The Acting Corps

To One And All: Avoid at all costs this place. I was interviewed to be a teacher and the owner questioned me as if they were Yale School Of Drama. And even there, they're not as pretentious. I'm curious what this guy's actual credits are. Also, his teaching philosophy is too spelled out and more about what he has to say i.e. ""acting guidelines."" Too heady and analytical. His views on Michael Chekhov's ""psychological gesture"" is completely skewered. I was taught by a leading Chekhov professional in graduate school and their background is completely counter-productive to what he teaches or what he thinks it is. Avoid bloated, know-it-all teaching gurus who think they'll lead you to the promised land of acting, when in fact, they want your money. There's a big difference between someone with an MFA/BFA who should be teaching and running acting/theater schools, with an all-around background in theater/tv/film, and not someone who opens a fly-by-night acting school because they have an average performance background with bloated credits. Do your research as I did the owner. A true acting teacher is someone who is still working on their own craft, acting, writing, directing, etc. This guy couldn't get hired doing anything else. Pros: Nothing Cons: The owner. His credits are false and bloated. more

OK. So I just got finished The Actors' Boot Camp. What a trip...what an awesome, amazing experience. I feel like I'm at the beginning of something really cool and exciting - my acting career. The school is serious, the instructors are ALL great, and I walked away learning tons about acting and about myself as well. I just have to say that I have never had anyone care so much about my progress and my future. These people really cared to the point that they threw out a guy the first week for being a flake. They also got us up on our feet acting like an hour and a half a day, if you count the DAW, which I don't know how long it's been around. So I'm totally stoked - got my first agent interview on Friday. Just make sure if you come here to not be late, they don't like that at all, and also avoid the place next door - half hour for a sandwich?????? Other than that everyone does an awesome job. Pros: Amazing teachers, learned more than I ever learned in college, got to act a lot every day. Cons: Strict Lateness and Attendance Policy but maybe that's a good thing more

I went to Bootcamp I. After I paid, they gave me a laundry list of rules that they never mentioned until they already had my payment in full. You aren't allowed to miss class w/ a doctor's note or wear open toed shoes. If you miss a 2nd class you have to pay $50. If you miss more classes you are supposedly kicked out. Some teachers won't even allow you to use the bathroom when you need to. The Director is a POMPOUS JIRK who acts like he is so self-important and treats students with disrespect yet he has virtually zero IMDB credits. I guess it's good he created this school since he's had zero career in Hollywood. There were 2 complete flakes in my class, who missed class & came in late regularly. Neither were ever kicked out. Their flake behavior was just tolerated. Also, the idea of a full-time schedule is a great idea, but I got the feeling that AC didn't have enough material to fill the classes. We had 2 days of technique where we did straight repeition w/ a partner for 10 minutes & then sat the rest of the class watching others. We had a cold reading/scene study class, which was useful. The 5th class was total fluff, a complete waste of time, called The Actor's Instrument, it was like an exercise/movement class for senior citizens. At the end of Bootcamp I, I was invited to Bootcamp II. I expressed interest in taking the next session & asked what the deadline was for payment. I would've gone elsewhere but no other school fit my schedule. Believe me I checked every school in L.A. Yesterday the school called & I assumed it was for my payment. Turns out the class that I had been invited to attend and thought I had reserved a space for was full. One of the teachers Dariush Kashani is a great teacher, but that is it. I feel like the school was really incompetant in the fact that they invited me to attend the next session and then didn't have a space for me. Their rules are ridiculous. I am trusting that it's just meant to be & looking elsewhere. Pros: Dariush Kashani is a great teacher, residential parking close by, affordable Cons: some classes are not useful, incompetant employees screwed up scheduling, rules, rules, rules that aren't enforced, flakes allowed to stay more

I went to the Acting Corps thinking I was already a good actor, but what I didnt know could fill a book. They gave me the training foundation I needed. Now I'm having great auditions and getting acting jobs. I went to other schools before, and all they did was make me think I was good when I wasn't. This is truly a great program for dedicated actors that are serious about it. This is NOT a school for lazy people that want to be discoverd walking down the street. Pros: Location, Parking, Teaching Cons: NA more

This is a dedicated bunch of people working to help beginning and professionals hone their craft! Classes meet 5 days a week! Morning and night classes, easy to get to, good facility. more