I have only heard of them from 2 people who seem to really love the classes, but have never heard of the place before these people. Tried to do some research and couldn't really find much except that they've been around since I think 2001. It's run by a man named Timothy Lampros who wrote a book but doesn't really seem to have acting credits but has spent a lot of time on sets as a set medic. Not sure of the background of any of his teachers. If anyone has any info. about this class I would appreciate the feedback.

They always offer free seminars. You should check it out.

You might want to browse this thread:

one of several threads on A.C.T. (NOT SF's ACT)

Jim, were u drunk when u wrote all those threads, or is that just your style?

I presume you mean the threads on the Off-Topic board (not the ones on A.C.T., which are mainly from other people)?

As I told someone else over there, if we're going to go so off-topic we're not even on acting anymore, well then, go for it. I thought a little excess might make the point.

A little French irony doesn't go far around here.

I'm currently in the class at ACT. I won it at a seminar. I find it interesting and informative. The teachers have been in the business. Tim was more of an observer working on the sets. The teachers help you with interview skills, resumes, scene study and cold reading skills that will make you stand out and look professional. I'm about to start the on-camera portion. The students are all really nice people. It is a comfortable atmosphere unlike a lot of pretentious "artistic" acting schools.

I'm curious, Artist. When you say these classes will make you "stand out", have you taken other scene study or cold reading classes? If so, what do you find different about these?

quote:

Originally posted by Artist:
I'm currently in the class at ACT. I won it at a seminar. I find it interesting and informative. The teachers have been in the business. Tim was more of an observer working on the sets. The teachers help you with interview skills, resumes, scene study and cold reading skills that will make you stand out and look professional. I'm about to start the on-camera portion. The students are all really nice people. It is a comfortable atmosphere unlike a lot of pretentious "artistic" acting schools.

How exactly will they make you "stand out?" I hope it's "stand out" in a good way and not a bad way. Is it better than Margie Haber studios or Aaron Speiser Studios with regards to cold reading/auditoning? NOPE!

Actors Certified Training is a pretentious as it gets!

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, 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 effectiveness 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/column...archives/000710.html

I would not recommend Actor's Certified Training. I'm sure there are a ton of on camera classes out there. Tim whatever his name is...(I hear he has three different last names and it keeps changing)....is an asswipe who really thinks he's extra special. It's a shame because the people working for him are decent, and the students are really hard working. Criticism on performance are one thing, but criticizing appearances in general and sexes for the sake of his own amusement and a laugh is unprofessional.

Hey guys, I took this training. It changed my career! It is a sad joke to say one can learn "as much" by being an extra. I did learn some things from extra work. But how to perform in a close up and the dozens of other things needed to build a "relationship with decision makers" is not part of the extra work grind. I have met three people who trash talked A.C.T. and not a single one of them, including Bonnie, who I know, had even been there. Last time I checked, they continue to offer FREE workshops and auditing so all the haters need only check it out. Furthermore, I did a lot of homework, there are very few classes that specialize in on-camera work. Most have some cheap camera running in the background, if at all. No offense to my theater friends, but I moved here to work ON CAMERA! I still enjoy improv classes and the warm artsy vibe of my small scene study classes but the A.C.T. training helped me book the callbacks. Like most things it is not for everybody. If acting is only a hobby for you, you might find it all a bit overwhelming - like the difference between taking a CPR class versus going to Medical College. And one more thing... if you are a white female who plays between 20-30 years of age, I would be very happy if you do not take this training... I have enough competition as it is! Break a leg everybody

Gosh, how we love posters who pop up around here just to post on how wonderful a much-criticized institution is.

This school that just happens to have the same initials as a far more established school in San Francisco "changed your career", eh? Care to say HOW?

And then of course there's always the nasty little digs at the critics:

quote:

If acting is only a hobby for you, you might find it all a bit overwhelming.

Oh yeah. That's why people wouldn't be excited about a school run by a guy who's main documented credential is as a set medic.

As for those free intros, more neutral readers might check this link. Note right off that the poster "studied acting in college and [did] stage for many years. "

But then, that's only a warm-up for this really informative thread. (Don't miss page 2.)

And once again, just as a critical thread on A.C.T was about to die quietly away, some anonymous supporter comes in to help out.

With friends like these....

quote:

Originally posted by JimChevallier:
Oh yeah. That's why people wouldn't be excited about a school run by a guy who's main documented credential is as a set medic.

Jim, I literally laughed myself out of my chair after reading that.

Wow, I hope you get your anger out in your post and do not carry it around with you full time.

My mention of "acting as a hobby" was meant as a helpful fact not "a dig" and I did say how my career has changed "I am booking my callbacks". I looked at the threads too. I know Tim's long time girlfriend (met her in class) and all those lies seem unnecessarily personal and hurtful. (Smells very much like a disgruntled ex-employee?) Things like saying "scene" in class was ONLY for training to make a bigger point regarding scene work. We were not specifically trained to say that in an audition. Also seems like too much is made over the very common initials - A.C.T. - they always use their full name and do not seem to be trying to fool anybody.

Anyway, they really don't need me to defend them. Their website is full of info - www.actorscertifiedtraining.com - including tons of endorsements of real industry professionals and their workshops are free, make up your own minds, do what you want, life is short, Carpe Diem, whatever...

Personally I am much more passionate about "Management" scams, "Cold Reading" workshops scams that charge actors to meet a CD (are they not already paid to do so?) and all the other sleazy practices in Hollywood.

I could get behind some angry post about those things, but again, only if it is coming from someone who has actual first hand knowledge (I sure do!) and not all this hearsay.

How about this, Powerflower?

How about you tell us what kind of "artsy" litte scene study classes you've taken - what method, maybe what teacher or schools:

quote:

I still enjoy improv classes and the warm artsy vibe of my small scene study classes

then explain just what kind of training A.C.T. provides that these don't. And maybe just what the teachers' credentials are to teach?

Tim Lampros' own bio isn't very helpful on these points, is it?

quote:

In 1990, Mr. Lampros entered the film and television industry and has produced, directed, and held a wide range of production roles. He has over 40,000+ hours of on-set experience on blockbuster film and television productions such as Titanic, Charlie’s Angels, Con-Air, X-Files and 24, to name only a few.

40,000 hours doing WHAT? The only thing that's made into IMDb is... you guessed... his being a set medic.

So where's the "wide range of production roles" and just what percentage of those "40,000+ hours" do they represent?

quote:

His in-depth experiences, both on the set and in emergency services positioned him for the developement of the first ever, detailed, extensive, applicable curriculum-based, on-camera -on-set training and preparation for film and television actors.

Huh? How ever does experience in emergency services prepare you to teach ACTING? (It sure didn't prepare A.C.T. to proof its own site.)

quote:

Mr. Lampros is also the author of the critically-acclaimed book “Hollywood Quagmire" and has been published in many of the industry trades.

Just WHO has praised this little tome (produced by the self-publishing company Booklocker - and already well-outdated, since its subtitle is "How to Stop the Waste, Save 3.6 Billion Dollars a Year, and Avoid an Actors Strike in 2008!" - OK, we didn't have a strike in 2008. Nope. Has Lampros/Hughes taken credit for that yet?)?

I am not going to give you details about where I train. I am getting a weird stalker vibe from the whole issue.

Go ahead and criticize a training institute that you have never been to, question my brief original post that you seem to have not fully read, complain about lyrics to a song you have never heard and gripe about a movie you have never watched, what do I care?

We all know people that seem to always have a problem about everything. Usually there are deeper underlying emotional issues. We talk about those types in my actors networking group. We call them "poisoned". Poisoned by past bad experiences or relationships. Often they have been in town for a number of years and their careers have not lived up to their dreams. They take little responsibility for their shortcomings and nothing is ever any good for those types. They are not very much fun to be around. I feel sorry for them but suggest that people distance themselves from all that negative energy.

You can't soar with the Eagles if you are surrounded by Turkeys!

quote:

Originally posted by PowerFlower:
I am not going to give you details about where I train. I am getting a weird stalker vibe from the whole issue.

Oh please....

For those who might be taking these posts seriously, consider the following:

PowerFlower:

quote:

Personally I am much more passionate about "Management" scams, "Cold Reading" workshops scams that charge actors to meet a CD (are they not already paid to do so?) and all the other sleazy practices in Hollywood.

A.C.T.'s site:

quote:

A.C.T. Studio's is dedicated to providing all actors with access to Producers, Directors, Casting Directors, Agents & Managers and has always held and always will hold the position that it is unethical & wrong to charge actors to be "Seen".
....
A.C.T. has always held the position, of:

ACTORS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY TO BE SEEN BY
CASTING DIRECTORS

PowerFlower:

quote:

Smells very much like a disgruntled ex-employee?

Anonymous response to critiques on Ripoff Report:

quote:

This report is nonsense, from a former employee of the company that was dishonest and tried to rip off the company. I'd love to see any proof of this persons allegations. I'm very sure 'Michael' isn't even this person's real name

[URL= http://www.ripoffreport.com/re...ipOff0193707.htm]Rip off report comments from... an anonymous poster[/URL]

And how many people, having paid good money and spent good time on scene study describe it dismissively as "my small scene study classes" (presumably as opposed to the FAR more significant ACT classes)?

Meanwhile Tim Lampros, though he wanted to meet privately, for some reason never posts on-line in response to any of these threads, even when the accounts (like the original one on Actor's Access) are from first-hand experience.

At least not under his own name.

Me thinks you do "presume" too much.

Obviously you want to discredit me without knowing me, much like you want to discredit the studio I trained at without ever being there, or as you said without meeting the owner. I do not know you, you may be a very nice and sincere person who just has some odd obsession with this subject. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Your last post was extra odd as you found at least two other people/quotes that agree with me. You seem to make my point. Not that my opinions were so outsider that one could not easily find others who agree.

But I only posted here to let people hear from an actual student. Not to get into mudslinging.

And the reason I call my scene study class "small and artsy" is because.... it is SMALL and.... ARTSY. I don't think that is a bad thing, I get a lot out of it. Feel free to judge that too without ever being there. I guess one can save a lot of time and gas money by giving opinions of things they never experienced. But I am sure that fact is not lost on people who read your post. Life goes on.. I wish you no ill will.

I would be interested in your take of the training if and when you ever go there. If you do, I urge you to leave your ego at the door and just check it out. And challenge the instructor with any questions instead of quietly entering and leaving with a bad attitude and closed mind.

It is an awesome On Camera training facility but I am not sure it deserves the same passionate debates as life and death issues or any personal attacks. Go or don't go, just don't let other make up your mind for you. Cheers

Check this out too. http://www.ripoffreport.com/Mo...aining-act-37555.htm

Also, there is a warrant out for the owners arrest. I guess we won't be hearing from them anymore. I went to a "free class" and the guy told me my film school was a waste of time and I would get much more from his class. Can you teach a class from prison?

quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1009:
Check this out too. http://www.ripoffreport.com/Mo...aining-act-37555.htm

Also, there is a warrant out for the owners arrest. I guess we won't be hearing from them anymore. I went to a "free class" and the guy told me my film school was a waste of time and I would get much more from his class. Can you teach a class from prison?

Warrant out for Tim's arrest? Where did you hear about that?

But... isn't he being a "Drill sergeant" for this production:

Actress promoting Lampros production