The Short Film Intensive Program for Actors, Filmmakers & Writers

The Short Film Intensive
Program for Actors

A 12-week, production-first incubator for actors and filmmakers—culminating in a festival-ready short film and a real audition opportunity with industry pros.

Highlight

Festival-Ready Training

 Learn the craft while producing a short film designed to play on the big screen and stand out in submissions.

✓ Weekly group training sessions

✓ Real-world set experience

✓ Festival submission strategy

Highlight

Mentorship That Matters

Get direct guidance from working professionals who know what it takes to build a career in film and acting.

✓ 1:1 mentorship sessions

✓ Personalized role development

✓ Professional feedback on reels & scripts

Features

See Our Work

These are only a few of the short films we've worked on

Watch Mind Trap

Short Film

Watch Reversal

Short Film

Watch Our UpNext Series

Short Film

Watch Our UpNext Series

Trailer

Program Benefits

Why It Works

Most programs stop at theory. We go further—giving you on-set training, mentorship, and a completed short film you can submit to festivals. In just 12 weeks, you’ll transform your skills and leave with professional credits that actually open doors.

Make a Real Film

Instead of rehearsing classroom scenes, you’ll create a professionally produced short film designed for festivals and real-world audiences.

Make a Real Film

Instead of rehearsing classroom scenes, you’ll create a professionally produced short film designed for festivals and real-world audiences.

Make a Real Film

Instead of rehearsing classroom scenes, you’ll create a professionally produced short film designed for festivals and real-world audiences.

Build Your Reel

Walk away with reel-ready scenes tailored to your type and strengths, directed and edited at a professional standard.

Build Your Reel

Walk away with reel-ready scenes tailored to your type and strengths, directed and edited at a professional standard.

Build Your Reel

Walk away with reel-ready scenes tailored to your type and strengths, directed and edited at a professional standard.

Learn On Set

Get hands-on experience with cameras, sound, and production workflows—so you know exactly what to expect on professional sets.

Learn On Set

Get hands-on experience with cameras, sound, and production workflows—so you know exactly what to expect on professional sets.

Learn On Set

Get hands-on experience with cameras, sound, and production workflows—so you know exactly what to expect on professional sets.

Work With Mentors

Train directly with working filmmakers who provide feedback, role development, and career-focused guidance.

Work With Mentors

Train directly with working filmmakers who provide feedback, role development, and career-focused guidance.

Work With Mentors

Train directly with working filmmakers who provide feedback, role development, and career-focused guidance.

Festival Pathway

Don’t just make a film—submit it. We give you the roadmap and strategy for festival entries and audience exposure.

Festival Pathway

Don’t just make a film—submit it. We give you the roadmap and strategy for festival entries and audience exposure.

Festival Pathway

Don’t just make a film—submit it. We give you the roadmap and strategy for festival entries and audience exposure.

Audition Opportunity

Top performers may be invited to audition for Broken Shackles and other Neon Lion Productions projects.

Audition Opportunity

Top performers may be invited to audition for Broken Shackles and other Neon Lion Productions projects.

Audition Opportunity

Top performers may be invited to audition for Broken Shackles and other Neon Lion Productions projects.

Program Overview

How the Intensive Works

Over 12 weeks, you’ll move from training to production—culminating in a short film designed for festivals and your reel. Small cohorts and mentorship ensure you get the individual attention you need.

Weekly Training

Live Zoom sessions and assignments that help you sharpen your craft and stay accountable week after week.

Mentorship Access

Personalized feedback and guidance from working filmmakers who are invested in your growth.

Small Cohorts

Train in tight-knit groups that ensure you get meaningful screen time and a defined role in the production.

Production Lab

Rehearse, block, and prep like the pros before stepping onto set for the capstone shoot.

Capstone Short Film

Graduate with a festival-ready short that doubles as a reel centerpiece and a professional credit.

Festival Strategy

Walk away with a submission roadmap and media kit that gets your work seen by the right audiences.

Testimonials

Hear From Past Participants

Tuition & Tiers

Choose Your Path

Every tier includes the 12-week training and participation in a professionally produced short film. Select the level that matches your goals.

The production fee is a required cost billed separately from tuition. Payment 1 is due two weeks after the 12-week intensive ends, and Payment 2 is due four weeks later. This fee directly funds the short film’s professional crew, equipment, locations, and festival submissions. Failure to complete payment may result in removal from the final short film production and loss of associated credits.

Film Credit Builder

$1,950

Best for new actors and filmmakers who want professional footage and their first festival-ready credit.

Weekly Zoom group training

Virtual mentorship + assignments

Participation in the capstone short film

IMDb credit + festival submissions

Broken Shackles audition eligibility

👉 Designed to give you your first professional reel and credit.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Career Accelerator

🔥 Most Popular

$2,550

For performers and filmmakers ready to level up with personalized mentorship and in-person training.

🔥 Most Popular

 Everything in Film Credit Builder

4 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Personalized role development (actor/writer/filmmaker track)

Feedback on reels, scripts, or portfolio pieces

1 weekend in-person intensive

Advanced on-camera

Stage-to-film training

Role preparation

👉 Our most popular tier — the fastest way to grow with feedback and set experience.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Elite Professional

$3,550

Designed for serious career builders who want maximum mentorship, exclusive networking, and priority consideration for casting opportunities.

Everything in Career Accelerator

Up to 8 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Exclusive networking dinner during the intensive

Professional headshot + reel clip (filmed on set)

Priority casting consideration for Broken Shackles audition pipeline

👉 Maximum mentorship, networking, and career momentum.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Film Credit Builder

$1,950

Best for new actors and filmmakers who want professional footage and their first festival-ready credit.

Weekly Zoom group training

Virtual mentorship + assignments

Participation in the capstone short film

IMDb credit + festival submissions

Broken Shackles audition eligibility

👉 Designed to give you your first professional reel and credit.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Career Accelerator

🔥 Most Popular

$2,550

For performers and filmmakers ready to level up with personalized mentorship and in-person training.

🔥 Most Popular

 Everything in Film Credit Builder

4 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Personalized role development (actor/writer/filmmaker track)

Feedback on reels, scripts, or portfolio pieces

1 weekend in-person intensive

Advanced on-camera

Stage-to-film training

Role preparation

👉 Our most popular tier — the fastest way to grow with feedback and set experience.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Elite Professional

$3,550

Designed for serious career builders who want maximum mentorship, exclusive networking, and priority consideration for casting opportunities.

Everything in Career Accelerator

Up to 8 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Exclusive networking dinner during the intensive

Professional headshot + reel clip (filmed on set)

Priority casting consideration for Broken Shackles audition pipeline

👉 Maximum mentorship, networking, and career momentum.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Film Credit Builder

$1,950

Best for new actors and filmmakers who want professional footage and their first festival-ready credit.

Weekly Zoom group training

Virtual mentorship + assignments

Participation in the capstone short film

IMDb credit + festival submissions

Broken Shackles audition eligibility

👉 Designed to give you your first professional reel and credit.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Career Accelerator

🔥 Most Popular

$2,550

For performers and filmmakers ready to level up with personalized mentorship and in-person training.

🔥 Most Popular

 Everything in Film Credit Builder

4 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Personalized role development (actor/writer/filmmaker track)

Feedback on reels, scripts, or portfolio pieces

1 weekend in-person intensive

Advanced on-camera

Stage-to-film training

Role preparation

👉 Our most popular tier — the fastest way to grow with feedback and set experience.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Elite Professional

$3,550

Designed for serious career builders who want maximum mentorship, exclusive networking, and priority consideration for casting opportunities.

Everything in Career Accelerator

Up to 8 private 1:1 mentorship sessions

Exclusive networking dinner during the intensive

Professional headshot + reel clip (filmed on set)

Priority casting consideration for Broken Shackles audition pipeline

👉 Maximum mentorship, networking, and career momentum.

*Production fee for the short film is required separately — see description at checkout.

Frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions.

Everything you need to know about the Short Film Intensive — from payments and production costs to casting opportunities and participation details.

Everything you need to know about the Short Film Intensive — from payments and production costs to casting opportunities and participation details.

Everything you need to know about the Short Film Intensive — from payments and production costs to casting opportunities and participation details.

Do I need prior acting experience to apply?

Do I need prior acting experience to apply?

What does the production fee cover?

The fee directly funds the short film production, including professional crew, equipment, locations, production design, and festival submissions. It’s not a “pay-to-play” — it ensures your work is shot and distributed at a professional level. The cost of $1,500 is due 4 weeks after the 12-week program.

What does the production fee cover?

The fee directly funds the short film production, including professional crew, equipment, locations, production design, and festival submissions. It’s not a “pay-to-play” — it ensures your work is shot and distributed at a professional level. The cost of $1,500 is due 4 weeks after the 12-week program.

What does the production fee cover?

The fee directly funds the short film production, including professional crew, equipment, locations, production design, and festival submissions. It’s not a “pay-to-play” — it ensures your work is shot and distributed at a professional level. The cost of $1,500 is due 4 weeks after the 12-week program.

Is participation in the short film a guarantee of being cast in Broken Shackles?

No. Participation in the program doesn’t guarantee casting in Broken Shackles. However, top performers from the intensive and film will be invited to audition — and those cast will be paid actors under Neon Lion Productions.

Is participation in the short film a guarantee of being cast in Broken Shackles?

No. Participation in the program doesn’t guarantee casting in Broken Shackles. However, top performers from the intensive and film will be invited to audition — and those cast will be paid actors under Neon Lion Productions.

Is there a guarantee of being cast in Broken Shackles?

No. Participation in the program doesn’t guarantee casting in Broken Shackles. However, top performers from the intensive and film will be invited to audition — and those cast will be paid actors under Neon Lion Productions.

Can I join if I’m not local to New York or New Jersey?

Yes. The training is primarily virtual. Only Pro and Elite participants attend the in-person weekend intensive. Everyone participates in the professionally produced short film, regardless of location.

Can I join if I’m not local to New York or New Jersey?

Yes. The training is primarily virtual. Only Pro and Elite participants attend the in-person weekend intensive. Everyone participates in the professionally produced short film, regardless of location.

Can I join if I’m not local to New York or New Jersey?

Yes. The training is primarily virtual. Only Pro and Elite participants attend the in-person weekend intensive. Everyone participates in the professionally produced short film, regardless of location.

What payment options are available?

You can either pay the full program fee upfront or use Affirm financing available at checkout for flexible monthly payments. The required production fee is billed separately after the training ends.

What payment options are available?

You can either pay the full program fee upfront or use Affirm financing available at checkout for flexible monthly payments. The required production fee is billed separately after the training ends.

What payment options are available?

You can either pay the full program fee upfront or use Affirm financing available at checkout for flexible monthly payments. The required production fee is billed separately after the training ends.

Take the Next Step in Your Acting Career

Seize the opportunity to train with industry professionals, earn your first festival-ready credit, and step into a real audition pipeline.

Festival-Ready Credit 

Exclusive Audition Pipeline

Professional Mentorship