Tips and Insights, by John Boylan. He offers film acting classes and personal coaching for Toronto-based students.
Nothing more comforting than to be in the bar with your fellow actors.
Watch what you take from the evening’s banter as truth.
You learn from experience. Testing the experience is done in acting class where discussion of the work also takes place. Theory and practice …
Read MoreThis is the proper title.
At the end of the day when we make movies you are acting for the camera. The acting classes geared for film and TV must have this title.
Yes, read-throughs, first blocking …
Read MoreThat’s what directors often say when you arrive on set to play a guest lead or day role
They don’t remember exactly what you did in the audition, it’s a learned phrase that series shooters repeat. Or, they say …
Read MoreThere are always real objects in front of you when you’re filming.
If you’re supposed to be seeing elephants running towards you see what works best for you to focus your eyes.
For you and for us watching you on screen. Watching your eyes.
If your imagination – of the elephants – does it, then fine. But, a simple technique that is always available …
Read More‘I don’t really have anything new to offer. I’m just playing now ‘til I drop. I can try something new…but mostly I’ve resolved into a sort of habit form of playing. I play things that are familiar to me.’
Eric Clapton, Royal Albert Hall interview, 2017.
It’s always interesting to hear what the …
Read MoreIn an audition class one evening there was a scene where an actor had to drown.
How to do it? She was stumped. Maybe we all were.
We thought we’d improvise drowning and see what it revealed.
Revelatory.
First it came out there were two parts to it …
Read MoreMost series directors are in the same boat as you.
They are freelance and were looking for a job when they got this one.
They do have the authority on set but their relative status in the movie business is about the same as yours.
It’s the …
Read MoreFilm is a new art form.
What’s a blockbuster?
A block could be a stone; bust, a verb to break; so, breaking a stone. Would that be like cracking the nut?
We often say that when grappling with a …
Read MoreWhether you use the word and or but makes quite a difference.
If you’re asked ‘Are you working?’ and you reply ‘Yes, but, it’s only a small role.’ That is very different from replying ‘Yes, and it’s going well.’
Your self-talk is important to you as a professional. What you say reflects your outlook. Using and instead of but can have a positive affect on …
Read MoreOne of the first actors I ever coached asked me the other day, ‘Do you teach proactive humility?’.
I paused and thought about it…’Yes, I guess I do.’ I haven’t thought of those two ideas – proactive and humility – together.
I like it. I do teach that.
Dezso Magyar, former Artistic Director of the …
Read MoreSo many guidelines in the film and TV industry are gone.
The times have changed. Often protocol isn’t followed, clauses in the producer/actor agreements are broken, preparation time for auditions shortened, less …
Read MoreWhen you’re preparing an audition or going on set and you know the situation, the tone, the quality, what you’re doing - try to avoid beating it to death.
You want to work hard. Good. But, ask yourself what hard work means.
Often it means not …
Read MoreIn acting class, the other day, students said that they were glad to have permission to cry, swear, shout or insult.
I’m not so sure about permission. When it comes to acting.
Is willingness the opposite of permission?
All actors must be willing. Willing to try what the director or coach suggests or what’s written …
Read MoreObserve when you’re in time and it’s peaceful.
You’ll be in thought then.
Seeing you thinking on screen is something we want. Try to learn when you’re in time and to identify different blocks of time.
Time can be like being on a train …
Read MoreDo you get dazzled by the razzle?
The Americans have been dazzling Canadians for a very long time. Economic, political, military, – and cultural razzle.
You’re an actor and you’ve played some wonderful roles on TV series, in independent films and theatre, so try and balance that worth with the worth of a role in a …
Read MoreAs you speak, your mind can be aware of the beauty and clarity of the language it's creating.
With certain characters – speakers – there is an awareness that their dialogue – their speech - is good. Or, the manner in which they are delivering it sounds good.
It’s an overlapping support …
Read MoreWhen you’re out and about stop and look at the passersby.
Play that age-old actor’s game of guessing who everyone is. What jobs each person does. Guess their age, if they’re married, nationality, income. Notice their bodies, how they walk, hold their head and …
Read MoreOn hearing truisms and maxims early on in your career you learn the phrase.
Often, you go round repeating it at opportune moments without giving it a thought. The assumption is that you heard it, it was explained to …
Read MoreYou’ve done the first audition and the call-back and now they’ve asked you to come in for a chemistry read.
Does the term divert you?
So many terms in the movie business need …
Read MoreJohn Boylan | Toronto Acting Coach
After delivering Directing the Actor at the New York University, Graduate Film School, the National Screen Institute, Winnipeg and for The Directors Guild of Canada this course is now being offered here.
Suitable candidates have a level of previous experience: either …
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 …
Using a feature film scene and typical TV scenes you will have time and space to pursue questions that you need to work on. With only one other actor there is a peaceful atmosphere to do detailed work that can most assist you…
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 is a one-hour session over Zoom geared to discuss the work in our most recent class.
For years I’ve been frustrated that I don’t get to speak much to the actors …
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
© 2025 John Boylan. Website built by Dorian.
