ACTING SCHOOL? (In the Entertainment industry. What kind of things do you actually learn in an acting school? Can acting be taught?)

Act Class Slide / Photo Credit: Old Creamery Theatre

ACTING SCHOOL? (In the Entertainment industry. What kind of things do you actually learn in an acting school? Can acting be taught?)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

What kind of things do you actually learn in an acting school? Can acting be taught?

You are exposed to a wide sampling of very different acting styles/methods, and spend weeks immersed in a particular technique. Each is uniquely different, and each have their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, a program should expose you to as many different systems of actor training. Then, it will be up to you to decide which system feels most comfortable, and offers you the most support and freedom to grow. The names of the dominant theories are Strasberg, The Method, Stanislavski, Meisner, Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, HB Studio, Michael Chekhov, and Kristin Linklater, to name a few.

Secondly, acting classes are laboratories where students PLAY and take risks, experiment, improvise, use their imaginations, work collaboratively, perform solo in front of their peers, create shapes, try on animals, learn to use their voices safely and most effectively, learn stage combat, take classes in dialects and elocution, study stage makeup, learn to comport themselves appropriately for different time periods in history, and many more things. What's most important is that you are in a safe place with your peers, and have permission to take chances and learn to socialize and work well in groups. This peer review is an experience you'll never be able to fabricate or duplicate on your own and outside a classroom.

Finally, upper level acting classes often center on scene work, where students will be paired together in 2-3 person scenes from classic and popular plays throughout history -- classical and contemporary. Again, this is another invaluable opportunity to learn how to work with and be a good partner. However, the most important experience you will get from performing scenes in front of your peers, is the feedback and constructive criticism you will receive from your teacher and peers. It may be hard to hear, but this generous and loving advice might be the last you get before it really gets ugly out in the real world. Soak it up. You'll miss acting school when it's over. Trust me. I have three university degrees in theatre, and never wanted to leave.

Good acting requires a mix of natural talent and learned skill, the latter of which can take many forms, including formal schooling and learning on-the-job. The main traits actors rely on are vocal and physical agility, emotional vulnerability, fantastic listening skills, an intellectual capacity that allows them to analyze scripts and stories, a good memory, and a knack for collaboration.

An acting workshop is a meeting of actors or others of one specific trade to learn how to hone their skills and to network with other actors, acting coaches and casting directors. Many actors will critique, mentor and coach their peers and offer tips on how to improve their preparation for roles, auditions, and enhance their performing abilities. Acting workshops are often staffed by professionals, which can include acting coaches, directors, or actors. Casting directors sometimes also act as coaches. It is usually recommended that serious actors attend acting workshops to help increase their skill.

The biggest obstacle is the emotional one. Some people are simply so guarded, they can't un-self-consciously devote themselves to their roles. They protect themselves with mannerisms or stagy voices; they over-act because they're scared that if they don't, no one will find them interesting; they under-act because they're afraid to let go; they avoid doing things that make them seem weak, immoral, cruel, foolish, or whatever else they find shameful; they don't listen and respond naturally to other actors, because they're totally focused on themselves; etc.

The second biggest obstacle is "doesn't play well with others." I've seen extremely gifted actors make themselves un-cast able by being divas on the set. If I had to choose between casting a brilliant asshole and a good team player, I would choose the latter, and so would most other directors I know. It's not worth the brilliance if it makes the entire cast and crew miserable.

One can improve in all those areas, and most actors do. But if someone is totally self-protective and blocked, he may never be able to act or he may require years of therapy before he's ready. It's certainly not the sort of thing that can be fixed during a rehearsal.

Actors also need to be willing to stick with their careers, even if that means years of being poor or having to take non-acting work to support themselves. Very few actors are able to fully support themselves via acting, including some extremely talented ones.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Huffington Post, Backstage, Your Young Actor, Cast it Talent, Scambusters, New York Castings, Brock Kelly, SAG-AFTRA, Sokanu, The Balance Careers, Sag Indie, Northern Star, Ilene Starger, Jon Ferreira, Avid Cinephile, Marcus Geduld,

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Act Class Slide / Photo Credit: Old Creamery Theatre