Action Acting: Selling the Hit, Owning the Frame

Name: Action Acting: Selling the Hit, Owning the Frame
Start: 2025-11-21T16:00:00-05:00
Location: Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.

Schedule

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025 at 04:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. | Wilmington, NC

Action on screen is more than just fights and falls; it's about story, stakes, and the details that make a performance believable. In this interactive workshop, veteran stunt performer and action actor Jesse La Flair will explore the craft of embodying high-intensity moments on camera. Topics include how to use camera awareness to sell reactions, how physicality shapes character, and how to merge stunt precision with authentic acting choices. Drawing from his work on major Marvel productions, video games and fast pasted world of TV, Jesse will share insights, demos, and techniques to help filmmakers and actors elevate their action storytelling.
Speaker Bio: Jesse La Flair is an action specialist, actor and stunt performer with over 17 years of experience in the film industry. Launching his career as one of the world’s top professional parkour athletes, Jesse has worked his way from international podiums to high-level film and television sets. He has performed stunts and action acting alongside stars like Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper, and a wide range of A-list talent from Marvel films to Netflix originals, with credits that include two X-Men films, The Gringo Hunters, Outer Banks, and a world record breaking chase scene for Hawaii Five-O. Today, Jesse specializes in action acting, bringing together the physical demands of stunt work with the emotional depth of character performance.
This event is part of the Cucalorus Film Conference, happening during the 31st annual Cucalorus Film Festival, Nov. 19-23, 2025. Festival passes and info can be found at cucalorus.eventive.org.