ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years ago - Joshua Kahan

I would have loved to have studied acting more, but it's expensive. I read a ton of books instead. It would be cool to set up a regular event for actors/performers on SP who are skint and want to try stuff out new and practice with others regularly, share knowledge, etc.

11 years ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

I went to drama college (the Royal Welsh in Cardiff) before going on to film school (LFS) and then joined an improvisation club in London (run by staff at JWT) which I recommend for writers, which is what you're actually doing when creating dialogue. BUT I also did amdram which I strongly recommend. Many "professionals", ie been to drama college, poo-poo them as a bunch of amateurs, (and that was a great film!) but don't - many are great actors but simply prefer a "proper" day job. You'll make friends and have great experience treading the boards with a real audience! There are many around in most areas. Enjoy!

11 years ago - Grace Williams

I am always asking myself this. I'm really glad I went to uni and also that i've actually got some life experience. I am starting to wonder now if location and who you know (networking) are actually more valuable than any training. I live in Bath/Bristol area and finding it very difficult to get work because of my location - even though I have an agent, spotlight profile, training, experience etc. I do wonder if I had gone to drama school if my career would have turned out differently so far...

11 years ago - Fiona Rodrigo

Hi there if you have a moment google an article written by Dee Cannon about finding the character and use of technique. I think it was for one of the newspapers. There are particularly useful points about training and why it's necessary. I totally agree that everyone's path is different but I do think there are some things you can't escape! I hope it's useful.x

11 years, 2 months ago - Alessia Gotti

I TRAIN AT http://www.melbourneactingstudio.com/ its amazing! I am looking for a one year school and would love a feedback for any ex aloumni at Fourth Monkey Theatre Company: bit.ly/1koIcqL the one year ??!

11 years ago - D. James Newton

In my opinion (I went to drama school), experience is everything and for some people experience is what drama school gives them.

Others can find the same varied experience elsewhere and much of what is taught at drama school is redundant to them.

Yes it's nice to float about being a drama student for 2-3yrs but what will give you a job is experience and contacts.

Again drama School can be useful in getting contacts, as you have an end of year show in front of agents - but you can have the same level of success by being in a fringe production and inviting the industry along.

A popular misconception is that drama school will teach you to act. It won't. They can't. You either can or you can't act. Some actors will be better than others and it is possible to improve - but I don't see too many actors moving across the threshold of being unable to act and then becoming very good...it doesn't happen. You can be poor at it and become very good. But the distinction here is that you are not one of the 'unable to act' people.

Drama School is one of the (several) gateways to the industry. It filters out those who cannot, from those that have potential. After drama school - agents become the next gateway - I know that if an agent sends an actor along to one of my castings, they are going to be able to act. They may not be right for what I'm looking for but they can certainly act.
Maybe I've been lucky but I've yet to see an actor with an agent who cannot act.
Getting someone from Castingcall or Starnow - is an altogether different ballgame and the flip side seems to be true.
As a director I'm often asked to do actor workshops where I help actors get a better understanding of their craft and know what it's like to go on set and 'turn it on'. Again my experience as a 'young actor' in TV & theatre is combined with my experience as a director to help actors shortcut the process.
I teach something called 'actioning' and this is such a successful method that I can use it with actors and non-actors and get desirable results.
I've even used it with Bill Gates in the past to get a 'performance' from a speech he delivered.

To sum up: a drama school will give you experience and contacts (and credibility).
A non-drama school route and you'll have to work harder at getting your own experience and contacts.

You can learn about Actioning here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Actions-Actors-Thesaurus-Terry-Johnson/dp/1854596748/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407243836&sr=8-1&keywords=actors+thesaurus

(This has nothing to do with me - it's just the reference guide I use)