Hi,

Just wondering if anybody have something to say about the NYFA acting program. They charging 13k for one semester. Is it worthed? or is all just marketing and stealing?

Ace

In my opinion you could do MUCH better esp in New York.

NYFA -

1) They advertise for teachers on Craigslist.
Need I say more?

2) When a class gets full, they simply open another class. i.e. Totally commercially driven and will take as many students, who want to pay, as they can.

3) School is primarily focused on filming end of the business and not the acting end. Actors end up being there for the sake of those who want to MAKE films and actor training is minimal.

Is this what you are looking for in a program?

rfan is right on with the points he made.

I have not taken classes there, but I have met actors from the school, and they think they are much better then they are... probably because they paid so much for their classes.

There are countless better options for an actor.

PS. Aside from what has been said about quality...

They have schools in NY, LA, Philly, Chicago, (and numerous other US Cities), not to mention Paris, London and other European cities.

They clearly have the quantity (both in terms of locations and number of classes that can potentially run at one time at each location).

Wherever you are, I'm sure you could find a more personalized program that focuses on the actor's art.

If theres somebody that knows anybody that had gone to the acting program at nyfa? I just dont want to waste 50k dollars on that 2 years program they have.

If you are serious about acting in any shape or form, stay away from this place like the Plague. After dropping everything I had to pursue my dream, I moved to NY and fell for this trap of an acting school. This school is simply the most for-profit acting school you could ever come across. They simply open campuses around the world and spend all their money on marketing versus quality. Both campuses in NY are located in high traffic areas. Union Square and Soho, with giant flags displaying the schools names so everyone can see them. They have ads on subways and every medium possible. I went to this school and still am devastated by my experience. Since there is no interview, or audition, there is no quality control, you simply get stuck with many Rich Kids from foreign countries who simply want to live in NY with the visa NYFA granted them.

The school does not follow its supposed strict policies of attendance. Kids can come and go as they please. I had a couple mini-celebrities in my class (part of marketing) and they were allowed to use chairs as a bed and sleep!!!! No joke. The attendance was about 50%....No lesson plans, no nothings simply many of the staff were people who were struggling, and taking the job as side income. They are now hiring teachers on craigslist, The requirements are simply as long as you have a MFA, they will hire you.... that should not qualify you as a teacher.
I could write a whole report on this sad sad place (actig segement).
Basically it goes like, as long as you pay, they don't care what your history is, they are so money driven it's scary.
I have spoken with some of the best acting teachers in NY along with casting directors, and yes the school you went to won;t guarantee anything, but if you say you went to NYFA, you will be put on the bottom of the list. Think of this school almost like a fat camp for acting....kids are bored and simply want to mess around and what not.
This school advertises that Paul Dano attended....(the only really big success of the acting portion of the school) yet he does not visit, give the school credit, or is listed as attending on IMDB or anywhere on the web. if was truly grateful to the school and it helped him in any way shape or form, would he not mention this and come to the school as a guest speaker such as Edward Norton at Terry Scheiber Studio as one of the many examples. NYFA is simply an incredible textbook definition of what wonderful marketing and nice facilities can do to persuade a number of actors. Stay away from this place, please.

So what courses/schools do you guys recommend, then?
thanks

I have been working in New York for 6 years... and honestly, I have never work with any actors from NYFA... I don't know why.

There are many good schools in New York - you will have to do a little research, or audit their class to see if it's the right school for you.

Here are just some of my suggestions:

William Esper STudio
Herbert Berghof (HB) Studio
Stella Adler Acting Studio
Lee Strasberg Institute
Atlantic Acting School
The Neighborhood Playhouse
Maggie Flanigan Studio
Ron Stetson Studio
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
NYC Acting School for Film and Television
Sande Shurin Studio
Weist-Baron Studio
The Barrow Group
T. Schreiber Studio
The Acting Studio
MTB Studio
Michael Howards Studio
Penny Templeton Studio
Robert X. Modica Acting Studio
Caymichael Patten Studio
Bova Actors Studio
Stonestreet Studios
Anthony Abeson Workshop
Primary Stages Acting School
Joanna Beckson Studios
Catherine Gaffigan Studio
Turturro Acting Studio
Kimball Studio
Circle in the Square Theatre School
Jim Bonney Acting Studio
Sally Johnson Studio
Black Nexxus Inc.
TVI Studios (this is a more business oriented school)

Good Luck.

A great studio, is the Bova Actors Workshop. Teaching is based on the Eric Morris System. Anthony Vincent Bova is his protege and one of the best teachers in NY. No one teaches truth, irreverence and character work like this class. Every actor works every class, reasonable prices and Anthony truly cares about each and everyone of his students. For more info, visit Bovaactorsworkshop.com. I know he has classes starting in a few weeks, so now is the perfect time to get involved.

quote:

Originally posted by Fally7385:
A great studio, is the Bova Actors Workshop. Teaching is based on the Eric Morris System. Anthony Vincent Bova is his protege and one of the best teachers in NY. No one teaches truth, irreverence and character work like this class. Every actor works every class, reasonable prices and Anthony truly cares about each and everyone of his students. For more info, visit Bovaactorsworkshop.com. I know he has classes starting in a few weeks, so now is the perfect time to get involved.

Jesus! EVERY post you've made has been about Anthony Bova! Are you an employee or Anthony Bova yourself?

It's cool that his teachings are based upon Eric Morris' but Eric Morris is NOT for everyone! If the Strasberg version of Method Acting is NOT for you then Eric Morris' teachings will NOT be for you for a good portion of Eric's teachings do come from Strasberg.

Truthteller, TOTALLY agree, Eric Morris is not for everyone. I am a firm believer that each actor has to find out what technique/techniques works for them, only then will the actor by able to reach his/her true potential. Good luck everyone!