Apiration to be an actress?

Question

Hey, I wanted to know if anyone knows an acting agency in which they give acting lessons in Manhattan. If possible state the best. Not a crappy one.

Answer 1

Hi,

get your terminology down first. There are talent agencies and there are schools. Agencies usually don't give lessons. Schools do.

My personal experience in an acting school in NY you can read here: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting_classes.html . It was and still is a great experience. It is a small studio, but the teacher is great and will make you learn. Out of about 10 classes offered there, I have one to go. Wendy Ward is the teacher's name and she is featured in a book called Acting Teachers Of America. Meisner technique.

In addition, there is William Esper Studio. He has won several awards over the last couple of years at least and has a great reputation. Meisner technique.

There are so man good schools and there are certainly some bad ones. Just do a search and you will find them.

Soon I will have a directory on my site.

Some others are:
TVI Actors Studio: they have a lot of specialty classes. I took an on-camera audition class there three years ago, which was very good as well as some all-day seminars with some noted casting directors, such as Rob Decina who casts for The Guiding Light and others. In my opinion TVI is a little expensive for what they offer, but the quality was good that I received. The teach a mixture of methods.

There's HB Studios which has a very good reputation as well. The method they teach is based on that of Uta Hagen if I'm not mistaken.

There's New York Film Academy, which is really a film acting school. A lot of young people. They have one and two year programs in acting as well as directing. One advantage is that since it is a film school, there are always students looking for actors to shoot their homework projects, so you could get a lot of experience with amateur directors and camera people. They teach a mixture of methods.

The Actors Studio. It's reputation preceeds itself. You must sign up for a long-term program. At least a year if I remember correctly. Great program, based on Method acting.

A spin off is the Lee Strassberg Institute. Still Method

There's also the Atlantic Theater Company. Don't know much about it except that I believe William H. Macey is behind it. Very reputable. They have a great monologue teacher there as well named Karen Kohlhaus. She's wonderful!

Actors Connection, which is a place, first and foremost to meet casting directors and agents. I have used it for that purpose and have benefited. They also have specialty seminars and classes for hosting, on-camera commercial, commercial print, day-time, prime-time and business seminars. They also have a great program called the conservatory, which helps you actually get auditions as well as gives you some great classes.

Stella Adler's school I believe is a two year program. Very good and she has an interesting approach to acting. I like it personally.

About three years ago I studied with a delightful woman named Sheila Gray. She taught sensory work (very close to method-based acting) and advanced scene study classes. And they are advanced. I also took her improvisation class as well, which met once per week.

Why don't you go over to my site for new actors and download my free ebook called How To Start An Acting Career? There, among other things, you will find a list of all the acting techniques there are, that I would advise you to investigate. In addition, you will find some information that could be helpful in choosing an acting school. I have certain criteria and have found that when choosing, it is good to know exactly what you are looking for.

Hope this information has helped you.

Good luck and OH! Go and interview schools/teachers. Know what you are looking for!

Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 2

Talent agents (not acting agents) who give lessons are usually only in the business of giving lessons and are not real agents, but scams.

If you are aspiring to be an actress you need to do the following:
1. get your parents' support for your endeavor
2. be in all the plays at school
3. get a mentor
4. take acting lessons
5. be in more plays like in community theatre
6. learn how to audition and interview
7. prepare your resume and head shot
8. and then try to get an agent
It takes a while (years) and there are other things as well, but this list is the basic way to become an actor. For more free information, click on my name, read my profile, and write to me at my aol address. I am a mentor.

Answer 3

I went to HB Studios for acting lessons. You should see if you can find any personal review on the school. It was about $250 for 6 months five years ago. The price may have been raised though. Check it out, it wasn't too bad.

Answer 4

Click on this link and read the student feedback--see if it's what you want:

http://www.carolfoxprescott.com/

A couple books you should read are:

Acting for Young Actors: The Ultimate Teen Guide
How to Audition: For TV, Movies, Commercials, Plays, and Musicals