KNOWING HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL

 

What does make a good school?

At Acting International we’re often asked:  “How does one go about choosing a good theatre & film school?”  Following are some pertinent questions you should ask about your future school.

 

1. First : are you offered a professional training, an amateur training or simply a course with one or two teachers?

Professional training implies a complete ‘cursus’ or Conservatory Program offering a well-balanced set of craft and approaches that will empower you in the varied fields of theatre and film, from beginner level to the young professional level; this, to the student wishing to become a well-trained professional in theatre & in film or both.

The amateur or the 1 or 2 teacher” proposition or a mix of the two represents a different training perspective with goals that are quite different from true Professional Training. Acting International, for one, is a top-level professional school, recognized as such by the French Republic, where an engaging method of work, unique in Europe, is  taught by international masters who initiate acting students to themes & poetics of great authors, enabling them to perform doable, repeatable character work on stage and screen.

 

Some of the clues apt to reveal the serious professional school are:

dot  a 3 years minimum conservatory training, the first year being for beginners

dot  the 2nd & (especially) the 3rd year programs should offer a solid semi-professional  practice of stage and the practice of  wings and/or real film shoots.

dot  acting students must be able to appear in showcases from the end of the first year on

dot  in the case of a “Cinema School”, find out if what is on offer: is a true cinema course & ‘cursus’: consisting of shoots over several years (for example at Acting - 3 years) or is it more or a short-term summer course or workshop. Get information about the actual shooting sessions ( does the school own adequate material: pro cameras; do they use DPs or does the teacher himself do the lights & the photography; will you get  tapes of your scenes, etc.)

dot  certification of the school as being an officially recognized & certified establishment of professional training  ( as is the case for Acting) is desirable.

dot  the school of your choice should preferably have been  in activity for 10 years or more , always a good proof of seriousness & solidity

dot  another key sign to look for is : the track records in the profession of its alumni; those who attended the school 10 years ago or more and also those of the last 3 or 4 years. A permanent tie between the school and its alumni is also of importance (for example at ACTNG: its Alumni Club).

dot  and too, good proof of the school’s excellence is its quota of renewed registrations from year to year, as well as a good ongoing  word-of-mouth about the school of your choice. Try and talk to the actual students, after their courses.

dot  teachers & coaches should still be active today in the profession and business

dot  the students should have access to varied techniques & methods of work all-year long throughout his training. He must be able to work with different teachers offering different & exciting approaches to the crafts during the year( at Acting each student work with 7 or 8 teachers over the year).

 

2. Will you find yourself in good, creative working conditions?

dot  limited working groups (20-25 persons maximum, the first year. Less later)

dot  access to zeroxed working cuts : scenes, monologues, script sequences, etc.

dot  free access & choice to the school’s costumes and props

dot  access when needed to a rehearsal hall, outside of actual classes

dot  a good ‘press relation’ and /or communication about your showcases : screenings & access ‘on line’ of the scene you shot; posters, invitations, press dossiers with photos, etc.

dot  and for the film shoots: top pro cameras, 2 cameras being used for most shoots insuring faster filming and best results

dot  good sound (portable mikes, etc.)

dot  good lighting for good & better viewing later

dot  screening of your work (projection rooms & plasma screens)

dot  editing and post-production room

dot  (all the above  is evident fact at Acting International)

 

3. The tie with the profession & ‘métier’; discovering “how it really is”

dot  regular master classes with important professionals : actors, directors, agents, producers, writers, casting directors, etc.

dot  direct access to pertinent and recent castings on offer

dot  existence of a pro support allowing to communicate the whereabouts, etc. of the students. At Acting, we offer books of our students: photos, action shots, shoots, etc. on line; this becoming more & more important in the actual business

dot  invitations to your showcases & screening addressed to the pros

dot  helping you to start yr own future professional projects: advices, how to proceed, etc.

 

4. And then, concerning the general feeling of the school and its good creative atmosphere & spirit. Watch out for the school archetypes – “family”, “factory,” or “cash machine type of schools” and… never mind the bullocks of the “fly by night” schools

dot  the “factory” is the type of school that pays scant or no attention to your personality & creativity or does not help them develop; attention as well as techniques arm the imagination.

dot  the “cash machine” is the type of school that is mainly after your money, with teacher hardly concerned by you or not at all passionate about their students

These two types are rare in a pure state, but that rot can exist insidiously, here and there, in training structures that may seem kosher. Acting International is rather considered by those in the know as a ‘family type school’ as well as a talent pool, a place of artistic life and fertile encounters with great professionals. What follow are some guideposts that will help you discover a ‘family type school’, a good kind of school we recommend:

dot  pedagogical availability of teachers outside of actual classes: a shared passion

dot  personnel, written evaluations by each teacher for each student

dot  easy access to the administration offices

dot  good, direct networking with students at other levels and alumni famous or not

dot  are you paid attention to? Are you heard? A direct and possible contact with your adviser or acting lecturer and the school director is a key +

dot  and most importantly : the school must BELIEVE IN YOU!

 

Voilà!  If the majority of these conditions are met, you probably have chosen a good school for your professional training.

Best regards, work hard !

The team of ACTING INTERNATIONAL