Training
Recently I experienced an encounter which happens from time to time. It concerns what I see as such a serious threat that, like some virus, if it is not identified for what it is, it spreads and spreads and can virtually render a body inert. The body? Acting. The threat?
Make no mistake – there are “snake-oil salesmen” out there. And these peddlers are plentiful. I’m talking about Acting Schools and Acting “Teachers”. Now, I’m sure there are quite a few who actually believe they can offer something to the novice or enthusiastic amateur – there are plenty of them to go around. And not all of these charletans believe they’re conning anyone.
I was sitting in a waiting room recently when in came a gentleman who I know as an actor. We chatted for a while and then somehow the discussion turned to what we were doing with ourselves. He informed me that he was teaching young people Acting. He was making quite a living from it.
When I heard this, I was instantly aware of a certain discomfort. I know this person, and I have to say I felt the way you’d feel if you were told by an ex-bank robber that he was now driving for Brinks. In other words, when you have a mistrust of someone’s ability, and you learn that they are going to spread their incompetence, well, it’s not good.
There are so many young, keen, good-looking guys and girls with daddy’s cash to spend, and these shysters are just so ready to pocket this cash and fatten their resume and bank accounts, that you may think, “well, that’s marketforces, right? – it’s ‘buyer beware’”, but it’s not as easy as that.
Acting has always had a P.R. problem. A problem of credibility. Like anything, once it is devalued, in this case by those who think they know, or pretend to know what they’re talking about, it slips back into a sideshow and eventually is seen as superfluous. To go back to the virus analogy, this toxic stuff spreads and spreads and you find yourself mumbling to yourself “are there NO good Actors out there?” And the answer becomes “No, there aren’t”.
This guy has no skill whatsoever, and it makes me shudder to think of young impressionable minds stroking his ego.
I don’t have an answer to offer on how young people can avoid these imposters, but when a parent asks me what they might do for their child who wants to study Acting, I am very clear. For what it’s worth, here’s what I suggest:
- Take them to see Theatre
- Read to them and have them read plays to you, out loud
- Talk about the way you feel when you see what you think are good performances
- Ask them what they feel when they see things they enjoy
- Join Community Theatres
- Do all of this often.
If you do this, you’ll uncover the true self and this is the key to Acting Excellence
Training can often ruin your style – Roy Orbison
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