s apartment when Mailer, Newman and Penn informed us that, "the relationship with The New School has been forged." After the curriculum was designed I became one of the first of four teachers to launch that MFA program now part of Pace University. After three years teaching there I resigned with a longing to recapture my own career as an actor.
In the course of our acting work in New York, Long Island, and New York City, I've made sure to introduce the concept, the pragmatic reality, that this endeavor is actually a "business." Through my friendships with the industry's major producers, directors, casting agents, and stars, all these professionals have visited and generously gave their time speaking and advising (along with socializing) with us each summer. Lest we forget, it’s called show "business" and that reality is embedded in every stage of our summer.
The summers have evolved. We begin the retreat in June with untrained actors who are without a clear plan of attack on the "Method," or even how to approach a scene – deliberately, but with a ferocious desire to learn. This segment is prep for the Flagship or main part of the summer retreat. The summer basic technique has former attendees joining in to review all the exercises created well over a century ago in Russia and then with Strasberg at the Group Theater and later, The Actors Studio. As the summer proceeds, these former attendees often times join in the Flagship and our army of actors become a fervent force in the Hamptons, a house filled with actors, artists, directors, producers, casting agents, all – working.
By the end of these summers, each attendee is in a top physical form that can rival a year of work in any considerable theater graduate program. The Montauk Group has, to date, worked with 27 attendees in The Hamptons and New York City. I have kept the groups small, directing my way into the heart of the actor’s imagination and energetic grip on the world. I’ve attempted to guide to the mastery of intuition, control, and freedom, to own the stage with the alchemy of lightning with poetry.
Many of the last five years of alumni from The Montauk Group went on to get auditions and win roles, beating out other actors who struggle to find work on both coasts. Eleven of these alumni are now in the work force with their Screen Actors Guild cards in their wallets, some now with SAG health insurance doing what they dreamed they would do.
Click here to view Montauk Group alumni actors and see for yourself what they have achieved. (If after clicking you do not see the list of past attendees, make sure you've turned off your pop-up blocker.)
The Industry is also watching The Montauk Group. A number of major Cable TV networks on both coasts have contacted us requesting footage of our summer work and with real interest in making the Montauk Group summer retrear into television series based on our artistic process.
Actors continue to develop their craft, but it in a professional environment without the death rattle of executives who only understand that time is money. This is the Mistake Capsule where there is no danger and failure is the learning chip to the casino. This will be a “Dress Rehearsal,” a mock trial, a "flight simulation" without danger of crashing.
For Directors On Directing Actors
I directed an original play called “All She Cares About Is The Yankees” by John Ford Noonan in the mid 80’s. The play was a hit in New York City and we were later asked to put it up at the Writers Director’s Unit of The Actors Studio. To my astonishment, the moderator was to be Elia Kazan. The greatest living director in the world and the founder of The Actors Studio was to moderate an original Noonan play that I had directed. After the play ended, Kazan put his hand on my shoulder and said to the audience, “This scene was a testament to why directors must be actors first.” He then went into detail about the stumbling communication that happens when directors do not know the language of acting or how to work with actors. He said that my successful direction of the play was integrally related to my knowledge of acting. It was one of my finest moments.
But here’s the take away:
If you are a young director, cinematographer, editor or sound person interested in "hands-on" work with actors, this summer will be that ecliptic moment of opportunity. Explore without worry of making mistakes.
If you are an actor learning how hard it is to be good when confronted by directors who do not know the language or how to explain what it is they are trying to achieve in the scene, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in an environment designed to let you discover the remedies. The best ante dote to that problem is for the actor's awareness to be so well tuned they can leap over the directors' sometimes inarticulate frustrations and satisfy the needs of the piece.
My goal is to amalgamate these isolated chambers of craft, work, and creativity in the theater or on a sound stage and break down the barriers between them until there is nothing but open air and complete communication.
The Montauk Group
Board Members:
Dr. Robert J. Swanson, Vascular Surgeon
James Potts ll, Esquire
Bryan Caisse, CEO Huxley Management
Dave Mason, Musician Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
In the past we have had visits and seminars by great people and friends in the industry who freely share themselves in conversation and in the unique anecdotes that they bring.
Seminars and visits will take place with the following people. These are the people that make things happen.
Schedule to be announced:
Greg Widen – writer/director/producer
Craig Singer – writer/director/producer
Frank Calo – wrtier/director/producer
Michael Bregman – writer/director/producer/manager
Dave Mason – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician
Brooke Thomas – producer/casting agent at House Productions
Lainie Kazan – singer/actress
Tuesday Weld - Golden Globe-winning actress
Scott Kasdin – screen writer/director/producer
Sirad Balducci – line roducer
Chris Modoono – director/writer/producer
Gary will be working with several acting associates during the summer who will also assist in the process.
Debbie M. Rose, MS. Ed. L.M.H.C Psychotherapist and Gary will also hold several sit-downs throughout the summer combining her work with Gary’s. This will be a new and revolutionary approach to acting as well as a platform for the health and well being of the actor and their process in the commercial world.
Also joining us will be:
Jenny Baker - Yoga
Richard Barboza - Martial Arts
Benny Garces – Boxing and Physical Trainer
The Montauk Group in action. This is what we do:
The summer of 2012 we will be working on all aspects of acting but with a new integration on directing, writing and filmmaking. Interviews will be scheduled for new members who must go through the basic technique in the early summer to be ready for the Flagship segment in July and August. Alumni or anyone who has been trained in The Method or similar can join in the basic technique to review or enter into the summer during the Advanced Workshop. Positions are filling up quickly.
If you have interest, go ahead, investigate us, vet us, then contact us.
Packages & Pricing:
The following prices are based on the current rates for room and/or house rentals in the Hamptons area. The following retreats are open to all over the age of 18. The art is free. The house is not.
All registrations require a 20% non-refundable deposit due upon acceptance to the retreat. Your balance is due no later than 48 hours before your arrival at the house in Montauk.
Actors are wonderful people who lead by their hearts. It is a life long-learning process ... and I'm still learning.
Those who are ready to join and secure a place or are interested in our very limited placement, please send us an email and we'll get you started on your entrance interview and registration.
When someone opens a restaurant or a small law office they use "seed money" to purchase supplies, hire help; part of the profit and loss cost analysis. But with us, The Actor is the store, the business, the assistant - the entire farm so to speak and in order to get that business running it is paramount to learn the business first, buy supplies then market that business.
We cover all those topics for the actor and filmmaker in The Montauk Group Summer Retreat. Out of 30 students starting with me 6 summers ago, we have had stunning statistical success. Just in the Montauk Group Summer Retreat alone, 11 alumni are now in SAG and many are now in profit mode. That is better than 1/3rd of the alumni now in the commercial acting business who were, before, unemployed and untrained. We stand on our statistical success.
Gary Swanson
Basic Technique June 2012 (13 days) - $1,675
Due to the updated schedule, attendees that fall into this category will be able to attend the retreats listed below and still get the work they need to get the most out of this summer.
Open to untrained actors who are just starting their actor's journey as well as trained actors who wish to review.
Exercises, improvisation, and introduction to scene study
Actors, writers, directors, and film students all welcome to participate
Advanced Workshop June 2012 (10 days) - $1,300
Open to those who have been through the basic technique or who have had experience working in The Method - those just starting out will also be able to attend this portion of the retreat.
Continued exercise work and improvisation with emphasis on script analysis and basic scene work. Introduction to directors on process work with actors. Film students begin to integrate new knowledge of the acting process linked to film making and how to work with directors.
One-Day Head Shot Special with Ron Rinaldi in Montauk
A rare opportunity to save on a shoot with Ron Rinaldi, one of New York's top headshot photographers, with more than 16,000 actors in his portfolio. His client list includes Matt Damon, Laura Linney, Adam Sandler, F. Murray Abraham, Danny Glover, Stanley Tucci, and many more.
Photo Shoot: $350 (normally $495)
Hair and Make Up (optional): $75.00 (normally $150)
Sorry, there are no additional price breaks available for this event, as the prices offered are already discounted.
Review and Integration July 2012 (9 days) - $1,150
This will be a review of all previous work to date in Montauk. In this segment there is still time to introduce actors who have some basic understanding of the work.
Directors, film students, and writers will work with actors and work as actors themselves.
Flagship July – Aug 2012 (31 days) - $4,000
This will only be open to those who have been through basic technique, alumni, or those with a working knowledge of "The Method." Interested non-participating attendee slots will be available to those interested in simply viewing the process.
All actors and filmmakers should now work as one functioning production unit towards the "Dress Rehearsal." This is the main event.
One contemporary and one classic play will be chosen along with original pieces. New filmmakers will have the opportunity to document this process as a tech rehearsal for later, shooting scenes from one of the two plays and the original piece. The last week will be used to lead to a mock version of an opening night on Broadway. A production will be carried through with scenes extrapolated from classic and contemporary plays. The remaining week will shift the play production to film. The same scenes will then be shot with full production values as though they were scenes in a feature film production. It will be at that time that the entire variable forms (acting, writing, directing, cinematography, sound, and editing) will become conflated into one form, on video, that will be the grand finale of the summer.
Total Summer Package – June - August 2012 (73 days) $9,000
63 Retreat Days
10 "Open" Days (yours do to with as you please)
73 Days Total
This package includes the retreat, residency at the house, in essence offers the unity of Artists working towards a goal, out of the dangers and the wonderful yet frenetic madness of New York City - with the luxurious benefit of being out in The Hamptons.
Discounts
Discounts are available to those who:
• pay in cash
• will not be staying at the house
• who commit to early payment
• all alumni of The Montauk Group
• members of
Gary's on-going classes
• Gary's private coaching clients
• those referring other attendees
Please note that discounts cannot be combined.
Attendees not staying at The House will be charged only for the cost of maintaining day use of the facilities/amenities (kitchen, bath, liability, etc.).
There is one work-trade slot (discounted housing may be available).
If you feel you may qualify for any of these discounts, please click here.
The Artists’ Auto Bio Program
The Montauk Group will also be open to any and all artists seeking a summer of sanctuary to work on any art form of their choice, on their own, without instruction or interruption.
Monthly stays may require sharing a room with retreat attendees.
June – $3,500
July - $4,500
Aug - $6,000
Private room - full season: $11,000
Semi-Private (two to a room) - full season: $6,000 per person
They will have a place to write, practice an instrument, paint, draw, dance, do yoga, martial arts, meditate surrounded by like–minded purposeful artists. There is no need to be a part of the “Dress Rehearsal” work unless the desire strikes. All programs will remain open if the spirit is so moved and auditing will always be allowed. The only requirement for the Artists’ Auto Bio is that you are a bone fide artist who seeks a peaceful environment without judgment or criticism.
Camping – One or two to a tent available - all attendees $60/day
Campers will be using the outside area which is equipped with a full refrigerator, a grill with two burners, cooking utensils, an outdoor toilet and shower.
All attendees will be responsible for their own food. Kitchen storage will be made available, and we ask that all attendees are respectful of each others belongings, including their food and drink. Occasionally we will have events where meals are communal - those will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
In The Beginning
With cameras rolling constantly, physical work, rehearsals, exercises, scene work, readings, and improvs, the next five summer retreats, right up to 2010, became a mini version of a Major Hollywood Studio. We produced our own stage productions in Montauk and New York City, and shot films all over the tri state area as new careers flourished all around us. The last five summers have also been filled with actual drama, love stories, comedy, and just plain fun recorded on hundreds of hours of now "in-the-can" footage!
The summers have evolved. We begin the retreat in June with untrained actors who are without a clear plan of attack on the "Method," or even how to approach a scene – deliberately, but with a ferocious desire to learn. This segment is prep for the Flagship or main part of the summer retreat. The summer basic technique has former attendees joining in to review all the exercises created well over a century ago in Russia and then with Strasberg at the Group Theater and later, The Actors Studio. As the summer proceeds, these former attendees often times join in the Flagship and our army of actors become a fervent force in the Hamptons, a house filled with actors, artists, directors, producers, casting agents, all – working.