The Actor DIY's Acting School - Part II

Part 11 of creating your very own Acting School Experience

Hi Actor,

Last week we discussed the concept of "taking back the power into our own hands" by being self guided in our own education. We looked at how

to structure & create our very own DYI Acting School. Covering Content, Duration & Hourly Commitment we can now start to see the path ahead. We have selected something that both excites us and challenges us. We made it flexible and accessible for ourselves. Now we look at the next step of the process which is all about the facilitation of our education. We will cover the Workspace & Equipment required for the journey ahead as well as have a look at those that inspire us, teach and guide us. So with no further ado!

Workspace & Equipment

As an ideal basic set up, you'll need a private room to do your work. Privacy is a key ingredient for the beginning of your education. A safe space you can work away without the fear of judgment. This is where you can do your voice & body work.

You'll also need a self tape set up.

• Most phones these days come with a more than decent enough camera ✅.

• A tripod is the next piece of equipment to find. Shop around for something sturdy that is going to last you ✅.

• If you are going to use your phone as the camera, you will need a Phone Tripod Mount too ✅.

• Next purchase some lighting, maybe two ring lights or even a couple of soft box lights will do the trick ✅. Ideally natural light is best but these lights will be helpful in working when light is low.

• Next you'll need a blank wall or a backdrop set up that you can put up and pack down ✅.

Thats all the equipment I think you'll need to start - but keep that workspace growing over time. Throw in a directional mic; a designated camera seperate from your phone; add a voice recording set up if you'd like to dive into playing characters in the world of animation or games. Now that we have both a private space and a self tape set up, we want to next consider our icons. Our heroes! We are going to learn from them.

"Hero" Faculty

Have a look at your favourite actors. Consider them to be your guides through your education. Each week work with them and gold mine their approaches. Find interviews with these actors you aspire to be like and note any key information about their practice that you could learn about and use yourself. Take their gold and make it your own. This is a very motivational practice to have.

"Good artists borrow, great artists steal"

Picasso

See one of the previous posts, 'The Actor Steals' for more on this approach. Now lets have a look at the real deal guides of your education.

Teachers

Finding a teacher (or two or three) that is aware of what your doing is going to be pretty key. Ask around for recommendations. I would recommend finding a weekly class or workshop to get your head around the foundational training (if you haven't already) and then once you have a solid understanding of how to practice, spend your time practicing at home with colleagues you've met from class.

Once you have a solid practice up and running, look out for interesting masterclasses with "master teachers". Drop back in and out of classes/ workshops when you specifically want guidance with a particular part of your practice.

I'd recommend finding a Voice (speaking voice - not to be confused with singing) teacher, an Audition coach, a teacher of Script Analysis, a coach for Business purposes (someone to let you in on tips and tricks to connecting to your local film & theatre industry) & perhaps different teachers for specific Methods of Acting.

This is probably going to be the most expensive part of your education so only do what you can manage. If your capacity allows for only one teacher at a time thats more than fine, might even have its advantages. Less cooks in the kitchen so to speak. When looking for the right teachers you want to choose someone that fits just right for you. Have a read of this article that articulates some considerations worth making when going about selecting your teachers.

Now that we have selected our teachers it might be worth checking out options available for mentorships.

Consider a Mentorship

Going one step further than just booking into a class or workshop, consider a mentorship. Working one on one with an actor who is willing to share genuine advice & guidance is worth considering. Prices also range depending on the person you're doing the mentorship with and what they choose to provide through their practice.

Mentorships can provide:

• Generalised Support

• Artistic Development

• Critical/ Constructive Feedback

• Creative Advice

• Career Advice & Guidance

• Personalised Mindset Coaching

• Assistance in Industry Navigation

• Continuous Learning - no matter your level

By setting up your space ready to work & choosing your guides/ teachers you can set yourself up for success in this career where often it feel like the numbers are stacked against you. The space allows for you to work in private and the teachers keep you in the game even on the days you don't want to work - holding you accountable each step of the way. Not t0 mention watching and studying your idols gives you a direction and a hell of a lot of motivation.

Next weeks Part III will include:

1. Assessment & Reviewing

2. Resources

3. Community/ Connecting with industry

4. Showcase Your Work

5. Industry Work Experience

Stay tuned for next weeks PART III!

Talk soon,

Lachy

Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry nearing a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.