Just wondering if anyone heard anything about this "prestigious school John Robert Powers" they claim to be qualified and top knotch sorta speak. To be accepted you undergo three interview/ auditions if you you pass all three your in! There are 2 packages both consist of "Training while building your confidence and sending you on auditions/ meet casting directers etc." 6- 12 months enrolled at this school is about $1,600 and the 3 yr program can cost you around $6,000.??? Just wondering who knows what about this school.
acha cha cha cha cha

not good

i went there. (17yo. starting out. clueless) NOT worth it. The classes were awfull especially for the price!!! and i don't doubt that those people might have studied there when they started out. when you join, they make you sign a contract that says they have the right to use your name and image to promote their school for the rest of your life. they told me they "discovered" Jessica Alba there. they probably studied there and left soon after just like me. For THAT kind of money you can get REAL professional training with a good acting coach. and they accept EVERYONE. The auditions are a set up. you do get to meet agents or casting directors there at the school, usually a lot of them were for modeling, and parctically no one ever got called for anything. I got some of the worst training there. but i only realized that after i had some good training. The only good thing that came oot of that experience for me was that i found out about Backstage West and eventually Backstage.com. Where i found the boards and got great advice on how to start out. I got an agent and found quality classes. so that's what i got for 3000$!! i never finished the classes. they were worthless.

I don't doubt that there are exceptions with some possitive experiences there. But all that money is NOT worth the risk.

OMG! They're still around? When I was a kid , a loooong time ago, there were ads in every magazine for John Robert Powers.In fact, I think there was a studio in my hometown of Riverside, Calif. They mostly promoted modeling and less acting back then. Since both of my parents were educators, a "trade" school was out of the question for me. At one point I thought of going to Barbizon, but I didn't really want to look like a model.(; Is Barbizon still around and are they legit?

I doubt Diana Ross went to JRP.... and Jaqueline Onassis was the wife of President John F. Kennedy (and, after his death, married kazzillionaire Arsitotle Onassis).

They are NOT, by anyone's standards except their own, a "prestigious school". As a matter of fact, having them listed on your resume may even be detrimental to you.

ActingUpVT... yep, Barbizon is still around. I saw their ad in one of my daughter's tween magazines. At least they've finally changed the "models" picture! Up until just a couple of years ago, they were STILL using the pic from the 70s!

JRP is a scam. If you have it on your resume no one will take you seriously.

All the research and word-of-mouth I heard on John Robt. Powers tells me that they have no professional credibllity with anyone, for anything. Whatever you heard about them being "top notch" no doubt came from them. I'd pass, big time!!

if you want to spend money for nothing then go for it.

Thanks guys. and Hella no I don't want to spend that kind of money thats why i'm asking all of you! Hello! really insiteful thx.

Peace

i do wonder how they can claim those ppl went there. any truth in it?

Okay everyone... heres the scoop.
John Robert Powers has a terrible reputation. I went there for a 'presentation (aka watch a video) and have a one on one interview' with unprofessionals. The people were sitting in front of blank calendars. JRP:BOSTON* No address was on any of their paperwork ( a bit suspicious ). Nothing proved that they were in that space perminantly. They filed for bankrupcy, etc. Alledgedly they started very successful stars. There is no proof of that. A matter of fact, there are websites that disproves John Robert Powers' claims of starting such talented individuals. My advice is.. find a reperable agency.

well that's my point How come they have not been sued? Diana ross Lucy should sue. Well, Diana Ross anyway

Maybe JRP tricks famous people there somehow, and after they enter the building, they can say they "have been there". Then they realize where they are and run away in terror.

I have been known to use a fake name when I try out new classes, just so if I end up hating them, they won't know I was there and won't claim me as a student.

I always thought it was the Barbizon school of acting, though only from ads not from experience

THey are indeed a scam.
My poor mom had to deal with me desperately wanting to attend there when I was like 8. I of course had no idea they were a scam and had fallen for their pitch hook line and sinker. Kudos to mom for not giving in to the hype and for calmly refusing to part with her money.

To my dismay, when the New York Times did an article on child actors out here, they gave great play to this school and a teacher whom I most remember for trying to charge $600 for a Web page.

Unfortunately, name recognition counts for a lot for newcomers, no matter what experienced actors may say about some places.

I don't get it - if John Powers teaches acting classes, why would that upset so many people?

quote:

Originally posted by actorforlife:
I don't get it - if John Powers teaches acting classes, why would that upset so many people?

Wellllll, if the guy at the deli said he does dentisty in the basement that does not mean he is qualified. It might upset some people. Some might not care.

That having been said, JRP are franchises and a VERY FEW, [maybe one] has real actors teaching there who know what they are doing. This I get from hearsay.

quote:

Posted May 16, 2007 09:33 PM Hide Post
I don't get it - if John Powers teaches acting classes, why would that upset so many people

quote:

I don't get it - if John Powers teaches acting classes, why would that upset so many people?

Did you even read the preceding posts? They don't just teach acting classes (and there are many teachers far more respected among professional actors for that) - they lure newbies in with the claim that famous actors have studied with them.

Here's what the Better Business Bureau syas about that:

"This company's website, www.johnrobertpowers.net, names a number of Hollywood celebrities as graduates. An inquiry sent to verify the advertised alumni list, revealed that none of the celebrities had previously attended classes or had any association with John Robert Powers. Those that responded include, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Lucille Ball, John Wayne, Betty Ford, Heather Locklear, and Barbara Walters.We believe this company operates as an advanced fee talant service, although they claim to be a school."
Better Business Report on JRP


Anyone who wants to browse others can look here:

BBB reports on various JRP branches