Well I've searched the boards and found several topics discussing different acting coaches but a lot of them are hearsay or just bad stuff about certain acting teachers. So I wanted to start a thread to get some info on good personal experiences with different acting classes or coaches in the LA area. So if you've taken a class and really like it and would recommend it to others please post some info up.

As I recently mentioned on this board, I recommend The Acting Corps in North Hollywood. I went there for two months and was very happy with them.

I do not recomend the actors corps. They advertise up the wahoo. I recomend acting schools that dont advertise. If an acting school advertises and puts there school all over the internet theres something wrong. Do more searching. There after your money.

Oh and all these academy of dramatic arts and all these schools that charges thousands i was stay away from as well. They are not what they used to be. Stella adler Lee Strasberg studios all about the money.

quote:

Originally posted by dirtybird:
Oh and all these academy of dramatic arts and all these schools that charges thousands i was stay away from as well. They are not what they used to be. Stella adler Lee Strasberg studios all about the money.

Have you BEEN to Stella Adler? If so, you would NEVER compare them with true money-grubbing scammers like Strasberg. Stella Adler is a non-profit organization, the director who took over had his office converted to make a classroom next to it bigger, the teachers are patient, constructive and thorough. Many of them are actual students of Stella Adler herself. I can honestly say over the year and a half I have studied there, I have learned so much and evolved greatly as an actor. Drop by, actually audit a class FIRST. I went to Strasberg briefly as well and yes, they are money-driven. But until you have experienced both places like I have, you really should not be commenting. I have met many industry who will back me up on this too.

Ok miss stone the last time I checked out the stella adler school in hollywood they charge up the ass just like the strasberg school. I dont know if anything has changed since then but if it has then well ok Im wrong and ok I will check it out.

i havent been to Strasberg in LA, but studied there for two years in NYC while getting my BFA at Tisch, and I can certainly say they were NOT "money-grubbing" scammers. It's a business. You get what you pay for. I had a fantastic experience there... the instructors were great, and really cared about their students. I feel like after i left i had a very solid foundation to begin my career on, and I still have a great relationship with the teachers there.

Wish I could offer you some advice, but I'm in NY and your all the way in Cali!
Good luck with your search!

I am in New York. One fabulous teacher in Los Angeles is Richard Seyd. We correspond and some of my very talented working actor, former students started working with him when they moved to LA. His web site is http://www.seydways.com/

- Jason Bennett

quote:

Originally posted by JBActors:
I am in New York. One fabulous teacher in Los Angeles is Richard Seyd. We correspond and some of my very talented working actor, former students started working with him when they moved to LA. His web site is http://www.seydways.com/

- Jason Bennett

I looked at his website.

He also has a second acting studio in San Francisco. And he does a lot of directing.

I just wonder how much attention he can give to a student with so many responsibilities.

He has several teachers working for him. So, chances are, that you don't get him, but one of his employed teachers.

What I mean: if I want to study at he Richard Seyd studio, I want to study with Richard Seyd.

And not with an employed acting teacher.

quote:

Originally posted by bstevenson:
Well I've searched the boards and found several topics discussing different acting coaches but a lot of them are hearsay or just bad stuff about certain acting teachers. So I wanted to start a thread to get some info on good personal experiences with different acting classes or coaches in the LA area. So if you've taken a class and really like it and would recommend it to others please post some info up.

Yes, that's tough.

Go to Samuel French. They have these cheap looking lists of acting coaches. One is by Lawrence Parke, and there is one by a different author. Cost: 10$.

Then you just go and audit classes.

That's what I'm starting to do again. Tried to do it the easy way and ask around. Didn't work. Have to run around.

Just be careful about coaches that won't permit auditing. They usually say "huh, it's for the privacy of our students".

Total BS, in my opinion. Privacy for actors? How crazy can you get? This is such a public and performing job. I alsways think that coaches not permitting to audit have something to hide: not so good classes, for example, or a better reputation than what's actually offered.

In fairness, though I too avoided teachers who wouldn't let me audit, Ivana Chubbuck, as I recall, was one of them. So if you have confirmation from elsewhere that a teacher is one of a handful of heavy hitters, you may want to consider trying them even without an audit.

But I do agree that it should be exceptional.

I'm actually auditing a class by Ivanna Chubbuck soon. You can audit, they just charge you 20 bucks... which I don't get, but whatever works. I hear that she offers good classes, but I guess I'll find out, huh?

quote:

Originally posted by JimChevallier:
In fairness, though I too avoided teachers who wouldn't let me audit, Ivana Chubbuck, as I recall, was one of them. So if you have confirmation from elsewhere that a teacher is one of a handful of heavy hitters, you may want to consider trying them even without an audit.

But I do agree that it should be exceptional.

Absolutely true.

But the heavy hitters are few and far between. And you can't get into their classes easily.

Try to get Larry Moss to teach you.

Instead, you're referred to the Larry Moss studio, which doesn't allow auditing, because it would become evident, that this is not Moss quality, just Moss name.

quote:

Originally posted by Brittany Burnett:
I'm actually auditing a class by Ivanna Chubbuck soon. You can audit, they just charge you 20 bucks... which I don't get, but whatever works. I hear that she offers good classes, but I guess I'll find out, huh?

20 bucks.

Do they accept 20 eggs, too?

Well, at least you can get an idea of what's going on.

After auditing all last year for a good class I finally found one. I go to Lifebook Acting class. Everyone in the class is really there to grow as an artist. There are some really talented people there. You are open to working on any area you need help in. The teacher Allen Levin also knows what to have you work on and your casting so you can go out and book. There is a website with the info.Lifebookacting.com and the pricing is really good.

Glad you found a good class but just in case you find yourself looking again I would definitely recommend Michael Monks at the Ivana Chubbock studio. Not sure if he is still there but I believe he teaches Saturday mornings( whick kind of sucks).

I was only there for a few months but he was an awesome teacher. His critiques were spot on and he actually gave advice that you could apply to your technique.

And at some point you will actually be able to make it into Ivana's class if you work you butt off. Ivana is truly one of the best teachers in Los Angeles!!

I'd recommend to audit lots of classes.

You'll get a feel for what's best for you.

And still, even if you found something you like, it doesn't hurt to look further.

quote:

Originally posted by dirtybird:
I do not recomend the actors corps. They advertise up the wahoo. I recomend acting schools that dont advertise. If an acting school advertises and puts there school all over the internet theres something wrong. Do more searching. There after your money.

I agree. Not only that the Acting Corp rep is rude when he calls. He called when I was about to leave my house and I asked if I could call him back later and he got very nasty with me. (I hung up on him for that. @ssholes don't get my money anymore.)

Here here!!! Two years ago I dealt with a rude little bitch at Larry Moss. Later, missie!!!!!
They never saw a cent of my money. THEY work for US is what they forget. A lot of these hip "celebrity" classes are a crock. They think reputation/status ect compensates enough and that they do not need to be nice. And with all the suckers that arrive on the Greyhound daily, they are, unfortunately, correct. It is up to each of us to decide just how much shit we will put up with and is it really necessary for the sake of our dreams. I personally prefer self-respect and I cannot have that if I feel like a sucker....