Tips and Insights, by John Boylan. He offers film acting classes and personal coaching for Toronto-based students.
It’s important to recognize success and to celebrate both your work and the work of your colleagues.
Life is made up of many beginnings, middles and ends. At the end of a project you should take a moment to commemorate ...
Read MoreYour life as an actor will have many twists and turns.
Once you have analyzed a question, discussed it and made a decision why explain it or apologize for it. Your decision is made, now just act on it.
The actor says, ‘I should have stayed in town for TV work instead of doing ...
Read MoreAs an actor you are asked to fulfil many typical adjectives.
They’re found in audition breakdowns and in movie advertisements and in movie reviewer’s reviews.
Let’s pick a few ...
Read MoreThat’s what they called it in the old days.
Maybe they still do.
An on-camera role in a commercial with lots of dialogue – that’s wall-to-wall dialogue. Lots usually means 6 to 8 lines, which, compared to a …
Read MoreBefore the audition an actor whispers, ‘Watch out, the casting director’s in a bad mood.’
She might be. And, if so, why?
It’s probably got nothing to do with you and everything to do the high pressure of the …
Read MoreDon’t forget that casting directors have seen everything.
Enter the casting room how it best suits you - in character, or not.
Maybe you work best always in character. Then after the audition is finished you break out of …
Read More‘If only the reader would play the scene with me I’d do better auditions!’
A reader is there to facilitate the audition. They aren’t there to play the scene with …
Read MoreIf you’re auditioning then you’re earning them money.
The agents most important business relationship is with the casting directors. By submitting good actors to the casting director that lets the casting ...
Read MoreThe former Manchester United football coach Sir Alex Ferguson says:
“Prominent in the category of principles that are as important to me now as they were 30 years ago is the certainty that good coaching relies on repetition. Forget all the nonsense about altering training programmes to keep players happy. The argument that they must be stimulated ...
Read MorePinchas Zukerman, the conductor, violinist, and teacher says if you find a good teacher - stay with them.
I fully support this idea.
Learning from a different teacher is fine but jumping from class-to-class to see ...
Read MoreWhen preparing a scene you should ask questions.
The answers aren’t the point; the point is the ‘asking of the questions’ and getting your mind active. The questions will stimulate your imagination, one of the best ...
Read MoreYou enter the audition room and are greeted by the person behind the camera saying, ‘Stand on the mark.’
Try not to get diverted and take that ...
Read MoreActors are loved by the people.
This doesn’t mean knowing movie stars.
You are part of art and culture and, therefore, play a key role in the life of the society.
People have always ...
Read MoreThere’s a limit to what you would let someone say about your mother.
No way will you allow your mother to be humiliated beyond a line of acceptable social humour or criticism.
You defend …
Read MoreIt’s a nice image when you’re trying to affect the other actor.
How sharply can you send your point? How much bloodshed do you want to cause?
In this moment of the scene are you going to prick your fellow actor, or are you going to ...
Read MoreTry to like how you’re playing the scene, doing an audition, acting in close-up, blocking for camera.
Sounds obvious but think about it.
The wonderful acting teacher Keith Johnstone asks the question after an improv finishes …
Read MoreFollow how the scenes are built.
Something is happening, maybe a spy is lying, so you change your tack and pretend to retreat, drawing in the spy.
The one thing leading to the …
Read MoreAlways be looking to when you can have your face away from the camera.
Your first impulse might be to give your partner all your attention and look them in the eye.
Decide what suits and is most …
Read MoreIn your close-up, as you think and speak, your head movement can follow a triangular pattern.
It looks good on screen.
And it’s part of film language. We recognize the pattern of the movement from …
Read MoreYou hear actors say they’re going to call their agent and ask that question.
If your agent represents fifty or a hundred actors and they all call twice a week to ask…boy! That’s tough on your agent.
It’s difficult to ...
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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