Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/technical theater schools

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Expert: - 6/12/2009


Question
I've been out of high school and working full time for a while and now due to recent turn of events I've decided to go back to school. i love the stage craft aspect of theater. I've built and designed dozens of sets and now i realize that it is what I'm most passionate about. i live in California and schools closer to me would be best. i know all about CAL ARTS and PCPA but now i seem to be running out of options for schools in this area. i would travel if the school had a good tech program but I'm noticing that actors have a vastly larger selection in schools. if i can get some feedback i would be extremely grateful. thank you.

Answer
Sam,

Thanks for writing. On the West Coast, consider Univ of Washington at Seattle, American Conservatory Theater and UCLA in addition to the ones you've mentioned. The best schools for tech theater tend to be back East, but these are pretty good.

Hope this helps.

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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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.

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