Given that there seem to be more employment opportunities in TV and film than on the stage, why are the acting schools putting the vast majority of emphasis on theatrical acting?
I’ve asked one of my acting teachers if theatrical training adequately prepares a person for film acting or not, and his response was, “Absolutely.” He went on to say that a background in theatre can only enhance your talent and presence on film. Theatre teaches you how to use your body and your voice. Film doesn’t require as much bodily expression or as much vocal projection, but if you know how to use your body on a larger scale, it is so much easier to turn it down than it is to try and turn it up when it isn’t there. I guess it can go back to the Terrence Mann quote, “Movies will make you famous; Television will make you rich; But theatre will make you good.”
I keep hearing that, about theatrical training as prep for film also, but I am skeptical. It is theater people who usually say it, not film people.
@prodesse I can’t find the article, but there was one circulating that talked about how the majority (if not all) of the oscar-nominated actors this year started in Theater and trained in Theater. I’d say that it’s a lot easier to be trained in Theater and accommodate a camera than to be trained for a camera and accommodate a stage. You can also go back to the “greatest” actors of all time, and see most of them started in the theater. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Patrick Stewart, Ian Mckellen, Ben Kingsley, so on and so forth. I think it was Guthrie who said that “If you can do Shakespeare, you can probably do a toothpaste commercial.”
It was a successful film actor with nearly 20 years in Hollywood that strongly encouraged my child to enroll in a BFA Acting program or an established conservatory program before coming to LA. Her experience is acting weather it is on film, TV or stage is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding and good “theatrical” training is a must.
I agree that one’s foundation in acting is best rooted on the stage for a lot of reasons. OTOH, there are significant differences between stage and screen that need to be learned and most American schools do a pretty sorry job of teaching them. This is why there is the LA cliche of “the clueless actor with a lot of theatre training” and many producers are very squeamish about being the first to hire an actor straight out of school.
The British drama schools which always seem to be a step or two ahead of ours have picked up on this and begun introducing proper camera and mic technique much earlier in the training - some as early as first year. I feel the American schools would be well-served by following suit. But in the meantime, most new graduates had best plan to enroll in one of the reputable on-camera studios or “finishing schools” when they move to LA or NYC if they want to pursue work in film, tv, or commercials. In fact, a lot of LA agents who have signed new talent from showcases insist that they attend one where they have a relationship with the teacher so as to keep tabs on the new client’s progress before they’ll begin submitting them.
This could actually turn into one of my epic posts of yesteryear, so I’ll just recommend that anyone who wants a very basic primer on the differences between stage and screen read Secrets of Screen Acting by British director Patrick Tucker who ironically teaches a class in first folio to the UM/Guthrie kids when they are in London.
Are there any other ways to get the film training other than waiting until after graduation? Are there any summer programs that specialize in this? Thanks for the information @fishbowlfreshman it really helps. My son who is at MMC for BFA Acting is currently cast in a student’s capstone film. Are these things helpful? Any information is appreciated.
@fishbowlfreshman and thanks for the tip on the book. I just ordered it for my son.
@cjenny2 , that’s an excellent example of why I am concerned. Wouldn’t it be helpful both to the film students and the acting students, for them to learn about film acting early in their training, not just one class in senior year? That presumably would make the student filmmakers’ projects better, and would also improve the actors’ reels.
@cjenny2 I don’t know about summer programs, but he could go to LA or NYC for a summer and take classes. Some of the usual suspects in LA that agents send people to are Lesly Kahn, Stan Kirsch, John Rosenfeld, Billy O’Leary, Jenn Krater, and Margie Haber. I started in NYC and my agent set me up with some privates with the genius known as Bob Krakower who also teaches a very popular workshop at One on One. Another name I’ve heard is Matt Newton who might be easier to get in with since Bob’s workshops seem to be booked up months in advance.
Student films are great as a way to get some experience and reel material, but they’re just that - STUDENT films and the people you’re working with are still finding their way themselves so it won’t necessarily reflect what you’ll encounter on a professional set.
Yes, I have always thought that it would make sense to have the film and acting programs work together. I know that there are some major differences in stage and film acting. It just seems that good solid instruction in both types of performance should be part of a BFA Acting program.
What other programs do you recommend in NYC, Fish?
Thanks @fishbowlfreshman I will look into these. Very helpful!
My son’s college has a well-regarded film school, so there really is no excuse not to integrate the training for the Acting BFAs, just as they do with MT and their music school. It seems to be a weak spot in many programs, not just his.
I wonder why the UK schools do a better job in this area?
Observations from flyover country:
I’ve heard that Green Room Studios is quite good for acting for camera classes in Chicago. http://www.thegreenroomstudio.tv/
Acting Studio Chicago also has some on camera classes
http://www.actingstudiochicago.com/schedule.html
S’s school (CCPA Roosevelt) has, I believe, two semesters of on camera training senior year.
My sense is that while Chicago has some film and television (Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Empire) but is still primarily a theater town
NYU teams up with Stonestreet Screenacting Workshop for their upper level students. It is also an option for high school students that what to attend NYU’s TSOA summer high school program. My child did it last year and LOVED it. Stonestreet is available as a stand alone program too.
I wonder if there are any good ones in the DC area (with good training PLUS résumé appeal)? Probably not.
Theatre Lab has one, but might be worth it to take the train up to NYC.
http://culturecapital.com/event/36361/intro-to-acting-for-the-camera-six-sessions-tuesdays
Fishbowlfreshman, Thank you for the very helpful information on acting teachers in LA. My S graduated with a BFA from one of the East Coast programs last year and after living in NYC for a bit, including helping to produce a play he wrote, he moved to LA about 7 weeks ago. He had completed a number of levels at Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC and is taking an upper level course at UCB’s LA outlet. While in college he spent a summer in LA taking acting for the camera classes. He has an agent and has been going to auditions. Because he has been there such a short time, he hasn’t had much acting work as yet, other than a voiceover job. He also is a writer and has written several scripts and specs, including a script that he and others recently made into a short film. He is SAG eligible but has not yet joined the union. He has a survival job that seems to work well with his schedule so that he can attend auditions and write. I would greatly appreciate your advice on what he might be able to do to jump start his career as an actor. Are there groups he should join? Should he sign up for a class with one of the folks you had suggested in the post above? Are there other things that he could do to help him “break into” the business?