I've been getting a lot of emails from Now Casting about online acting classes. Are the any reputable online classes worth the money that would look great on a resume? Thanks!!

Seriously?

Yeah lol why?

Acting is about relating and interaction. Even presuming (as seems unlikely) your on-line teacher can give you meaningful coaching (do they even do that?) on-screen, what about class work with others, etc.?

I'm reasonably sure the moment a CD sees "on-line" (or knows that the class is), you'll be getting a response (which you'll probably never see) you won't like.

I do know it is becoming a "thing" for online private coaching sessions over skype or something of the sort.

But Im not sure there are online classes and if there are, how beneficial those would be. It would just be better to be IN the class in the environment, I would believe at least.

Since I'm in Michigan I figured it would be a good chance to have a major cd or teachers name on my resume. Instead of having all these teachers in Michigan that obviously noones ever heard of.

Well being in Michigan it is fine now.

When you get to LA, if you are going, just enroll into classes then and add the names that way.

Actually, a lot of NAME LA teachers are now teaching 1 on 1's via Skype. It's probably expensive and I don't know how effective that is but you could do that and so when you do move to LA, you'll have their names on your resume already.

Brrrr....

I'm reminded of famous chefs who lend their names to cheaper restaurants or designers who come up with a K-mart line.

Haha! Good analogy. Whatever it takes to get actors to part with their money...

I can understand the desperation of getting a good résumé and that you feel like you're a bit stuck in Michigan - however, is it really going to be worth it to spend a lot of money on 'online acting' JUST to be able to write it down?

I mean, you might get an audition but then what..? I think your money should be spent on becoming a really good actor, taking REAL classes that you can actually benefit from, so when you get to LA, you can attend the auditions AND actually book the job. =)

quote:

Originally posted by Degprinsessan:
I can understand the desperation of getting a good résumé and that you feel like you're a bit stuck in Michigan - however, is it really going to be worth it to spend a lot of money on 'online acting' JUST to be able to write it down?

I mean, you might get an audition but then what..? I think your money should be spent on becoming a really good actor, taking REAL classes that you can actually benefit from, so when you get to LA, you can attend the auditions AND actually book the job. =)

I have to agree. These online skype coachings might work if you've worked with the teacher in person before and just need a quick session/refresher for a specific project ... but otherwise, you're really just handing over the cash to put their name on your resume and you're not getting the benefit of real acting training and instruction.

Paladin nailed it too ... the Wolfgang Puck salad that you buy at the stand in the airport is not the same salad you would get at his restaurant.

quote:

Originally posted by marbar:

quote:

Originally posted by Degprinsessan:
I can understand the desperation of getting a good résumé and that you feel like you're a bit stuck in Michigan - however, is it really going to be worth it to spend a lot of money on 'online acting' JUST to be able to write it down?



I mean, you might get an audition but then what..? I think your money should be spent on becoming a really good actor, taking REAL classes that you can actually benefit from, so when you get to LA, you can attend the auditions AND actually book the job. =)

I have to agree. These online skype coachings might work if you've worked with the teacher in person before and just need a quick session/refresher for a specific project ... but otherwise, you're really just handing over the cash to put their name on your resume and you're not getting the benefit of real acting training and instruction.

Paladin nailed it too ... the Wolfgang Puck salad that you buy at the stand in the airport is not the same salad you would get at his restaurant.

This......I have done 1 on 1 skypes with a private coach that I have used in person...but we actually know each other a bit and it would be for a specific project.....for instance say a Disney audition that didnt have a LOT of dialog.....

Dont really like it this way......would rather interact with someone in person but in a pinch when you get that last minute audition? It happens.

Ok I know its not as effective as learning in class but I'm taking classes and learning in Michigan I just want big names on my resume is what I meant. I didn't know if cds would look down on that when they found out it was an online class.

There's a whole other aspect to this which you don't seem to be considering.

The name of a major teacher on your resume may be a plus, but it is part of an overall picture which must also include substantial acting credits to interest CD's. If you come out from another state with big teacher's names on your resume and no meaningful credits, that will not do you much good.

What you should be most concerned about at this point is truly building up your acting skills and experience. While it is not impossible that on-line lessons might help with that, chances are you can get better, more effective training face-to-face where you are. But if your main focus is how your resume looks, take the overall picture into account. You need acting credits. And if you don't actually hone your craft - as opposed to taking a class because of how it looks on a resume - you're less likely to get them.