This short guide was created to help you understand the basics of acting schools and to help you choose the right acting school for you. We do not provide any acting-related services ourselves, so you can be assured that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.
Background on acting schools
'Being an actor' can mean many things for many people. People of all ages, cultures and ambitions can be drawn to acting, and there are an almost limitless number of acting opportunities. Acting can be done in homes, schools, festivals, commercials, theaters, movies, churches- at a basic level, acting can take place virtually any where that there is an actor and an audience (even if the audience is you in your own mirror!). However, this guide is devoted to those amateurs and aspiring and established professionals alike who wish to advance their love and proficiency of their craft by attending an acting school. Typical acting schools and programs attendees are people who:
-have little or no acting experience
-have some theater experience but no film experience
-are interested in or wondering if they should pursue an acting career
-have careers in other fields
Finding the right acting school for you will- to a large degree- be based on your stage of development and ambition as an actor:
-how much acting experience you have,
-what acting skills you need to improve,
-your particular areas of interest, and so on.
Finding the right acting school for you will also be based on other factors, such as:
-budget
-time constraints
-proximity to the acting school, and so on.
Features to look for in acting schools
If you're interested in attending an acting school and/or acting program, there are many items to consider as you evaluate your options:
Acting School Location
Not surprisingly, many acting schools are based in metropolitan areas, particularly New York and Los Angeles, as these two cities are the East and West coast co-centers of the entertainment industry. However, acting schools and programs can really be found all across the country, so don't automatically assume that an acting school or acting program cannot be found nearby. Just be aware that your choices in your area might be somewhat limited, and that, depending on the length of the acting school program, you might have to consider relocation or an extended stay to attend the acting school or program of your choice.
Acting School Length of Study
The great news is that regardless of your time constraints, you will be able to find some sort of acting school or program for you! Whether you're a full-time working professional and looking to improve your acting skills at night or over a weekend, or are a serious student willing to relocate and spend several years learning your craft- or anything in between- there are acting programs developed just for people like you. Acting camps are popular for younger actors because they can go away to camp for a few weeks during the summer and develop their acting skills while interacting with their peers.
Breadth of Study/Areas of Instruction
The breadth of study, or type of instruction, that an acting school or program offers can vary widely. Naturally, the full-time acting colleges and universities offer the most acting-related courses and topics. Some of the core acting-specific topics of study include:
Movement- physical conditioning, principles and techniques that allow the actor to convey a character's emotion, thought, and objective.
Scene Study/ Script Analysis- how to interpret scripts and scenes in terms of moments of emotional transition, and how to control and manage those transitions through specific actions and techniques.
Voice- developing and controlling an actor's voice through physiological means in order to convey a character's objective and express emotion. This is considered the heart of acting, and typically includes practice in breathing, singing, relaxing, and phrasing so that the actor can master the voice according to volume, inflection, articulation, emotional expression and dialects.
Comedy and Improvisation- how to act in comedic roles, as well as how to perform spontaneously, with or without a script, and with or without other cast members.
Monologues- how to perform monologues, which are an important part of many dramatic roles.
Shakespeare- how to understand and perform Shakespeare's plays and scenes- a prerequisite for any serious actor.
Film v. Stage- an analysis of how stage acting differs from film acting, and the styles and techniques associated with each type. This includes instruction and familiarization with professional stage and film (both single and multi-camera) sets.
In addition to the core acting-specific topics of study, many acting schools and programs offer courses and topics that are related to the production of films and plays, such as writing, directing, filming, editing, digital video, computer animation, soundtracks, and so on. This instruction helps develop collaborative skills among other members of the production team so that the actor can get the most of a given performance. Also, by understanding the vocabulary and roles of each production member, the actor can be an asset to any production team. In particular, by developing strong communication skills with the director, the actor can ensure that his or her acting choices contribute to a film's overall concept and premise. This, in turn, helps develop a positive reputation within the acting community and leads to more acting work!
Acting Instruction Type/Class Format
Because of the nature of acting, acting classes are usually more doing and practicing than sitting around watching. However, there are different formats for instruction, and these include: classes, where most of the communication is between instructor and students; workshops, which are usually informal learning sessions with a lot of interaction and feedback between students; projects, where individuals or groups have to create a finished work by the end of the class period; and performances, where individuals or groups have to prepare and perform some scene or play as the culmination of the class period. Often, acting classes incorporate more than one format style.
Intensity/Expectations
As you're considering acting schools, make sure to evaluate your own ambition and comfort level in terms of the pace and intensity of the acting school. For example, some acting schools are geared more toward the professional-minded actors and will be more demanding; acting schools and programs geared toward the part-time or amateur actor are likely to be more casual and supportive.
Reputation
Depending on the reasons that you'll be attending an acting school, the quality and reputation of the acting school and acting program may be more or less important to you. Naturally, the reputation is pretty closely based on the quality of the acting instruction, at least over the long term. If you have a specific career or career goals in mind, you might want to contact several people in that career field and see if they would recommend a particular acting school or acting program over another. That way, when you get your certificate or degree and put it on your resume, it will carry more weight than certificates or degrees from other acting schools and may put you ahead of your competition for that job you want.
Acting Business Skills
If you have any thought of getting paid to be an actor, whether full or part-time, having an understanding of the business aspect of the entertainment industry will be invaluable to you. Everyone's heard of the cliché of the small-town person packing his or her bags and heading to Hollywood to 'be discovered'. The reality is that very few people achieve success in this manner.
The great majority of professional actors have a good understanding of the business side of entertainment, and have used that understanding to their advantage. If you have professional ambitions, you must realize that acting is a business, and successful actors have to develop strong marketing skills to promote their careers. Obviously, if acting is more of a passion than a profession, learning the business side of acting is less important to you.
Audition Skills
Perhaps the most common aspect of landing any acting job is the audition (unless you are already established and have some sort of reputation that precedes you.) Because they determine to a large degree whether you get an acting job or not, auditions can be quite stressful, and it's important to be prepared for any and every audition. The more professional-minded acting schools will expose their students to a variety of audition situations they will experience in their careers so that they will know how to prepare themselves once they get into the 'real' world.
Acting Career Placement
The more professional-minded acting schools and programs have some sort of career placement service that offers assistance in such things as resume and headshot preparation, interviewing and networking skills, industry publications and resources, and so on. The more established professional acting schools will also have a sizable alumni community that might be an additional source of help and career opportunities.
Staff Expertise
Depending on your experience, ambition and ability, you might want to research and compare the experience and background of the teachers, professors and instructors of a given acting school or acting program. If you are seeking a professional acting career, you should probably find a teaching staff that has significant working experience in the industry so that you can learn from their real-world experience.
Acting Prerequisites
Unless you are seeking an actual degree from an acting school that is a college or part of a university, there is usually not a prerequisite to attend acting schools or acting programs. However, there may be suggested experience levels or other guidelines so that the acting school or acting program is effective and a positive experience for all involved. After all, someone attending an acting class way above their head can be very frustrating for that person and a distraction for the other members of the class. And someone attending an acting class that is too basic for them can lead to a lot of frustration and boredom.
Tuition/Financial Aid
Some acting schools participate in financial aid programs for their acting programs, but financial aid for acting schools is usually limited to acting school courses as part of a degree program. Beyond that, you may be able to receive private or state-funded financial aid for acting school tuition and other education-related expenses based on your income and credit score. Finally, it may be possible to secure a grant or scholarship for acting schools, although these are fairly hard to come by. Many acting schools will have information about financial aid and/or will coordinate with financial aid providers.
Housing
If you will be relocating or attending an acting school or acting program away from home for a prolonged period of time, you need to consider what housing options are available to you. Obviously, summer acting camps will have food and lodging included in the cost, as will some weekend or short-term acting programs. Often, summer acting programs will be able to use vacant dormitories at local colleges for short-term housing. If the acting school does not offer any form of housing, make sure to consider the local housing situation- i.e., how expensive is rent, how close to the acting school is the housing, what are the commuting options, and so on.
Ownership Policy
Typically, any artwork (usually films) that is created while attending an acting school will be the property of the person or people that created the art and NOT the acting school. However, if this is important to you, make sure to find out the exact policy regarding ownership of any artwork. For example, some acting schools will require you to include them as on the credits and/or are allowed to use the artwork for promotional purposes.
How to find the best acting school for you
Naturally, the choice of the best acting school or acting program for you will be based on your particular situation- your acting experience and ability, your career ambitions, your current job or career, where you live, your financial situation, and so on. Before you start comparing acting schools and acting programs, however, we suggest that you really analyze your situation and goals to determine where you are and where you want to go in your pursuit of developing your acting craft. Being realistic up front will save you time, money and frustration and will make sure that the steps you do take will only enrich your acting career.
Once you've analyzed your situation and goals for your acting career, looking for an acting school or acting program online is a great way to research and compare several different acting schools and acting programs to make sure you find the right one for you. Print out this web site and use our content as points of comparison among acting schools and acting programs. Make sure to take good notes, and print out any site that, at first glance, matches your needs. Once you have several printouts or a list of several acting schools that appear to be a match, start comparing these acting schools closer and look into the details of their programs.
After you have narrowed it down to three or four acting schools or acting programs, you might want to talk to someone in the acting field who might be able to give you advice and insight as to which acting school or acting program might be best for you. In addition to finding out the details of the items discussed above, you should find out how long the acting school has been in existence (more time to establish a reputation), how many students are enrolled, how large the alumni association is, and so on. Make a point to contact someone at each acting school that you're interested in to try and get a general feel for the acting program and facilities. If time and money permit, you might even want to consider visiting a couple acting schools to see for yourself what your experience would be like.
Once you have gathered all the information and have made your decision on the right acting school for you, just make sure to follow all application procedures so that your spot is reserved. Pay particular attention to any deadlines as well as the cancellation notification and refund policy. Once all of your paperwork is in place and your spot is reserved, just get your personal affairs in order and prepare for a wonderful learning experience at your new acting school!
In conclusion, we hope you have found the information we have put together for you useful. We recognize that this guide was in no way exhaustive, and that there is more to acting schools than what is included here. We suggest that you use the information in this guide as a starting point in your search for the right acting school for you.
