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| Uta Hagen | Login/Join |
| Newbie |
I recently watched Uta Hagen's Acting Class, and I fell in love with her way of teaching. Are there any teaching actors out there at the moment in Los Angeles who have a similar way of teaching, and who would you recommend to somebody who loves Uta Hagen? | ||
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Marlon Brando |
Howard Fine Ivana Chubbuck Aaron Speiser | |||
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| Newbie |
Thanks so much TRUTHTELLER!! I want to be challenged the most for my money so I definitely want classes that make you grow as an actor. Is there any classes that you would recommend every starting actor take if they want a challenge? I'm sorry if this has been asked somewhere else. | |||
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| Nicholas Cage |
I'm enrolled at Aaron Speiser and we use Uta Hagen's book "Respect For Acting" as our textbook. A lot of the Saturday "homework" assignments are based on it too. | |||
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| Newbie |
That's great!! How do you like the classes so far? Do you find it challenging or have you seen alot of the teachings in other classes? | |||
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| Nicholas Cage |
Well, I'm new so I haven't taken many classes other than cold reading and improv. What I like the most about Speiser so far is that you can attend ALL the classes. Right now I'm attending BOTH of the technique classes (they cover the same thing but taught by different teachers/different exercises); that's 8 hours of class per week so you get to work A LOT. You only have to attend once but for those that have time, like myself, we can attend everything... Plus of course you can audit the scene study classes... Once you're in scene study, if you wanted to you could attend your scene study class, two technique classes, plus the saturday class for a total of 3-4 classes a week in which you get to work so you can REALLY immerse yourself into acting. The technique classes actually aren't too crowded and you get to work a lot. The thing that I don't like is if you want to perform on Saturdays its front of EVERYONE (beginner students, master class, scene study) so it's very scary in order to perform in front of like 50+ people (The regular classes are way smaller). One of the things that I don't like is that some of the stuff is non-acting related... For example, on Saturday's some folks will perform by singing. The teacher says it's the same thing as a monologue except by using a different medium (singing instead of acting). I would prefer it was just only acting. | |||
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| Russell Crowe |
Well, if you're serious about wanting to become an actor, it's really time to start working on that fear. And the best way of dealing with a fear is to do it.  | |||
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| Nicholas Cage |
True but I feel it is the norm to perform in front of your peers or class but not necessarily in front of people who are in the much more advanced classes... That is a lot more difficult than just performing in front of your class or an audience. I think it's less scary to perform in front of a regular audience versus Master Class students. | |||
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| Marlon Brando |
I don't get what's the difference between performing in front of supposedly "more advanced students" and students at your level. Who cares? You CAN'T go into a room or on set with "oh my God! I hope they like me..." Just do your thing. | |||
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| Newbie |
I definitely understand your fear. But since I realized that acting was the only thing I wanted to do in life, I overcame it by rationalizing it in my head. My new motto is "Don't be afraid of things that won't kill you." Acting in front of students that are more advanced than you will not kill you. You are in CLASSES, which means that everybody is there to learn, not to judge others. Just look at the more advanced students in a way of them being those people who will go to the theatre to watch you. Focus only on making them believe you are the character you play and make them get lost in the play, film, etc. Once you focus on that and you realize that getting on stage isn't going to kill you, I think you will be able to do it.  | |||
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| Newbie |
Thank you for your review on Speiser's classes. I am one of those people who would take 2-3 classes a week, probably more with other teachers too. I want to immerse myself into acting and make that my main focus in life. I'm just not in a prime location for that yet. When i move out to LA, I'll probably end up signing up for classes the day I get out there, if not on the plane lol. | |||
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| Nicholas Cage |
Thanks everyone for your input; I agree it is something I need to get over with. I figured out that the singing thing was actually one of the "homework" assignments in order to progress from scene study into Master... When you are in technique, they have homework assignments in addition to your regular class homework assignments (if you have any) and those are the ones you're supposed to do on Saturday. For example, one of the exercises is to walk into the room three different times with a different "moment before" and objective... while others are more improv related etc. People in scene study will tend to put up their scene again on Saturdays, other folks will do personalized exercises in areas where the teacher may feel they need help while others may want to do their "own thing" and perform. Also, Speiser is against rehearsing with your scene partners. They don't believe in it because you don't get to rehearse on television whereas in a class like Chubbuck you are required to rehearse 6-8 hrs a week. From what I've seen so far they really stress "being in the moment" and not planning emotions etc... Kind of like Meindl except more television oriented because Meindl only has you use scenes from theater and not television from what I hear... | |||
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| Newbie |
Hmm..I've never heard of rehearsing with your partners being discouraged. Maybe i should read up more on Meindl. The assignments sound very do-able lol. I definitely am going to have to go get into some speiser classes. | |||
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| Marlon Brando |
I HATE scene study classes where you have to rehearse. Just learn your f'ing lines and hope they learn those. If you're actively listening and reacting, how you'll say your lines should ideally be different everytime and thus have an organic performance. | |||
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