Acting Classes: Necessary or Arbitrary? Give Us Your Feedback.
Whenever I go to an audition I can’t help but wonder: If I don’t get this gig should I take more classes?
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Despite all the reviews and accolades about my performances around the world: Am I really as good as I can be?
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I gotta be honest. Part of me thinks taking classes is cheesy and benign. It seems like the idea of taking classes and bragging about them is much more attractive than the act of taking them. It just sounds better in conversation doesn’t it?
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‘I’m in class three times a week and I’m learning SO much’.
Does it help you get hired? For every actor who says you don’t need classes there’s a DeNiro or Pacino who have obviously made it work for them.
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Jeffrey Tambor’s class (which I took while living in LA) was full of working actors you’d recognize from television and film but they were only taking class because they were between gigs. I was taking the class because – well actually I couldn’t afford to take his class but he saw something in me and allowed me to take it anyway. As a result of his class I wrote a one man show that gained worldwide recognition but kept me on the road so I didn’t have time to take class.
The other part of me thinks that there’s nothing better than sharpening your skills with fellow thespians but I can think of nothing more boring than talking about acting with actors. Sorry if that sounds harsh (no offense fellow actors out there) but it’s something I do, not who I am. But I digress.
What’s your take on this? Feel free to comment below and take the poll. This is one thing that needs more conversation.
Kahlil (at) gigsmacked (dot) com
If you only want to play Superman, you don’t need class. If you want to play Clark Kent and Superman, go to class. In class you can play against type; you can figure out how YOU would play Juliet even if you weigh 300 pounds. And it all shows up in auditions – every scene you’ve played, every character that you allowed to get under your skin. They call it depth, dimension, confidence.
Great insight MJNorry, here’s to more depth, dimension and confidence! Thanks for commenting.
I think it depends on a few factors
-are you the kind of person who learns well in a workshop or classroom environment? Some people are. I’m not. I don’t feel comfortable in a group. And the reactions you get in a class aren’t necessarily what you’d get doing the same performance for a paying audience of strangers. I learn best by throwing myself out there and doing it. But as you point out, there are plenty who learn quite well in those situations.
and
-How good is the workshop? How good is the teacher? Not everyone has the talent of teaching well. Some workshops are run by out of work actors who want a steady gig. Some are taught by passionate, helpful people who know how to bring the best out of someone. Audit a class. Evaluate it. Watch the teacher in action.
I’m of that school of thought as well TJ. My personal experience has been that experience is the best teacher. In looking for a decent class I’ve definitely kissed a few frogs and that drove me to just get on stage and find out what I sucked at and then seek someone out to strengthen those specific areas. Thanks for the comment man.
Some classes can do more harm than good. Some workshops give good information without the arena to practice it. The committed actor carries on no matter what and continues to explore what allows focus to reveal the humanity that tells the story. Certain “techniques” that camera requires versus a stage are good to know, but again, if the actor is creating the reality, camera can adjust to capture it and the director can give notes to refine the performance.
Some folks are actors every day. Conmen, etc. Skilled at fooling people with different behaviours. These people don’t need classes. Otherwise, unless you’re being cast by look/type alone, class gives the opportunity to test how much dialogue you can memorize in a week, how much emotion you can bring to bear in a moment, what choices work, etc. The danger, (if you want to work professionally versus simply act for pleasure), is in becoming domesticated by a teacher, tamed by the requirements of sitting and watching others work.
Dancers and musicians are constantly taking class just to keep in shape. I wish more actors would do the same. That there still exists even the perception of “you got it or you don’t” saddens me. Then again, in dance and music, there is at least some agreement on basic skills/scales. What are these for actors? I’ve never been quite sure.
That people like you Patrick exist, saddens me.
Thanks for the great post. It’s my first time here, and I subscribed to your feed so I can get your latest posts.
My pleasure Actos News- and thanks for your subscription. Have a great week and there’s more on the way. Here’s to making the phone ring! – Kahlil (at) gigsmacked (dot) com
Good explanation. I prefer to make out the print Martha
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