Wow this place has CHANGED so much haha. Legit got home from a late shift at work and decided to poke around on CC for the first time in years. I know this thread is from WAY earlier this year, but I figured I could throw in some other stuff as another working actor/theater graduate.
Most of you won’t know who I am as I’ve been largely absent, so just a quick intro before I head into what I have to say. As my name suggests, I am a 2014er…I specifically went to the UMN/Guthrie program thinking I’d be a NY/regional theater actor spouting iambic pentameter my whole life. Then I realized, well, most theater goers don’t exactly look like me. I became very disillusioned with theater (that isn’t to say I still have a deep respect and love for it) and headed to Hollywood immediately post grad as talks about diversity made me feel I finally could dream of getting work in film and tv. What followed was a wild 4 years. I had a manager die. And no one wanted to take a chance on me after because I was too “niche” and developmental. I nearly broke myself working 50 hrs a week in a restaurant even though I technically had help coming in from my parents. I almost quit to transition into public service. Then miraculously, I began booking about a year ago. Let’s say I’ve booked close to 1 of 3 film/tv auditions this year that includes a couple recurrings and another chunky guest star…so I feel confident finally in saying I’m a legitimate working TV/Film actress with a stage background.
To echo @fishbowlfreshman, the BEST school you can go to for screen acting is the one that will teach YOU how to act. The point of drama school is to give you the foundation and the legs to build upon after - be it through working or studying at a private studio, or both. A good drama school will push you and surround you with other top notch talent. I even argue the positive points of a program with a diverse student body as it will challenge you as a person which ultimately will lead to more nuance in how you approach a script and character.
College level training is just foundational. It lays the groundwork. Do not expect it to be the end all and be all. Most programs that include on cam classes are not going to really teach you how to work/audition in the competitive markets like LA and NYC. The best on cam acting classes are largely at private studios in a major market as they are a lot more sensitive to the trends of projects etc. And at least in LA, you will need to take them if you choose to pursue film and tv here. I take note of all the training programs of the actors I meet. Any actor in LA from one of those programs you listed who didn’t strike gold upon graduation and doesn’t prioritize additional training is likely not working. I’ve pretty much turned into a broken record this year saying “just because you’re working doesn’t actually mean you’re good or not getting worse on the job.”
There are different routes to a film/tv career. Me and another girl in my BFA class have been working consistently this year in TV. I got there by going to LA, swallowing my pride and basically starting over as only old school theater people in LA know the Guthrie name. The other girl has been based in NYC since 2015 and largely worked in regional and NY Equity theater–working in a Drama Desk nominated show I’m certain led to her getting her first series regular role. What we had in common was a strong foundation…and I’m not trying to even wax lyrical on my program cause I personally HATED it and had to work extremely hard to feel like a good actor after I graduated (that isn’t to say it wasn’t a good place for other people). I wouldn’t take it back though. Being able to navigate Shakespeare made it very easy to learn how to navigate multi cam comedy and Sorkin.
There are obviously many paths to a screen acting career. But in college, just focus on the learning to act and learning about yourself. The other stuff will come easily if you have a good strong base. The business stuff can only truly be grasped by living in a hub bub of a film/tv market. If anything, start watching as much current film, tv, and new media when you can in school so you start to get a real understanding of the ever-evolving landscape.