Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/acting classes

Advertisement


Question
In my search for acting classes in the DC metro area, I have found many expensive classes ($200+)that focuses on individual aspects of acting. Of course it seems as if I'll need all of them, but I could never afford that. What types of classes should I concentrate on in order to get the most out of my money?

Answer
Tracy,

Depends on what career you seek. If you want to be in film and TV, I would take acting, improvisation, and cold reading classes. If you want to act in the professional theater, I would take acting, voice, dialects, movement, and improvisation. If you want to do commercials, take a commercial acting class. If you want to work in voice-over work or animation voice work, take classes in voice-over and animation voices.

Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.