Choosing an Acting Class - Part 2

CF Blog | 9.14.16

In the last article I wrote about the difference between traditional scene study classes and classes that emphasize more experiential training. Whatever kind of class you are considering you should evaluate how critiques are handled.

When a scene, exercise, or improv ends, the participants' experience is not complete until there is a follow-up acknowledgment and/or discussion of their work. In a traditional acting class this process is called the critique, in which the class and/or the teacher give opinions of the participants' work and judge how well they solved the problem that the teacher may have wanted them to address, or the problem they have set out for themselves to address.

In better classes the critique does not rely solely on authoritarian judgment, but opens doors for further growth in solving the designated problems or challenges. The critique should not only complete the experience, but also provide the participants with insights into areas of their acting that may be improved, and point the way toward making that improvement.

In the best kind of class, if the teacher sees the place for improvement, he or she does not tell it to the participants. He or she presents particular exercises that address the problem area and/or in the critique, asks questions that if answered truthfully, will allow the participant to arrive at any necessary insight him or herself.

Direct Submit Roles This Week

Sep 13 | Night Moves A slick and smooth con man. Very charming and sneaky. He knows what he wants and will do whatever he can to get it.

Sep 12 | Untitled Horror Feature Physically fit, strong and in good shape. The villain whose game the contestants are playing. His full origin story is shrouded in mystery. HAVING STUNT EXPERIENCE OR STAGE COMBAT IS A PLUS, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IF YOU HAVE EITHER OR BOTH.

Sep 10 | Suburbicon (George Clooney film) (BACKGROUND) Male as Stand In/ Photo Double for Matt Damon. Should be 5'10", 175 - 185lbs. Please include SI experience & measurements in NOTES sections. MUST submit current photos. Thanks!

Sep 9 | Death Fell From the Sky Male, Age 55-70. Ideal physical: Roughly 5'8", thin, receding hairline. President Truman has just been thrust into the Presidency after the death of his legendary predecessor, and is wildly unprepared. Alone with the power to make this decision, Truman listens intently to his political advisors but makes sure that nobody can see his inner moral struggle. He is painfully aware of the weight of this decision, but is prepared to be decisive and accept full responsibility for it.

Sep 9 | Project Viking Odin is a mythical creature, heavily hunched under the weight of darkness and evil, but a cunning fighter, nonetheless. The only thing you can trust from Odin is for him to do whatever is best for Odin. His comedy comes from his never-ending desire for power. Talent should be 6'4" - 6'8" with an imposing set of muscles. This character has extensive facial prosthetics, so talent should NOT be claustrophobic.

Sep 8 | A&E Docu-Series Mid-20's male, blonde hair, clean shaven, heavy-set

Sep 7 | Court TV Show Lead, 46-70 years old, all ethnicities, female. Her first concern is for the ultimate good of her family. She's at once a hard worker and a dreamer and was adventurous enough to leave her home country for America in order to have a better life. Actors with accents preferred, though must be comfortable enough with English to improvise entire scenes. MUST have strong improv skills to play this character.

Mike Birbiglia's 6 tips for "Making It Small"

CF Blog | 9.12.16

Mike Birbiglia, the writer, director, and actor of the comedy-drama Don't Think Twice, recently penned an essay for the New York Times offering advice to aspiring talent entitled "Mike Birbiglia's 6 Tips for Making It Small in Hollywood. Or Anywhere." Even though the comedian humbly considers himself the maker of "small films, small one-man shows," he's been repeatedly asked, "How do I get started?" by numerous creative hopefuls.

Birbiglia's path to success is certainly unique. He suffers from rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder which at times causes him to unconsciously act out his dreams. In fact, once the sleepwalking disorder caused him to run out of a motel's second-story window! As a result, Birbiglia transformed his nightly experiences into fruitful content for stand-up comedy.

His one-man off-Broadway show entitled Sleepwalk with Me was based on his life as an aspiring comedian who's dealing with increasing stress regarding his relationship and career, all the while contending with his emergent sleepwalking disorder. The show was well received, and this lead to Birbiglia authoring a book based on the show. The book indeed made it onto the New York Times Bestseller List. From there, the determined comedian ventured into filmmaking, turning Sleepwalk with Me into an independent comedy film. It proved to be an award winner at the Sundance Film Festival.