Testimonials.
/Re: the Tips and Insights in this email:
Yes. Exactly.
David Frisch
I just want to thank you soooo much for all the inspirational and very practical notes you give us in the end of these announcements for upcoming classes. I think you started them during COVID (an official period in history…lol). I look forward to what you have to say, as it's always so poignant and so helpful. Thank you!
Imali Perera
Beautifully written and oh so true. Glad to see you’re still around nearing the end of this pandemic.
Julia Matthews
Thank you for these thoughts!
I had never thought about production schedule as a factor in creative response.
I shot a movie in July 2019 (‘Feel the Beat’ on Netflix) and it involved a number of children, and almost all of them were brought up from LA and New York (dancing schools/musical programs).
Recently I was cast in a movie (Bro Love) as a cardiologist but they couldn’t secure a hospital style location so the scenes were cut. I was recast as a more interesting ‘celebrity psychic’ on a Facetime call. We rehearsed for 40 mins with my partner by Zoom. Less than 48 hrs later the role changed to voiceover only. When we recorded my part, in my local radio studio, it took a whole hour. The director was very organic, and wanted a full take that she was happy with. (7 lines) She tried a million things and I complied. I did point out that the engineer can pull out portions of each take (even words or syllables!) and edit a version. She didn’t want that.
In the end, she reported that indeed that had happened in the end.
Honestly the whole thing could have taken 10 mins :). (Personally I think there was a flaw in the writing.)
She seemed not to be in a hurry. They were paying me the same as the on camera agreement, so I made $300.What a world.
Karen Skidmore
There is no other acting instructor in this city, and most likely most other cities who is as wise as you; who is as observant as you; who allows himself to be endlessly energized by this form we call Art and Craft, as you...and who will admit to being confused upon occasion.
Marcia Bennett, Acting Coach
Always love your insights. This whole page is great but the “bar advice” section really made me smile. I’ve heard advice from that source…many times… and I always shake my head.
Alicia Jeffery
Talent Agent, The Characters
I truly can’t tell you how influential you've been to my work. I’ve had some extraordinary teachers and yet I find you to be the most influential, particularly right now with film and TV. I'm grateful that the pandemic has brought me to yourself and your work!
Evelyn Wiebe
Thank you for this, John! Such great words, reminders, and direction!
Looking forward to the next class!
Flora Quintus
Appreciate the newsletter. This was helpful to read John. Thanks.
Thea McKay
Always love your insights. This whole page is great but the “bar advice” section really made me smile. I’ve heard advice from that source…many times… and I always shake my head.
Glad you’re working with Evelyn Wiebe. She’s getting a lot out of your coaching.
Alicia Jeffery
Thanks, John. Sounds like a perfect application of Daoism.
Ivana Jackson
Thanks so much John. I so appreciate your thoughts, super helpful!
Evelyn Wiebe
Not only the epiphany but the "my mentor" bit. Warms the cochleae cordis of mi 'eart it does. Meaning: The cockles of the heart are its ventricles, named by some in Latin as "cochleae cordis ", from "cochlea" (snail), alluding to their shape. The saying means to warm and gratify one's deepest feelings.
Sandra S
I absolutely LOVE what you have written here and couldn't agree more. At the beginning of the journey towards craft we cannot teach anything that is not inherently known. It is our job to assist in the "revealing" (to the actor) of what is already there. Likewise, further down the road, in the heat of the moment, given all of the demands of the work, we can remind, as you so eloquently have written. A reminder: a silent prop in the midst of the chaos.
You are a great teacher and coach. So fortunate are those in your sphere.
Janine Pearson
Former Head of Voice, Stratford Festival and The National Theatre School of Canada
What a beautifully written and inspired piece, John.
I'm so glad to receive these missives.
Enjoy your day.
Janine Pearson
Thank you John... wonderfully said and great to read the words.
Emily Einsmann
I’ve been reading your newsletters for the past while — always very interesting stuff — relevant and candid. As Ian would say, “the work is the work”.
Nick Dipchand
What a beautiful posting, John. An absolute pleasure to read.
Janine Pearson
Thanks for writing that out John. Really insightful.
Karson Mackie
Me and Michael Caine, I look at the inside eye as well. I still need to learn to do less. Thanks.
Tom Butler
I sure hope you’re planning on compiling these in some way, John.
Dave Frisch
Really like this Tips & Insights, JB.
Thank you.(!)
Vanessa Smythe
Yeah but a speak-through is a skill unto itself that one must learn...like a baseball player playing football or whatever. I never did learn how to do it...at some point, I may call you to find out how.
Unnamed
I love your pieces, as you know. They are terrific. Ta!
Terry Haig
Nice!...xxx
Terry Haig
Excellent advice. You are ready for a good book or manual for these actors doing so much commercial work. So good that you quote the ‘MAN’ with great quotes. I often mention that when Shakespeare’s language changes, you change! It’s music! Prose, lifts to blank verse and then changes to rhyming verse. In many of my productions, when I moved the plays to other eras that fit the story, I added songs that fit the situation, so the “musicality” of the text goes one step further….
You be da mon…mon !
Arne Zaslove
I LOVE these notes. Truly. Thank you for sharing. :)
I hope you are doing well. Talk to you soon.
Allison Basha
The tips are great and articulate well what I’ve increasingly come to realize.
Greta Whipple
Good analogy. My brother was a surgeon. He knew of what you say about time.
The focused actor is in a different world when the director calls 'action'. That's part of the magic.
Sandy
I always love your tips to actors - They’re usually right on the money for me and often reflect my own insights into the business and what I advise my clients as well.
Here here! I really do value your emails highly - you’ve got great insight into the business!
Alicia Jeffrey
Hi John, thank you so much for sharing this! All the best.
Peggy Coffey
Great copy and mazel tov to your resilience and commitment! My book is coming along and I’ll send it to you via email for comments….it’s my life story as a director/teacher/performer with lots of photos and stories. Hugs….to the Boylan Boy!
Arne Zaslove
Hey John, I really appreciate these post-class notes. I genuinely find them useful and they invoke good thought, so thanks for sending. Cheers.
Unnamed
I enjoyed our classes and I'm glad I got to learn from you.
If there's any way I can continue to receive your words of wisdom emails, please sign me up.
Robert Bazzocchi
Awesome list, well thought out. May these lessons be learned.
Alan Gensho Florence
Thanks for this, John! "Not a Return to Normal" indeed!
It's truly hard to imagine production during Covid...despite these safety measures, eek.
Marie-Clare Marcotte
Very informative. I’ll share this to my network. Thanks John.
Alex Weiner
Thanks for these thoughts, John. I’ve got those ASMR goosebumps just now reading this one, I think it’s my favourite one yet!
It’s been really great reading your thoughts during this period of pause on the industry, I feel like it’s made me take a step back and look at the work with fresh eyes.
Noah Spitzer
This passage was extra special today, thank you for this read.
Keana Lyn
Thank you for this one!
I remember going into a musical theatre audition once where the director spent the entire audition smoking a cigar and talking to someone. When I realized that he wasn’t going to focus on me, I stopped singing. They looked up and I asked if it would be better if I came back another time. They focused. However the cigar remained. A number of years later, I was hired as an emergency replacement on the road in a show this had man directed. I have no idea if he remembered me.
Karen Skidmore
Good tips, John. I love the way you keep on going! Merry Christmas and New Year.
David Fox
Really a neat idea those tips; especially nice short quick grabs for a generation that doesn't read and can't concentrate beyond a paragraph or two. Makes it so accessible and a more effective learning tool. Quite a brilliant idea....I shall pass the link on to my students. I especially liked, (it's not spoken of much), the insight into the business from the perspective of agents and casting agents and directors too. Actors are so self involved they need to know the bigger picture.
Dixie Seatle
I am very much enjoying these notes, John.
Ashleigh Rains
Ps. Digging those tips on the FB page.
Jameson Kraemer
I really like the Tips & Thoughts. Great to read. Useful.
Tracey Forencz
I love reading the tips in your emails every time. Thank you for this. I read the notes and felt much more positive about heading into TO for a commercial audition yesterday. I really appreciate your notes.
Karen Skidmore
I'm really enjoying reading the 'tidbits', I think it's a very useful format. I'd love to see them compiled into a book someday... There are so many books on acting that I read and have on the shelf and rarely revisit, but I think this format would invite the reader to keep picking it up and reading one or two passages and letting them stew.
Sarah Koehn
Hey there, John. I'm not available to take class right now, but I wanted to say I like the little essay very much. Hope you're well.
David Frisch
Hi John, just thought I’d write and say that I like the essays you’ve started sending with your notices about classes. I actually have started looking forward to them. Hope you’re well.
Dave Frisch
Really good. I liked it. Very interesting.
Heather Ibbitt
Like a manual. There’s a lot in here. Thought provoking. Good food for thought. Very good. No bullshit like some other coaching books that have lots of padding. This one is truth and clarity. Very psychological, perceptive and life. Poses questions.
Ivana Jackson
Fabulous tips and thoughts. You're always thinking, evolving, adjusting and developing new classes in order to help actors of all ages and experience. I so admire you.
Marcia Bennett
Well spoken! Thank-you John.
Raoul Bhaneja
Thank you, John. It’s always nice to see your words of wisdom pop-up here & this was just what I needed!
Bo Lam
Boy, is reading this great. Thank you.
Zach Parkhurst
Great point!
Al St. Louis
On: Don’t Try to Out Act a Tree
Aha, that’s quite brilliant! Your entries are most useful to actors and everyone.
Lesley Larkum
Excellent, my dear John!
Your essay here on it all is wonderful, Johnny. Those kids are lucky and blessed to have you for a teacher.
Terry Haig
On: Jumping on Hotel Beds
I won a nice film role a few days ago and my friend asked me whether I was 'excited'. I replied 'no, this is what should normally happen: I do good work in the room and am offered the job. Period.' It is understandable that 'civilians' only see the 'magic'. It doesn't serve the professional, nor their work, to see anything but.
Joseph Gallaccio
I have read some of your thoughts about the whole shebang on your website. I have enjoyed them thoroughly. I quote you often, dear Sir.
Shawn Campbell
On: Affecting Bridge Thoughts
Very useful observation. And a nicely evocative illustration. Lucky students.
David Calderisi
I just read your thoughts on "Flirting with the Director" and wanted to thank you for recognizing this issue. The older I get, the less I have patience for situations like this.. on set OR off. It does take someone pointing it out to you to notice it sometimes, especially when you're young.. so I appreciate you bringing this issue up in your email blast. Hopefully young women will read it and feel emboldened to say "I won't put up with that behaviour anymore" and young men will read it and say "I won't be a silent bystander". Keep those nuggets of wisdom coming!!
Lara Mrkoci
Seeing your Facebook posts etc. You’re an amazing guy John Boylan!
John MacKay
Liked the thought.
Debora Demestre
Jake Epstein and I have both really been enjoying reading your Tips & Thoughts on Facebook. They really land. Thank you.
Vanessa Smythe
Yes, please do use for anything! I love reading the testimonials and the tips and such that come in your emails. Until next time, all the best.
Thalia Kane
I find your "Tips" excellent, and are passing them along to my acting students at Dawson in Montréal. Thanks.
Gord Masten, Dawson College
I enjoy your newsletters and thoughts in them.
Kaylee Harwood
PS. I enjoyed that Tips and Thoughts email you just sent out. Wish I’d read that before shooting with Christoph Waltz, definitely would have used the line, “Congratulations on all your work!”
Noah Spitzer
I love this.
Andrew Pimento
Thanks so much for this! Very helpful. I read this this morning before my audition and it really helped me focus and settle in the room...and let myself be seen.
Alexandra Ordolis
Very well said.
Alex Lee
In rehearsal in Sudbury, and today grateful for your tips and thoughts called Fun. Perfect timing. How are you, my friend?
Linda Goranson
This is great, John Boylan.
Angela Asher
With a lifetime of experience as an actor and acting coach, John Boylan offers wisdom and insight to aspiring actors and experienced performers alike. The Tips and Thoughts are practical and applicable to many different aspects of an actor’s life and career. An indispensable read.
Joe Dowling
Former Artistic Director of both the Abbey Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre
Great tips for the young actor, John. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
Michael David Kirby
Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts, Toronto, Canada
Entertaining, informative and battle tested. John’s tips are invaluable to, not just actors, but anyone involved in the casting process.
Cal Coons
Showrunner, Frankie Drake, Murdoch Mysteries
John, in his insightful book, Tips & Thoughts, offers practical hands-on tips from a tried and trusted industry leader. Second to none.
Patrick Sutton
Director, Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin
John’s Tips & Thoughts are so useful to me as an actor. I like to read one every few days just to put a bright reminder in my mind.
Jake Epstein
Designated Survivor, Suits, Degrassi
These are gems. John’s Tip And Thoughts are relatable and inclusive, and there is no doubt that every actor at every level will benefit. There are decades and decades of insight packed into these pages.
Rich Caplan
Talent Agent, Noble Caplan Abrams, Toronto
There are the foundations of acting that as an actor you go over and over. But John’s tips and thoughts are, for me, like going through your house and cleaning out all the nooks and crannies. Tending to the areas of your work that you know are there but you don’t always address. They comfort the thoughts and questions that have rolled through my mind but never made it out of my mouth.
Natalie Krill
The Listener, Below Her Mouth, The Next Step
Wow. I really liked Jumping on Beds. That is so fucking great. You're giving people a huge gift with that right to work groundedness. Love it.
Ian Carpenter
Looks great, John.
David Sutcliffe
What a lovely message and reminder.
Ashleigh Rains
Thanks John for your great advice over the years.
Jordan Sawyer
What a beautiful quote from your Mentor, John - and how true.
Janine Pearson
Wow! One of your best ever, John Boy!
Terry Haig
Hi John, as always love your tips to actors . There is something important in note taking.
Marianne McIsaac
This was helpful, thanks John.
Nicole S. Moller
Get yourself a little pocket recorder, not your phone. And just tape your thoughts as they come up, anything and everything. You're always examining life, and acting of course. You might find you have the strength for another round if you go at the creation of it from a different perspective. Don't think of it as an actor book, think of it as a living book. Anything and everything. Stay well.
John McKay
Hi John… I hope this reaches you directly and I hope it finds you well. You really should do a book. It would be about acting, obviously, but also not about acting. Your acting thinking has always been very much life thinking. The book would kind of crossover.
John McKay
