Tips and Insights, by John Boylan. He offers film acting classes and personal coaching for Toronto-based students.
On set and in acting class put yourself first.
If you look after yourself, take your space then you will be a good scene partner.
Putting yourself first is key in your relationship with the collective of film workers making the movie. Each must do their job the best they can making the whole better.
Don’t get confused by
Read MoreAs you rehearse add the word point to the end of a line.
Better still, say it at the end of each point you are making, which may be more than one per line.
Say it with the same tone, intent, and volume as you’re saying the …
Read MoreDevelop your ability to see parts of the scene that have potential for you to play. Particular and specific moments of playing. Moments that are describable and definable.
At first glance, something in a scene may appear problematic, but upon examination, you can see it as potential.
Let’s look at an example from an audition scene.
Read MoreWhen you feel attacked or put on the spot it’s great to have a good comeback answer.
Even a simple, common question from a fellow actor can throw you off.
If you meet colleagues every day and answering the usual questions puts you down that makes for a long day of …
Read MoreThere are many wonderful writers on acting: Stanislavski, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Keith Johnstone, Uta Hagen, Harold Clurman and others.
When you want to be inspired and enlightened pick up one of their books and open it.
Anywhere.
Read until you get …
Read MoreIt’s easy to get overwhelmed.
As the world gets more and more chaotic, so does the movie industry. More competitive, faster, lower pay, harsher and tougher.
You have goals and want to improve, dream in colour, work hard, push …
Read MoreAs an actor you need skin as thin as glass in front of the camera and thick as leather in the movie business.
Finding an opposite can help you see what the thing is and what it isn’t.
Asking questions allows an answer which in turn allows the opposite …
Read MoreThat’s a terrible place for you to be working.
One half of your mind going one way, and the other half going the other. Causes a disconnect.
Why?
There could be lots of reasons. Perhaps you think the movie’s content is …
Read MoreYou and all of us want to be needed.
It’s only human.
When you’re cast in a show part of the good feeling is that the movie needs you. It can’t be made without you playing that role. You’re now an integral part of the whole.
You’re needed.
If you’re not booked on a show and not getting auditions you can start to feel like you’re not …
Read MoreThe audition you do at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning is the best audition you can do at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
If you could have done better you would have.
There’s no need to set yourself up for constant regret. You’re already in the business of auditioning and acting in ...
Read MoreSome actors are movie stars.
You may be one now or in the future.
Most of what you need to learn as a movie star is different from what you’ve learned as an actor. They’re two – often overlapping – different jobs.
Everyone knows the things movie stars do. Interviews on talk shows, red carpets, posing for pictures, promoting movies, getting involved with social questions of the day, being famous. You know all this …
Read MoreThat means you mean it.
The you is understood. It’s a useful reminder phrase to keep you playing truthfully. It’s simple and direct.
Try using simple guide phrases like this one and see if they assist you. Just before they call action you can …
Read MoreFind moments in the scene where you have to struggle.
To fight.
The first part of the scene you’re only giving your partner 50% of your attention. When she gives you the news you’re jerked to 100% attention. You’ll be caught off …
Read MoreThe ruling elite are good at lying.
Every ten-year-old schoolboy knows that.
Actors must be good at it too. Plenty of it’s done on TV and in the movies.
Our familiar characters in procedurals – cops, doctors…
Read MoreWhen you prepare your audition put your energy into the acting.
Under pressure you can wish that by dressing perfectly you’ll get the part. And that includes – both literally and figuratively – your socks.
How you dress, your hair, are all important. Make the decisions based on the show and the scene …
Read MoreCan you study in the same space and at the same time of day?
There is much belief that the mind and body learn well – better - when done in the same place and at the same time.
When you repeat that it becomes habitual.
See if it calms your brain and helps you work better.
Read MoreWhen preparing a scene learn the situation don’t memorize a scene.
Learning the situation allows your brain to assimilate the words as they are linked to what is happening in the scene.
Learning it is quite different from memorizing.
If you learn what is going on – how you’re getting what you want, the facts, relationship, time, place – you’ll have much more …
Read MoreIf you’re a lead on a series you have a particular responsibility.
A lead is a leader on set.
Doing your job professionally and getting what you need to do that is the best way to lead. It helps the show. Cast and crew will see that and emulate…
Read MoreNo actor ever got cast in a movie because they recited their lines correctly.
You get cast in a movie if your acting is good enough and if you look and sound the way the producers and director want.
All actors learn their lines. It’s kind of the first thing we set out to do.
In an audition the key is to show yourself doing something. Don’t get …
Read MoreYour audition sides may call for you to kiss, kick or kill.
What’s the best question to pose? Is it, ‘How can I show that?’ or is it, ‘How can I use that?’.
You never have to show the producers that you know what is written in a scene. You won’t get cast for doing that. If a tiger appears before you in the scene you don’t have to make sure the producers know that you know it’s a tiger.
They want to see you …
Read MoreJohn Boylan | Toronto Acting Coach
The New Year Intensive is an opportunity for you to kick off the year practicing on camera over three days.
We'll use a scene from a feature film as a device to let you do some deep work. In the TV and movie business, you don't get …
These are professional track acting classes with practices that meet the actor's needs to work in the film and TV industry.
This course is right for you if: you are committed to being a professional actor; you have some experience in theatre or film; you have some actor training; you recently graduated from theatre school; you have an agent or are actively seeking one …
This course is on Zoom making it ideal to treat questions such as lighting, backdrop, readers, use of space, eyeline, blocking.
You will audition one large scene and one small. The first in "self-tape" format and the second in "Zoom audition" format.
Direction and comments will be …
These are professional track acting classes with practices that meet the actor's needs to work in the film and TV industry.
This course is right for you if: you are committed to being a professional actor; you have some experience in theatre or film; you have some actor training; you recently graduated from theatre school; you have an agent or are actively seeking one …
Working on Zoom this method of recording all the takes while I coach you has proven successful. We keep working, hone the scene, make adjustments …
I can help you make a demo reel and we can schedule it at whatever time suits us both. Please send your photo and resume.
The first step is a one-hour consultation where we discuss who the reel is for, what types suit you, which scenes to do, your hair and wardrobe.
Second step is …
IT'S YOUR SPACE. TAKE YOUR PLACE.
All posted class times are Eastern Time Zone (EDT/EST). A photo and resume must be submitted before registration is confirmed. Scheduled classes and coachings cannot be re-scheduled. If you’re unable to attend you forfeit the time and fee. Make up classes are not held over to future sessions, there are no refunds and money cannot be used towards another class. We reserve the right to change the time, date, and price of our courses.
john@centreforthearts.com
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