Tips and Insights, by John Boylan. He offers film acting classes and personal coaching for Toronto-based students.
Can 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 MoreThis is what Sergeant Joe Friday, played by Jack Webb on the TV series Dragnet, used to say to witness’s when they strayed from the facts.
Getting the facts clear in a scene is half the battle.
Learn the plot line, sequence of events, key characters, location, time of day, good …
Read MoreWhen the audition ends and they stick up their thumbs and say: ‘Good job, great, perfect’ it doesn’t mean you got the part.
It mostly just means, ‘Thank-you’.
An audition is only the middle with no beginning or end …
Read MoreWhat are your expectations take after take?
Shooting a television series is done quickly over long hours, and if you’re a regular it’ll be all you can do to remember your lines.
Those are the conditions.
Within those conditions you’ll ...
Read MoreDon’t start until you’re ready.
After ‘Action!’ you need time between their order and your beginning.
It doesn’t have to be much time, but not jumping when the gun is fired is critical.
Always try to be on top of your work. To put ...
Read MoreAny two actors who have acted together have a special bond.
You’ve crossed into the imaginary world with your partner and that is never forgotten. You both honoured the agreement to give and take. You held the …
Read MoreYou often hear your fellow actor on set saying that. It isn’t a bad thought but you should watch carefully where it might lead you and if you want to go there.
If the idea of turning the one-episode role into a recurring one takes hold, it may have you trying hard to be liked by the producers, director and series regulars.
That could ...
Read MoreYou want to do all you can to promote yourself.
How to do it is a complicated and difficult job.
The producers – through the casting directors and agents – keep a pretty tight rein on how much you can do. For instance, it’s considered a no-no to bypass the casting system and …
Read MoreDoes your character help or hinder the lead?
If a character played by a leading actor such as Harrison Ford is seeking to get on a plane so he can rescue his daughter from threatened death then the character playing the ticket agent must either be helping the Ford character get on the plane or blocking him from …
Read MoreYou often have to stand with both arms by your sides. Not holding on to anything.
It’s just you in space. At first it can seem awkward.
Learn to do it by standing well and easy, with your feet really on the ground, breathing regularly, arms hanging heavy, shoulders down, ribcage holding …
Read MoreEven though the ideas of equality are all there, female actors are still under a lot of pressure. The reality is these ideas are yet to be fully realized.
You see it on set.
Actresses often flirt with the directors. The directors ...
Read MoreYou have multiple characters in your scenes for your audition.
What to do?
You never need to show the producers that you know there are multiple characters in the scene.
But you may want to place them in different ...
Read MoreI often act with food in my teeth.
No, not big pieces of green spinach in my front teeth that we all check for before our close-up.
Just some food that’s left there because I didn’t brush my teeth. I like it. I like it because it’s a …
Read MoreWhen you’re playing a scene consider if you want to lead (drive the scene), or stay with your partner (equal), or follow.
To follow is to be very active. But you lay back. Like a lion.
Very quick of mind but following. It’s deceptive. It’s lighter.
It’s not slow and heavy, no – it’s a different ...
Read MoreIt’s odd to think that you have to fend for yourself, especially when all the work you do is done collectively.
This can create a disconnect and will leave you with another problem to consider.
But it’s the way society functions - people living and working socially, yet fending for …
Read MoreYou’ll find threes in the scenes you learn, the movies you act in and life around you.
As an actor working in film and television, your interest in three can be both specific and broad.
Specifically, as you examine the script you may notice parts of the writing are in groups of three. A speech giving the character’s position could ...
Read MoreJohn Boylan | Toronto Acting Coach
The best work is often the result of an intense and in-depth period of concentrated effort. This is also the way an actor makes significant gains in their overall abilities.
Over four days this October, five hours each day, you’ll work with a small handful of like-minded actors to develop your skills in working effectively – and successfully - in front of the camera.
In this class …
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 your most recent class or anything relating to your acting career.
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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