I read an old thread about this and am now interested in it. I would like to audit and possibly go. If its as good as it looks it may knock like five years of screwing up on camera do to inexperience. Plus I wont look so green www.actorscertifiedtraining.com.
I though alot about what everyone said about training. I felt I needed something that just focused on acting and others here said I needed auditioning coldreading classes. I have great confidence in my acting ability and have revived the monologue from the last thread. I took some time, worked on it and now its feels right and i am ready for the showcase. just so the ones who read that thread know.

However, I want to still find a pure acting class, in the future. Right now I would still like to continue my hunt for oncamera classes but one that teaches me the technicalities and how to perform onset. Alot of people say what good is scene study if you cant audition well. And I say whats the point of an awsome audition if you cant perform well on set. Do you guys know anything about the ACT studio?

One person on Actor's Access who had gone found the teacher very critical. What's more, they not only don't list any credentials for their teachers, they don't list their teachers at all.

As has been pointed out before, too, their initials just HAPPEN to be those of a far more prestigious and established school.

Honestly, I can't see what's interesting about this school at all. Still, if you're thinking of auditing, at least audit several other on-camera training places as well, so you have an idea of what's out there. And just by looking at other school's sites, you may get a feel for what information it's normal to provide or not provide about one's teachers.

Far more prestigous school? what one do you mean the actors conservatory theater in San fransisco? And I heard it was critical too. I want a critical class. I like critique. I dont feel I am being critiqued now and I feel like somethings wrong. Im not ones of those people who runs away because I fear being corrected or put on the spot. I will continue my search. But I want something strenuous.

quote:

Originally posted by Totallycool:
Far more prestigous school? what one do you mean the actors conservatory theater in San fransisco? And I heard it was critical too. I want a critical class. I like critique. I dont feel I am being critiqued now and I feel like somethings wrong. Im not ones of those people who runs away because I fear being corrected or put on the spot. I will continue my search. But I want something strenuous.

I think Jim was saying that in this case, they are inexperienced people not offering constructive criticism but being critical. There is a big difference between criticizing and offering constructive criticism. Someone constantly shredding you will not be any more beneficial than someone who coddles you. I like it tough too, so to speak. Just be aware of the different types of toughness. I once had a female teacher (or two or three or..) that just hated me from pure cattiness and jealousy. I left as she could not help me due to being so caught up in that bitter place.

I haven't been to any of their seminars, so I'm careful exactly how I characterize even second-hand reports. But certainly, as a general note, we've all encountered people who try to establish themselves in a position of power right off by making others feel unworthy. Some of us walk right the other way when we encounter this behavior, but others eat it up, since it affirms their own deepest feelings that they are INDEED unworthy.

I've been lucky in that all my teachers have been kind, even when being frank. But there are certainly people who gravitate towards what it's tempting to call abuse.

I have a low opinion of this kind of behavior even when it comes from someone with a track record.

Coming from someone who doesn't even bother to try to claim one - well, you'd need a very deep drill to find a place where I'd put that person on my personal scale.

It's really a simple Life lesson - If someone's continually making you feel unworthy or dependent, it says way more about them than it does about you.

Just as a general note, that is.

quote:

Originally posted by miss stone:

quote:

Originally posted by Totallycool:
Far more prestigous school? what one do you mean the actors conservatory theater in San fransisco? And I heard it was critical too. I want a critical class. I like critique. I dont feel I am being critiqued now and I feel like somethings wrong. Im not ones of those people who runs away because I fear being corrected or put on the spot. I will continue my search. But I want something strenuous.

I think Jim was saying that in this case, they are inexperienced people not offering constructive criticism but being critical. There is a big difference between criticizing and offering constructive criticism. Someone constantly shredding you will not be any more beneficial than someone who coddles you. I like it tough too, so to speak. Just be aware of the different types of toughness. I once had a female teacher (or two or three or..) that just hated me from pure cattiness and jealousy. I left as she could not help me due to being so caught up in that bitter place.

Madonna was like that as well, she had a ballet teacher who beat her legs till they bled. She enjoyed it because she was really learning how to dance; I can't remember his name but he showed her the gay clubs and he died of AIDS in the 90s.

When she went to New York, she had a dance teacher who just worked her endlessly and bitterly without even caring about her, like work her just to do so. She told her "no more'" and some mean word, and the teacher kicked her out, and she was glad.

LATEST NEWS: How do you feel about MLM (Multi-level marketing schemes)?

quote:

It was a PYRAMID scheme, and one of the *top* guys involved in this crap is the guy who runs Actors Certified Training.

New Actor's Access thread on the school

IF this is accurate, one question comes to mind: doesn't this person already have enough income, from running their acting school?

^^^^Sounds shady. Not cool. Moving onward.

I've been hearing about this school lately.

I don't think A.C.T. is worth it. The cost is ridiculous. The owner says he a director when he's only documented to be a set medic.

This is worthless as far as booking the job. I have yet to go to an audition where they have a cut out car, simulated weather effects, or green screen, etc.

You can learn set ettiquette, finding your mark, working in simulated weather conditions etc. and GET PAID for it by doing extra for a short time. By the time you've done extra work and made the equivalent of the tuition fee, you've pretty much taken the sorry class.

Aren't most gigs as early as 6am? Why waste a class on that?

Even when you're booked and on set. They usually do rehearsals if it's a major scene involving a car or some major prop. It's for cost effective and liability purposes. It's always different on different sets to some degree so one class isn't going to prepare you that much.

I'll take one for the team and go to one of those free clases. Wish me well. I hope I don't get verbally abused and run out in tears. (Read Bonnie Gillespie's article on A.C.T.!)

http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000710.html

SCAMMERS UNITED!

I got this off of Jeff Gund's infolist:

A.C.T. Studios presents

THE VISUAL SIDE OF HOLLYWOOD
An On-Camera Workshop

with
world renowned headshot photographer
KEVYN MAJOR HOWARD
&
author
TIMOTHY LAMPROS
("Hollywood Quagmire")

WEDNESDAY, February 25th, 2009
7pm to 10pm
(doors open at 6pm)

One of the most overpriced photographers and the scammiest teachers (he's really a set medic)...

quote:

Originally posted by ELDORADO59:
I've been hearing about this school lately.

I don't think A.C.T. is worth it. The cost is ridiculous. The owner says he a director when he's only documented to be a set medic.

And an AUTHOR, thank you very much!:
Hollywood Quagmire

Published by Booklocker

quote:

Print-on-demand publishers provide the infrastructure to print and market the book yourself.
....
Essentially, BookLocker handles all the details of printing, distributing and fulfilling sales for you, and then we cut you a check for your share of the profits every month (provided it is more than $20).

Here's what he was reported to be saying about the book in May 2007, before it came out:

quote:

He said that he is publishing a book this year that is going to be THE PLAYBOOK for the industry. Soon EVERY actor will have to be certified by his school to even attend any audition in town.

Bonnie Gillespie entry on A.C.T. and Ted Hughes/Lampros

All that's worked out nicely, hasn't it?

Also, for those who don't know, I have several self-printed books myself (notably my monologue books). Better yet, my work has been included in at least three other collections by others (all, as it happens, college professors).

Yet I am cautious about calling myself an "author". Just as, having had several photographs included in a book from Sotheby Press, I don't call myself a photographer.

On top of that I just found out that the underground magazine I cranked out at the age of fifteen is in the collection of a major university library. Should I call myself an "editor" as well?

God, the possibilities. If, that is, you're not too choosey about how you throw around words.

Jim Chevalllier
(OK. Just this once )

Anthologized Author
Published Historian
Nationally Distributed Publisher
Prize-Winning Photographer
Prize-Winning Poet
Literary Journal Editor
Producer
Nationally Broadcast Radio Journalist
Singer-Songwriter
International Businessman
Teacher
Oh yeah. And...
Actor

But would you believe - it turns out that Actor's Certified Training is NOT the only newer school that is NOT San Francisco's famous A.C.T. that just happens to share their initials:

quote:

Here is another investigative report for ACT, Academy of Cinema and Television.

ABC6 News Rhode Island. Dream Makers.

It's the second investigative report. First was by CBS in Atlanta...

For more, see this post on the OTHER other ACT

Total scam! Don't do it! I went to one of those free workshop things. horrible experience and the biggest rip off photographer was there giving discounts on headshots....Wat a discount, 700 bucks per session! RIP OFF!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1009:
Total scam! Don't do it! I went to one of those free workshop things. horrible experience and the biggest rip off photographer was there giving discounts on headshots....Wat a discount, 700 bucks per session! RIP OFF!!!

Haha! You went to the one with Kevyn Major Howard!

hahaha! Yup, I was there. I was laughing so hard when we left. Apparently if you allow this douche bag to do your headshots, you can only go to ONE print place that uses his signatory red border. It;s really weird. Its funny how all scam artist found each other. This company I found gave me free headshots and they look amazing. That guy Tim is REALLY full of himself. He would make an amazing car salesmen.

I got an e-mail from ACT saying this, "Tim Lampros is changing the industry" Yeah, I'll jump right on board. They only want 1700 dollars for class! Yippie!!!

Seriously, who would take acting classes from a set medic?

I was at 2 free seminars, I went with a friend to check it. Oh My! It was all tricks.

The thing is it was the same, ooo and ahhh sales pitch. Same cold reads, same now look here, do this, fumble here, turn here.

I guess, from an optomistic perspective it's an interesting way to go about teaching a class. The technical side of camera. Meaning what's my frame, my mark, close up?

I do think it's kinda insulting to the camera department and crew. They are professionals, and when on set they know there job.

So I think focus on acting, taking classes that work on camera. It helps immensly, not the tricks taught at A.C.T.

Oh and I'm from San Francisco and was kinda irkd to find they had the same name ACT (very misleading) ACT in San Francisco, in my opinion is well respected, ACT in LA bad news.

quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1009:
I got an e-mail from ACT saying this, "Tim Lampros is changing the industry"

Recently?

quote:

Originally posted by one step at a time:

Oh and I'm from San Francisco and was kinda irkd to find they had the same name ACT (very misleading) ACT in San Francisco, in my opinion is well respected, ACT in LA bad news.

Not just Tim's scammy ACT, but there's another scam called Academy of Cinema and Television which is another JRP, John Casablancas, and Barbizon.

quote:

Originally posted by one step at a time:
I guess, from an optomistic perspective it's an interesting way to go about teaching a class. The technical side of camera. Meaning what's my frame, my mark, close up?

You can learn that by doing Extra work and being paid.

or

You can take a good acting class and learn how to nail an audition and actually work on set.

NOT worth $2000 or whatever it is.