Tips and Insights, by John Boylan. He offers film acting classes and personal coaching for Toronto-based students.
It’s great when you’re just going to work.
After much experience the excitement and nerves change. After you’ve acted in a lot of movies the near hysteric level can’t sustain itself.
That’s when the work turns into work.
Maybe when you've done a long run of a …
Read MoreWhile auditioning you can keep going even if you drop lines.
Especially when you’re in it.
The struggle in the moment to find words to make your point can be gold. Not sure what to say? – speak your inner monologue. That keeps …
Read MoreAn important step in your professional development is being informed.
Only with the knowledge of how the movie business works can you fully participate in it and give your voice.
The financial side is often blurry.
You know how much you get paid …
Read MoreLiteral or subconscious?
You can use your imagination to develop a like inner monologue that your character could have. That’s useful work.
You develop aspects of your character – speech, physical – and you make up an inner monologue. Sometimes you let that run while you …
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, praise and
Read MoreThis is tricky.
You’ve got to be professional and use that as your guide.
Meaning don’t watch it with your partner, friends, family and even most of your actor colleagues.
Cherish your work; guard it. It’s …
Read MoreAs a working actor you still want to change and grow.
At this level you’ll do it in small bits. Each tiny change you make helps give you more of an edge.
Domini Fifield writes about the footballer Harry Kane in The Guardian …
Read MoreYour character is a low-status bad guy. You’re confronted by a high-status good guy or cool bad guy.
There can be different responses from you, the loser. Here’s an iconic order.
Laugh It Off.
The cool guy demands …
Read MoreAs an actor where are you headed?
Lots of destinations are offered to the professional actor – fame, wealth, awards.
To work with ease and grace is what you do when you’re at your best. It’s one of the goals that are practiced on the …
Read MoreFind a phrase that assists you to find a key to what you’re playing.
Use words and phrases that you like and use everyday.
‘You’re stupid.’ ‘Idiot.’ ‘You’re scared.’ ‘I like you.’ ‘Nice eyes.’ ‘I’m winning.’ ‘You’re losing.’ ‘Please.’ ‘I’m sorry.’ Anything simple that you can repeat at any time during your text or your partner’s text. It’s an …
Read MoreAfter coaching an actor for a time, I often put them on the ‘Do nothing program.’
It’s very successful.
What does it mean?
It doesn’t mean to do nothing. It means …
Read MoreFor example, the TV series Suits has a confrontational style to it which is quintessentially American in the mode of Teddy Roosevelt and his Roughriders marauding through Cuba in 1898.
That style still exists from then til now …
Read MoreThe grade three teacher said, ‘You’re only fooling yourself Johnny.’
If you set out to do something – be an actor, go to an audition, act in an indy film, help a colleague do a self-tape – you have to have a clear conscience.
Think if you’re doing what you want or doing what …
Read MoreYou want to play well.
Your mind is running a checklist as you act and you’re trying to fulfil the list.
No.
It can go like this with your mind saying, ‘Now breathe. Use your diaphragm. Be in the moment. Listen. Mean it …
Read MoreHave you changed agents during your career?
It’s a common occurrence.
And a most disconcerting event. The actor/agent relationship is the most difficult one you’ll have as an actor.
Why would you want to change agents? The first reason that …
Read MoreOne way to give you confidence in an audition is to block it when you prep.
That includes how you’re sitting or standing. Can you play the scene from how you’re standing? Are you comfortable? Usually, the way you normally stand is the best way to stand.
That’s your physical support: how you’re sitting or standing. Try and get …
Read MoreThat term can be a headache you learn early as an actor.
Not a useful phrase.
Yes, some scenes and speeches are long or more emotional or more important. But, this idea can mislead …
Read MoreYou hear people saying, ‘It takes so long to make a movie.’
Does it?
It’s actually: ‘It takes as long as it takes.’
It’s fine if …
Read MoreTaking actions to protect yourself so you can do your work is good.
Being dogmatic usually not.
My recent audition experience as an actor shone a bright light on that.
I don’t read breakdowns as they divert me and the three unplayable adjectives bore in my mind like …
Read MoreAs an actor you already know much about language.
And, tomes upon tomes have been written about it. Let’s touch on a few points.
Writers know language best and actors second best. They create – you interpret. You always begin with the written word. Text.
In TV the writing style reflects the genre. Learn those clues to better deliver what is needed. Shows with speeches having …
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
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