Hey everyone I took a very cool acting class and thought I'd share my experience since it was
different than most of the classes I know about. After years of going to scene study classes, I really think this class was pretty effective for
what actor folks really need to do: book the job.
We all know the actor, who in scene study class,
in front of his fellow actors,
can feign his best imitation of Brando in Streetcar Named Desire, but can he book Heroes? I mean that's why you are in Los Angeles right?
It's kind of great because it simulates the actual process that
you experience when you go out for auditions for film and TV. I think scene study class is great if you need to
learn your craft, you're a newbie or
just want to work out, but if you need
to merge your magnificent talent with a booking technique that will
help you kick your career up a notch, this is a pretty cool place.
Basically, in
the first class, you are greeted
warmly by the teacher and she gives you her guideline to her technique. Then you join the other folks as you are all
given hand-picked sides for your type.
All the sides are actual copy from actual auditions.
Now you go outside,
apply her techniques and come back in and audition. Afterward she tells you if you would've
gotten the callback or booked it based on your performance and often if it is
just not up-to-par at all, she sends
you out to work on it, back to
square one.
I know some of the other actors in the class and most are
talented working actors. Personally, I wish I had it in my early days. Performing
for Pete, your pet Parrot in your
living room is good practice but nobody will ever see your work. You need to
book! But the truth is,
you are no less of an actor if you perform Shakespeare in Demoines or a short
film in San Diego, work is work,
just a whole lot less people know how good you are.
A career is a series of strategic choices, which one you make is completely personal and up
to you. It's hard to figure out what to do on the road less traveled but I think
actors forget that it takes many tools,
not just talent; it takes business acumen,
booking skills and actual acting technique to shape a career. Don't forget that "the audition" is a completely different animal.
So keep working on it. Maybe I will see you on the big
screen, hopefully sooner rather than
later!
What good is it if you are an Olivier, for instance,
if no one is there to see you do your thing?
What's the adage? If a tree falls
in the forest and no one is there to hear it...
-- Heather Langone
Comments