The Acting Blog

I don’t trust Acting Schools

For Joanne:

I don’t trust acting schools.

There, I said it.   Now I’m going to get some abuse.  I don’t trust Acting Schools.  Not the real ones, not the accredited ones, not the universities pretending to be ones, not the colleges desperately trying to be ones, not the small independent studios, not the large commercial ‘theatre’ schools that warehouse kids and offer them singing, dancing and acting,  I don’t trust them.  I’m not saying they’re bad, well, perhaps I’m inferring something about that, but what I’m saying is that I don’t trust them.

I don’t trust their programmes, their curriculum, their staff. I don’t trust their games, their exercises, their techniques, approaches, methodologies, systems, ‘ways’, means and motivations.  I don’t trust what they teach or what they say.  I’m not saying it’s wrong, bad, evil, wicked or deceptive,  I’m saying I don’t trust it.  Have I been to these schools, conservatories and universities, these studios, workshops, seminars and lectures?  Yes I have.  I have heard academics spouting theory about practice they’ve never experienced, I’ve heard acting gurus being economical with the truth, I’ve heard acting teachers berating students that don’t get ‘it’, when there wasn’t really ‘anything’ to get.  I don’t trust them.  It’s too easy to make money off aspiring people.  Drama courses are resource hungry, institutions dislike them for THAT very reason, but they also like the fact that they attract high fees and as many applicants as they can allow.  Drama courses are even worse, if you think I don’t TRUST acting schools, I’m downright hostile about drama courses.

Now wait a minute Mark, you have an acting school.  Are you saying we shouldn’t trust you either?  As a matter fact, as a matter of principle, I say NO, don’t.  Be skeptical. I believe that we teach at Acting Coach Scotland, is sound, practicable approaches to acting for the acting industry.  But I’d say that even if I was a charlatan now wouldn’t I?  I’d bamboozle you with fancy terms, I’d show you the fantastic facilities and make you feel that ONLY THE CHOSEN ONES can come in. That’ll make you feel special and you’ll feel indebted to them for giving you a place.  Perhaps you don’t need them, did you ever think of that?  Perhaps you can do it without them.  Oh Mark, you’re so irresponsible, fancy suggesting such a thing.

The proof of the pudding’s in the eating and most schools leaving you feeling empty and then you feel bad for pigging out on junk.  Don’t trust ANY acting school, don’t hand over large sums of money, don’t play the game.  Hold back.  You’re the customer.  You’re the client.  Wait.  Look.  Listen.  Examine.

If Such and Such a famous actor went there, it MUST be a good school.  Only if you believe that the famous actor had not gift for acting before they got into the school.

Who is that the Acting School lets in?  Those they feel already possess those capabilities and abilities that three or four years slog won’t discourage or destroy.

The acting schools rarely teach anything that works.  So don’t trust them.  And when you find one that works, that REALLY works for you, not something you guiltily comply with.  Then stick with it.

But don’t trust them and don’t give up your common sense.  No one said being an actor meant being a schmuck.

I don’t trust them.  You shouldn’t either.

To You, The Best!

Mark Westbrook is a Professional Acting Coach and runs Acting Coach Scotland, a private acting studio offering acting classes in Glasgow, masterclasses, workshops and audition coaching for actors at all levels. His acting studio is based in Glasgow, Scotland, although he teaches all across the United Kingdom. All Blog Posts © Mark Westbrook 2009

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