<p>The</a> Top 25 Drama Schools in the World - The Hollywood Reporter</p>
<p>Fordham Should be there. With grads like Denzel Washington and Patricia Clarkson, and the level of work and talent that is produced in that program, as well as its prestigious location, there’s no way it shouldn’t have made the list.</p>
<p>Boston University should also be there.</p>
<p>All the actors listed who studied at the British schools are British. Is the charm of being British the reason Hollywood likes to hire actors out of these schools. If so,
where does it leave the Americans who trained there.</p>
<p>Ithaca should be there.</p>
<p>Wow, some of those are really bizarre. Harvard?!?!</p>
<p>I don’t think it was sensible to group undergrad programs with MFAs either.</p>
<p>Prodesse,</p>
<p>The sad thing about this is that the in crowd like us on CC may know the truth behind how off center this list really is, but the uneducated powers that be in Hollywood gets a hold of a list like this and it becomes their truth. </p>
<p>Case and point, when I asked my sons manager his thoughts on acting programs for my son he said he should go to Yale. I had to inform him that his idea of Yale was for their MFA not undergrad degree. To him Yale’s name in theater was all he thought of. Now in context this is a guy who reps Emmy winners and is a savvy. He is just mislead by write ups like this taken out context and as truth.</p>
<p>I would like to know the criteria that was used. I just read the list to my daughter and she asked about several schools that were not on the list. Also- some programs that used to be power houses may not be anymore and some up and coming programs may not be recognized.</p>
<p>Harvard has an MFA program in relationship with A.R.T</p>
<p>Just for the record, The Actor’s Studio was at The New School before Pace, and was not at Pace when Brando and Nicholson attended. And like Yale, it is an MFA program.</p>
<p>I think the reason the British actors are the only ones mentioned from the UK schools is that nearly all the actors cited here are older established actors who went in the 1980s. Americans didn’t go at that time. I honestly think the UK schools provide excellent training and that is another reason they’re being hired. For instance, if you saw Star Trek, I think Benedict Cumberpatch’s performance outshone the other actors’, fine as they were; in my opinion, he had more control of his voice and body and his performance had more nuance (he is a grad of LAMDA). This is obviously my opinion and not meant to dis many fine American schools–more to highlight that UK schools do train well and this is probably part of the reason they are hiring increasingly out of these schools. I’ve noticed a much larger presence of UK grads on B’way too. </p>
<p>But on the other hand, these lists are skewed and weird–Harvard and Yale and Brown are the weirdest, imo. First, to mix MFAs with BFAs/BAs is silly. THere are some very excellent MFAs they dont’ list at all. Yale’s is the MFA, Harvard’s MFA is great but not as good as some other very fine MFAs they don’t list, and Brown is just an Ivy. But you’re right that these lists are influential even though they can be wrong. Also the biggest thing is that schools are riding in part on reputations built sometimes decades ago. I mean, who knows what criteria they used? US News publishes these sorts of lists for all colleges and their criteria can be really terrible, but people can take it really seriously. Sort of signs of the times…</p>
<p>I believe that Brown has a connection with the MFA training program at Trinity Rep. in Providence.</p>
<p>All of the listed schools offer strong training (often at the MFA level). There are also schools not on the list that offer strong training. </p>
<p>It is just a list. Not really a big deal. </p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>The big deal part and concern that I have about this list is that it is representative of the feelings in Hollywood, skewed as it is. At the end of the day those feeling count when your sitting across people who hire actors.</p>
<p>I know nothing about the theater world so maybe the powers that be in that part of the biz are less influenced by what they read in the trades.</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t worry about it being representative of anything more than the feelings of Tim Appelo. I agree with Kat, it’s not really a big deal.</p>
<p>For the people who hire actors what counts is what they see the actor do in the audition room/ whether the actor has “the look” they want for the role.<br>
:)</p>
<p>KatMT,</p>
<p>That’s very good in theory but I’ve seen so many other factors play into casting and think it is not unlikely that where an actor went to school could influence people. Lists like this just reinforce the fact that Hollywood looks at what is hot, be it schools or actors.</p>
<p>Of course other factors play into casting… and, yes where you went to school (if you went to school… many actors do not) can influence some people. Most often if the casting people have some sort of personal connection to a particular school. </p>
<p>This is similar in many industries, not just acting. </p>
<p>This list discusses some strong programs. There are actors from these programs that are very “successful”… there are actors from these programs who are less “successful.” There are actors from other programs (or who did not go to school at all) who are very “successful.” There are actors from other programs (or did not go to school at all) who are not very “successful.” </p>
<p>Thanks for posting the article. It was interesting reading. :)</p>
<p>First, it’s getting into the door that’s so hard. You can do a cattle call but your chances are way lower than if you have a reputable agent. Second, sadly it’s not enough to have the right looks and gobs of talent. There are so many talented people out there with the right looks. Casting directors and directors are only human and, just as in any job, connections and reputation definitely matter, both in getting to be seen and in landing the job.</p>
<p>I think what Shacherry is saying is that fair or not fair, silly or unscientific or whatever, these lists matter, especially if you want to be in film/TV. They may be silly and wrong, but they matter. It’s just good info to have, especially if you are considering where to apply and how to choose between two programs. It’s more info, which is always good. </p>
<p>It doesn’t mean that you can’t be a successful actor if you don’t go to these schools or you will be a successful actor by going to these schools. But it’s all a business and it’s always good to be aware of any info there is. THere are agents & casting people who read this lists. Of course you can be extremely successful never going to college-but then this is called “College Confidential” so most of us feel that you increase your odds by going to college. This isn’t to say that you will succeed if you do or fail if you don’t; but it’s good to know. This list, silly as it can be, is one more thing that is good to know especially if you are considering your options and strategy. If your school isn’t on the list and you’re there and loving it, that’s fabulous. IT’s more for people who are going to apply. THey can choose to ignore it, of course–just as people choose to ignore US News’s list and are wildly successful. But people do pay attention to the lists, sad as that commentary on our society is.</p>
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And Brando and Nicholson didn’t even study there to any great extent although they were/are lifetime members which is a different matter. Brando was Stella Adler’s boy and Nicholson’s main teacher was Michael Chekhov. Then, a lot of the “alumni” mentioned didn’t actually finish the programs. Like they quote Kevin Spacey when he actually dropped out of Juilliard after second year and Robin Williams dropped out, too, although he donates a full scholarship. Let’s see … Jada Pinkett Smith dropped out of UNCSA. Meh … I don’t feel like looking up the rest.<br>
MFAs from ACT and Yale. And Alan Alda majored in English …
That along with the absence of UM Guthrie is the big head scratcher for me as it was last year. I wonder when they lost their “heat” if they indeed did. Guthrie is more understandable since they’ve only been around about a decade and don’t do a showcase.<br>
Most of the UK schools only recently began admitting Americans into the three year programs so there’s not a big enough group to tell much at this point. I do know an American RADA grad in New York and she’s had a tough time of it. Amazing actress, but she’s of more of a type that most likely won’t come into her own 'til she’s in her 30s.<br>
The truth of the matter is that nobody in Hollywood really cares unless it’s Juilliard or Yale. Agents and managers can use your school name to pitch you, but it really doesn’t carry much weight although it certainly helps if the casting director remembers you from your showcase. But, yeah … It’s just a list like alwaysamom and KatMT said and notice that it differs a bit from last year’s. Most people on the business side will just look it over, go “Huh” and move on … </p>
<p>Oh, and just as a little reality check, I asked the agent on Backstage about his thoughts on this year’s showcases noting that I thought it looked like a good year for young leading man types just based on the websites. His reply …
</p>
<p>Fish,</p>
<p>What’s the total number of students being seen in showcases? Any idea how many are left without agents and what do they do then? Would trying to land an agent before the showcase be a smart move if your in a market that is close to agencies?</p>