Acting Classes Provide the Foundation for Great Things

London is renowned for its acting classes and acting schools

Many actors that have achieved some kind of success, have done so through perfecting their craft. This has provided the foundation for them to learn, communicate, interact, and perform. Without the skills and abilities that were learned and perfected in acting classes, the actors we admire today would be largely unknown.

There are many facets to acting, and several of which are not immediately obvious. Vocal projection, the articulation of words, empathy with the character being portrayed, perfecting communication, and learning to take direction, are all essential elements to the craft of acting, and all of these are taught in acting schools.

Through understanding the different roles that work on a production, provide the actor with a better understanding of how productions are put together, and what each role contributes to the production overall. This knowledge allows an actor to gel with the rest of the cast and crew, which in turn makes the production stronger.

Acting is much like a sport. A team has to function as a unit to achieve its aims, to get results. A production of any kind needs the actors and crew to work together to bring a story to life. Arguably, acting takes this a step further as the production is often comprised of people from different genders and ages. Sporting teams tend to be comprised of the same gender and ages and are in competition with another team directly. This is one area where the two differ, however the underlying principle of a ‘team performance’ still applies.

Acting classes encourage and promote these concepts among their students. No matter how good a performance an actor gives, the overall production is only as good as the performance of the whole cast and crew. All actors need this knowledge and to acquire these skills. Learning this aspect of the business, can give a ‘working actor’ a competitive edge.

It is not just the craft of acting that is learned in acting classes. Many acting schools teach the business side of the profession too, which for any budding actor is important to understand. George Clooney once said that acting is a business and should be treated as such. All successful actors know the business well, and this knowledge has helped them to achieve their goals.

Perhaps the importance of acting classes is best shown in its ability to build confidence in an actor. Many people embarking on this career are uncertain whether they have the ability, and feel self conscious about performing. Confidence therefore, is key. Acting schools, provide a safe environment for actors to perform. No audience and a wealth of advice from teachers and other students, provides a positive learning environment. Here an actor is free to express themselves, make mistakes, receive feedback, and to develop in a relaxed informal place.

This allows an actor to explore different types of acting, as well as helping the actor to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Acting classes also provide a good platform for constructive criticism. This is vital for an actor’s development, as fresh, new, and often more accurate perspectives only serve to make an actor a better actor. Should an actor feel a little sensitive to constructive criticism, acting school will benefit the actor here too, showing the criticism to be of good intentions and designed to improve their skills and abilities of his or her craft, rather than one of a disparaging nature.

No matter how good the actor, acting classes will only improve and build on what the actor has already. They provide an actor with the knowledge, the ability and the confidence to practise their craft with a view to achieving their full potential and provide that actor with a competitive edge in a competitive market.

Natural Acting Vs Real Acting from Brian Timoney on Vimeo.