<p>My son has been accepted to Carnegie, UCLA, CalArts & UNCSA. He want to act on screen - which of these programs would have an advantage as far as TV or film acting?</p>
<p>I have heard really good things about UCLA and CalArts for Acting, especially when it comes to film. I do not know too much about it, other than what I have heard from people who have been accepted and friends that were looking into those schools. And it is nice and convenient being in Los Angeles or near LA 
Good luck!</p>
<p>Chapman U actually has a degree in film acting and all the schools you said focus are more theater orintated. They tend to have some classes in film acting towards their senior year. I would have to recommend CalArts out of all of them. UCLA does not let their students audition while their at the school. I read that some students have got in trouble because they had to skip classes for auditions. Carnegie is more for theater and is not a major theater program. UNCSA doesn’t have many opportunities, but I know some good talent agents in the area. I think CalArts would be the most flexible if ever wants to go on auditions or even get an agent. Good Luck to him!</p>
<p>early_ college - thank you for the reply. We’ve heard of the Champman screen acting program. And I believe you are right about UCLA & auditioning. What I’ve heard would concur with Carnegie being more oriented toward theater - although if you look several recent grads are in film & TV. The only thing that suprised me about your thoughts was that Carnegie isn’t a major theater program. Most people agree it is one of the better theater programs in the country - so I’m wondering if you’re sure about that part</p>
<p>I would not pick a college based on whether I could do auditions outside of school or not, or the availability of such auditions. If you go to school…and put in the effort and money, your attention should not be focused on getting work that will take you out of school. Make the decision if you want an education and training or you want to work. If you want the training…get it…work after graduation and in summers…as well as gain work on stage (or in films) while a student, but not the kind of auditions that require you to leave school if cast. If you want to hit the audition circuit, don’t pay for school or put time in and just move to the city where the auditions are. It would be a lot cheaper too. Just my opinion, in response to the “advice” in #3. </p>
<p>Further, CMU is one of the top acting programs in the country and it will surely prepare you to be an actor for stage or screen. CMU also does an LA showcase, in addition to its NYC one. </p>
<p>UCLA and CalArts have film programs and thus an abundance of opportunities to act in student films too. And in general, it is close to the resources of the film industry. </p>
<p>Back to the OP…all of those schools are excellent. I would talk to the faculty and current students to ask this question of each program.</p>
<p>Hagenbuch,</p>
<p>First off, I’ll reiterate what I told you on the “Decisions” thread as well as what I told early_college on a couple of others without saying it all again … ;)</p>
<p>Obviously, CalArts and UCLA are located in what would appear to be an ideal location and both have excellent film schools. What you need to find out, however, is the actual opportunities acting students at those schools have to participate in student film and outside projects. Remember that the LA area is crawling with actors with a lot of time on their hands who would love to work on quality student films for free to gain bits for their reels. Do the film students tend to use those people or do they work around the acting students’ already full schedules? NCSA also has an excellent film school and some opportunity for students to collaborate, but the best student film I’ve seen come out of there featured no NCSA actors at all, but rather used BFA and MFA graduates from UNC Greensboro who had stayed in the area and had ample time to commit to the project. I don’t think CMU has a film school of any import, but check on what the opportunities are like in the Pittsburgh area.</p>
<p>CMU and NCSA are in remote locations film-wise, but showcase in both NYC and LA and have a good number of grads working in film although it seems that their actors typically start out in NYC and make the move to LA later after gaining some experience. I know a girl who graduated NCSA a couple of years ago who did just that and is now out in LA doing very well. I also know of a CMU grad who landed a recurring role on a soap like two weeks after making the move although she’s a very rare bird to begin with from what I understand and since moved back to NYC and is now in London working on a musical.</p>
<p>Just a couple of things to look into … </p>
<p>I also highly recommend that anyone interested in pursuing a film career read An Agent Tells All by Tony Martinez. Very valuable stuff to know … How to Be a Working Actor is also supposed to be a very valuable read although I haven’t actually had time to get to it yet.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Fishbowl, I imagine you are too busy <em>acting</em> to have time to read How to Be a Working actor. :-)</p>
<p>Everything you write is fascinating, whether or not it is personally relevant at this time. I love your posts. I’m sure your fans here are legion. Thanks.</p>
<p>I have actually read How to Be a Working Actor and I meant Mary Lynn Henry four years ago, she actually wrote some of the book. I have had seminars with her and training too. She is great and I actually just emailed her a month or two ago. I have an older version of the book and it’s great. Mary Lynn seemed too like my plans, lol. </p>
<p>hagenbuch: I’m sorry I meant to say Carnegie is not a major film acting school, lol. I do know I still have to disagree with the people above. Agents have always told me to go to LA and NY for college and then go on auditons. I was told this by A LOT by top talent agencies in the countries. It is really hard to break into the business as a teenager or child. They all told me to wait until college and it really complicated for kids under 18. I have two agents now in the Southeast and there isn’t much opportunities here. It is a place which is good to build your resume and to get experience before you go to LA or NY. It is not as competitive here at all, but the recession has hit us big. Also, CMU does have graduates who work in films after graduation. Film Acting is different than Theater though. It depends if he would like to work while in school. I think NYU would have been a fit and they actually have Stonestreet which he can do the last two years. Did he apply there? I also know agents/casting directors/actors who have told me that you don’t need to go to college to be actor. Also, I remember fishbowl told me this too. I actually am planning on going to school to be a journalist and to go on auditons in the time being. I am big on liberal arts school too. I could get training else where. I am not a huge classical actor and lots of programs are big in that. I am also a terrible dancer and singer, so Broadway would never work for me. Did he apply to some schools not for acting? It may just come down to going on auditons or having a full on conversatory. Can he wait until he graduates to do film acting? Yes, these schools do have showcases, but not until he is a senior. Programs don’t usually have training in just film acting, but training to make an actor as a whole. You need to talk to your son about this. What our his priorities in life? He needs as much experience as possible and does not have to go to college to be an actor.</p>
<p>He may also want to look at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. They do a lot of film acting and give good scholarships. They also have a summer program he may be intrested in.</p>
<p>If you want to know what my plan is, here it is:</p>
<p>I’m planning on going to an early college called Bard College at Simon’s Rock. I would skip my junior and senior year of high school. This in the Berkshires and would be planning on going to auditions in my spare time. I may have a day off such as Friday for auditions. I have family in NY which I could live in my spare time. I then would be planning on transferring to another school after two years. I may go to NYU, USC, NorthWestern and get a print journalism degree. If not going to Simon’s Rock works, I will stay in high school another year. I could then apply to Simon’s Rock again and see if I get a better scholarship or Sarah Lawrence College has an Early Admission option. Flagler College also has this option. I would like to start my acting career as sooner as possible. :)</p>
<p>Early_College…
You are right that you do not have to go to college to become a professional actor. </p>
<p>However…
IF you are going to pay to go to college and put effort into the education, then that really ought not to be the time to be trying to get work outside of college as an actor that would pull you out of college. The decision ought to be, in my opinion, to either go to college or to pursue work in the field. While a degree is not necessary to become a professional actor, it surely helps to get that kind of training, such as a BFA program will provide, in order to be a better actor. As well, the college degree itself can serve one better in life just in case, compared to having no degree. </p>
<p>One need not attend college in NYC or LA. The location of the college in terms of opportunities to get work should not be the issue. Location is a matter of personal preference of course. But the idea is that you are going there to be educated and to get training. If you just want to be in LA or NYC to try to get work and audition, it would be a LOT cheaper to move there without paying for tuition while you hit the audition circuit. Another consideration is that most BFA programs involve school all day long and strict attendance policies making it more difficult to audition outside of school even if you wanted to. There isn’t even a ton of work for actors 18-22. A 22 year old with training who can play age 19 is likely gonna be more successfully cast than an 18 year old who can play age 19 without training .</p>
<p>Schools like CMU, NCSA, Tisch, UCLA, CalArts, BU, Purchase, etc…train actors. Many of these actors do go on to work on screen. You need not attend a program specifically for screenacting.</p>
<p>Getting a degree in journalism is cool and great but if your goal is to become a professional actor, then training in acting is going to make your goal more attainable. At one extreme, you want to move to NYC or LA so you can audition and at another extreme, get a degree in journalism. A happy medium for someone who wants to be a professional actor would be to get a degree in acting and then hit the professional audition circuit. Also, IN a college program in theater, many contacts are made. Don’t discount those. My kid has made many at her college and it has led to professional work, as well as agent inquiries, and so on.</p>
<p>You don’t have to get training at a college level. There are many places where you can go for training which our just as good. You don’t have to spend all day training, but a class which is once a week is fine. I have had training and it has been great. You can major in journalism, and getting the acting training elsewhere. You will have much more time on your hands than you would with a BFA. Experience will get your farther than an actual degree it self for acting. NYC and LA is where all the film action happens. An 18 year old who has more training from studio’s and experience on the resume will be better off than going to a BFA. The more training from different studio’s the better and when you go to a BFA you don’t have that option. You usually get one view of the acting technique, except for NYU. When you have experience you will become a better actor. A degree is great, but doesn’t have to be in acting. Also, lots of actors prefer film than theater and vice versa. Some actors don’t want to do both and have a preference. </p>
<p>I could get a degree in journalism, and still get training. A degree in journalism will be a lot more flexible than having a BFA and not have time to audition. I could make money and not be dirt poor. I have known many agents who agree with myself and other actors. Many contacts are made when you train. I have made MANY MANY contacts by going to AMTC and did not go to a college. I haven’t had one agent tell me to go to college for acting. They all say experience is the key and that itself will get you farther in life. You train by being with the professionals and being in a movie. I am not the only one who has this view point.</p>
<p>You talk of experience and what you don’t seem to understand is that you gain experience while in college. Do you think you JUST train in a college acting program? Not only do you train a LOT more than one class per week (which you talk about doing) and training is definitely a a big plus for an actor…but you are in production work gaining experience as an actor…both in school productions and outside productions and summers. My kid is about to graduate college and while she had a very long resume before she entered college, she has replaced those credits with experiences from the past four years while in college. Trust me, you gain experience when you study acting in college. Your comparison of an 18 year old with experience on the resume with someone getting a BFA is way off the mark. You think the 18 year old has more experience? I have to tell you that those in my D’s college program, had the full resume of experience before college and now have MORE experience after four years of college. Do you think they stop gaining acting experience while in college? To the contrary, they gain MORE! College involves both training and experience. Also, many who are in college BFA gain additional experiences over the summers. </p>
<p>Nobody needs time to audition while in college. If you are in college to gain experience and training, being able to audition for work outside of college is irrelevant. My kid is in NYC and even had an agent there before she got to college but CHOSE to not audition for anything that would take her out of college. She is there to get her education. If ahe was in NYC to get work, we could have saved on tuition and had her just audition. Now, as she graduates at age 20, she has far more training and far more experience, including professional (though she had professional experience prior to college as well) that will make her more ready to be cast than had she not done all this. </p>
<p>A reputable agent is not going to tell someone to not go to college. They will value the training and the experience that such a person will attain. Why do you think that agents attend college showcases? Because they know there is a lot of trained and eexperienced talent at these showcases. </p>
<p>Please do not think that by going to college, you don’t have experience! I would challenge you put the resume of some of these kids who are graduating from BFA programs next to someone who is 18 any day. If my kid listed all her experience, it would take up a few pages. She has to continually drop credits to make room for new ones. Those in college BFA programs are not lacking in experience!</p>
<p>I never said you don’t get experience from college. But it’s not the same experience that I’m talking about. You need experience in the business, like working in a movie or guess staring on a TV show. You get experience by being an extra and seeing famous actors around you. The person may have more experience as in training, but someone else may have more experience in the field itself. It is not irrelevant to audition, but makes your resume better. You also need to have the right look and it’s all about luck. </p>
<p>The agents didn’t tell me not to go to college. The agents never mentioned that I should college for acting. Why do you think many agents attend AMTC? They know that we have had a year of training and I know a lot of people who are very successful now. I can tell you more agents attend AMTC than a college showcase. Also, it is a lot less money and I think it is just as good. I feel like your not reading my posts and you don’t see my point. Experience in movies is better than a kid who has a BFA in acting. Lets see how many of those kids actually made it? And yes they could have got a degree in another field. Training is not the actual world, trust me. They help you become a better actor, not have experience in the field. I don’t think a BFA student can tell me how a day is like on set for a movie. There is more than one way of becoming an actor, which you don’t seem to understand and seems like your ignoring other ways you can get into the business. I’m not trying to be rude, but it’s frustrating to me that you won’t listen. You may get experience in a play, but you can be in a play anywhere. Theater isn’t the same as film acting at all. I don’t think the students will have experience in film acting. I think it is different of how you get into film acting than Theater.</p>
<p>You are missing my point, I think. The experience I am talking about during four years of college is not JUST training. While in college, you can be in plays/dramas, new works, films, and so on IN school, as well as outside of school, and in summers. It is not like if you go to college, you don’t gain experience. And the experience I am talking about is far better than being an “extra” on a film. </p>
<p>Where did you get that more agents attend the AMTC convention than a college showcase? Come again? I can assure you that agents and casting directors are attending the showcases from well regarded BFA programs. My kid was just in one. She has responses from various agents from it. Also, look at WHICH agents attend. There is some difference in that regard. </p>
<p>Now, you are asking how many kids made it from a BFA in acting program? As you know, this is a very difficult field. Many will not make it. But the same can be said about someone with no degree in the field or no college. Very few make it even from that pile as well. </p>
<p>College students can be in films by the way. They can be in student films or films in the industry as time allows, including in summers. A college student can gain BOTH training and experience…and both are important. </p>
<p>If you wish to pursue film acting without a degree in acting, that is cool. It would make sense to just go for it and take some classes and not bother with college at all. Why bother to study journalism? That will not only use up plenty of time (college is nothing like high school) and you won’t be able to do work like you are talking about doing. Or you will be pulled out of school and lose your tuition. Why bother to go to college if all you want to do is audition and get work? Move to LA and do it then. </p>
<p>Your opinion that AMTC convention is just as good as a college degree in acting says a lot. They are not comparable.</p>
<p>I truly welcome your opinions, early_college. We come from different perspectives and that is totally fine. Your perspective is one of a 15 year old actor and I respect that. My perspective is simply different, not better or more right. Mine is from the vantage point as a parent of a 20 year old actor who has been in the field her entire life, has auditioned in NYC, has had an agent, has worked professionally, and is finishing up her BFA degree program and meeting with agents and about to hit the audition circuit. As well, I am a college counselor who advises students applying to college with an additional specialty/expertise in theater and musical theater college admissions. We simply have different vantage points. That’s OK!</p>
<p>By the way, you can be in a BFA in Acting program and still be in movies or guest starring on TV. My D has good friends at her college who have done just that. Some are well known actors and some are not. But they all value being in their BFA Acting program.</p>
<p>I think you were missing my point and not going to say it again, lol. AMTC had very reputable agents just to let you know. Mary Lynn Henry (How To Be A Working Actor) and a lot of other great people. I realize I can’t say anything about Tisch’s showcase, since I have never been to one. But you cannot say anything about AMTC, since you never have been to one. You don’t know if their comparable, because you have no idea what kind of training you get. AMTC and Tisch are way different and are for different people. I shouldn’t have compared them. Though, someone from Tisch may benefit from AMTC if the showcase doesn’t get them an agent. I don’t know about all the training at Tisch, and you don’t know all about the training of AMTC. . I hope you see my point, :)</p>
<p>You sound like a stage mom to me, no offense lol. I mean my parents have never be that involved with my career and I like that. If you like it, then that’s great. I can see you like helping your daughter. Agents tend to not like stage parents, no offense. I don’t know if you are one, but it seems like you are very involved. I also had to tell you something which I probably never mentioned. I actually want to be an print journalist and an actor. I may even like screenwriting, too. I love both of them and their both my passions. Acting has been my first passion since I was 6. Which ever career I end up with will be meant to be. God knows which pathway is for me, but I want to do both of them. I could just do some freelance journalism and that’s find with me. I may like to write a book too. I may just want to go on auditions in the mean time and that’s why I really want to double major. I think if I go to Simon’s Rock, I think NorthWestern may be a good option to transfer. They have a four year plan to get an BA/MA in journalism and I could get my BA in acting. I would be 22 and have 2 BA’s and one MA. I really do respect your opinion, but we’ve gotten really off topic here. I think that always happens, lol. :)</p>
<p>NJTheatreMom,
Awww thanks. I don’t have time for much of this anymore, but I don’t mind sticking my head in once in awhile if I have a spare moment and see something I think I can help with.</p>
<p>early_college,
That depends on what kind of actor you want to be. Shannon Elizabeth or Cate Blanchett? Pick your poison! 
Those are extremes, of course, and many would die to be in Shannon’s shoes, but I think you get my drift … Actually, the better non-scholastic studios meet several times a week and the best they usually come up with are people who are very good at playing themselves which is usually enough for TV and Film if you have a camera-friendly look. The question then becomes whether or not you’d be satisfied with that as an artist. Wanna just play to type your whole life? I wouldn’t, but who am I to judge? The fact is that there are entire universes of creativity that you couldn’t even begin to explore without the total immersion offered by a quality BFA or MFA unless you’re some kind of true genius prodigy like Ben Kingsley and yes indeed it can apply to film. Is it completely necessary to work? No. Is it useful? You bet it is. </p>
<p>
WRONG. Most of the better BFAs train you in many techniques and help you to build your own way of working. You’d be traipsing all over NY or LA for many years to get the equivalent of the first year at most of them. I’m sure as hell no devotee of any dead guru … You seem to be primarily fixated on an “acting technique,” too, and don’t seem to understand the value of all the voice, movement, and text training offered. That stuff takes A LOT of time and it definitely does make you a better actor. That’s not even including the fact that the people you’ll be working with in a good BFA are actually talented and the pace will naturally be faster than at some place that is entirely for profit and they let in just about anyone who can afford to attend. Individual attention is a big factor, too. At a lot of the “name” studios, they’ve gotten greedy and there will be so many students in your class that you won’t actually get to do much scene work in front of the teacher … if you even get to see the “name” teacher before you’ve already been going there a year or more.</p>
<p>
Extra work might be worth doing once or twice to get a lay of the land, but you can’t even use it on your resume. It’s considered VERY unprofessional and getting vouchers isn’t a good way to go for SAG membership anymore. These days you need to either get in via Taft-Hartley or from doing AFTRA work because the union extras usually do show up due to the state of the economy leaving no vouchers to give out. </p>
<p>
Some of my classmates who have experience playing supporting roles in big budget films and guest roles on TV shows like “Law and Order” (mad residuals) could tell you all about it. Pretty boring for the most part until you get to the part where you get to act … My own experience is in student film right now, but I’ll be able to tell you a lot more by midsummer. B.o.o.k.e.d :)</p>
<p>Soozievt,
We’re talking thousands versus HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS if you want to play percentages …</p>
<p>And AMTC? Isn’t that the Millie Lewis thing? Nuff said … LOL</p>
<p>Isn’t AMTC a for profit talent competition event? It just is not comparable to college. </p>
<p>Also, early_college…you attended AMTC when? last year? after 8th grade? I know I mentioned this to you in another thread, but getting an agent as a child is not the same as getting one at age 22. A child can procure an agent more easily with less experience and training. At 22, you better have had training and experience and exposure. Also, getting an agent in GA or FL is not like getting one in NYC or LA. An agent for modeling and commercial work is also very different from securing an agent for legit work (stage/TV/film). </p>
<p>Being an extra in a film, while a neat experience to observe the whole scene (no pun intended) is not even a credit you can put on a resume. Often commercials are not listed individually on a legit actor’s resume. </p>
<p>Early_college…I don’t mind if you call me a stagemom, but I will tell you that you are reading certain things into my posts. While I am a parent of a child who has been in theater her entire life…from age 4 to 20, I also advise students seeking college theater degree programs. Thus, I am posting here to be helpful. I have some knowledge in this area. I originally was trying to help you, a young person for these forums as you are a ninth grader, and you mentioned trying to graduate high school early or go to college early. As I posted ot you a while back, my own child graduated HS at age 16 and has been on her own in college in NYC since then. I hardly run her life and she is very independent. I have learned a lot through her experiences but she is more konwledgeable than I am about the field. Anyway, I also am advising a student this year who is an applicant to BFA programs who is graduating HS a year early. So, I thought I was trying to help you with some advice. You have mentioned possible paths you may seek and I am advising you a bit on what I know, for what it is worth.</p>
<p>If you truly wish to just go audition, take some acting classes and get work, then no need to go to college. If you want excellent acting training, a college acting program is one of the best avenues you can seek. You mention many times that you just want to get your career going faster. The best way to get your career going is to gain a lot of experience and much training and you will be able to compete. You could hit auditions at age 17 after getting out of HS early and hope for the best. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>One more thing…I enjoy the many perspectives on the forum of people from many backgrounds and levels of experience and many ages. Usually, most students come to CC around junior year of HS. It is great that you are starting to think about it all already as a high school freshman. But it is more typical of someone your age to be asking for advice, rather than giving it, particularly to high school seniors, college students, and their parents. Right now, most in that category have more experience than you and so it is a good idea to glean as much information as you can and then in a few years, after you have been through this process, stay on CC and help some high school underclassmen with what you have learned.</p>
<p>Sorry to the OP as the thread has gotten off track. You were asking, as a parent, which of those four schools were good for film acting…and the thread when off track when one reply talked about which school would be possible for your son to audition outside of school which is not the main aim of many, even if it was of the teenager who replied to your post. </p>
<p>If your son can examine the curriculum of each of those schools, the production opportunities and ones to be in films at school and/or off campus, and talk to those in the programs, it would help a lot. My personal view is that any great acting program will be good preparation for your son to pursue an acting career on screen. Those are four excellent options he has! Congrats to him on his admissions achievement.</p>
<p>For early_college, who is suggesting other schools or no college at all to the OP…the OP’s son has been accepted to four of the most regarded acting programs in the country. He is not looking for another school and is not wanting to skip college. The fact is…young actors are clamoring to get into these four schools and several others of this caliber for acting for a reason…they are extremely selective for a reason…because they offer excellent training and reputation and those who attend have a strong chance of success. If that were not the case, it would not be so difficult to be admitted to such programs. :D</p>
<p>I know calarts has great film opportunities… At CMU I asked about film opportunities when I visited and they said WORD FOR WORD: “DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU WANT TO DO FILM. OF COURSE, SOME OF OUR GRADS ARE INVOLVED IN FILM BUT WE DO NOT TRAIN FILM ACTORS. WE ARE SOLELY A THEATRICAL CONSERVATORY. WE OFFER 1 ACTING FOR CAMERA CLASS FOR PART OF THE SENIOR YEAR. THAT IS ALL.” That came right from a member of the faculty.</p>