Anyone taken an acting class? I recently watched "The Dialogue" interviews with Billy Ray and Paul Attanasio. They both mentioned that taking an acting class was one of the best things they've done for their writing. I think Attanasio said it was literally the best thing he'd done. I recently went to a Meisner class in LA taught by Bill Alderson (a direct descendant, as it were, of Meisner). Anyone studied acting, Meisner, etc? Have thoughts, experiences they want to share?
Taking an acting class
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Re: Taking an acting class
I was a drama major in college, though I didn't finish my degree. For various reasons I never took it any further, which I regret today.
One thing about the experience, it broadened my appreciation of films I'd otherwise have never bothered to see.
Currently I am an actor in a Haunted House attraction for the month of October, and prior to that I was in a short-lived comedy improv group.
If you can find a community theater group locally, that's another great experience.
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Re: Taking an acting class
Acting was a huge part of my entry into writing. I wanted to act in order to understand it's perspective and was hooked. Took several classes as well. Meisner is fabulous and was my initial school of training. However my acting career was a joke and plummeted until I found my true calling, screenwriting.
My acting career was short but fun. I got an agent and landed a speaking role (two lines) in the Showtime series, Sleeper Cell. Both lines were cut, however I'm still in a cool scene where the leads come into my RV and buy some anthrax from me. I then got a role on the show Numbers as Will Patton's aide but was fired after the first episode. They found someone else. I did get to follow Patton around an entire episode and act like a bad-ass, it's still on TV all the time, so is the Sleeper Cell episode. I also got an amazing role on Will & Grace as one of Sean Haye's flings. I was a bus boy he picked up at a restaurant. The scene we shot apparently was "too racy" and was cut. However it was an incredible day I'll never forget. I hung out with the cast and crew all day and ate lunch with Sydney Pollack and Megan Mullally. That was pretty much it for me and I quit. The awesome part about that one was the producer never told me it was cut and I had a premiere party at my house for that episode with family and friends. Most embarrassing moment of my life indeed. I called the producer the next day and he apologized for not informing me. I looked like a tool.
Anyway, I know no one cares about my mediocre acting career, but thought it was funny enough to share
Yes, acting is good for writing and helped a lot actually. I found truth and character development much easier.
Good luck
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Re: Taking an acting class
Originally posted by Telly View PostActing was a huge part of my entry into writing. I wanted to act in order to understand it's perspective and was hooked. Took several classes as well. Meisner is fabulous and was my initial school of training. However my acting career was a joke and plummeted until I found my true calling, screenwriting.
My acting career was short but fun. I got an agent and landed a speaking role (two lines) in the Showtime series, Sleeper Cell. Both lines were cut, however I'm still in a cool scene where the leads come into my RV and buy some anthrax from me. I then got a role on the show Numbers as Will Patton's aide but was fired after the first episode. They found someone else. I did get to follow Patton around an entire episode and act like a bad-ass, it's still on TV all the time, so is the Sleeper Cell episode. I also got an amazing role on Will & Grace as one of Sean Haye's flings. I was a bus boy he picked up at a restaurant. The scene we shot apparently was "too racy" and was cut. However it was an incredible day I'll never forget. I hung out with the cast and crew all day and ate lunch with Sydney Pollack and Megan Mullally. That was pretty much it for me and I quit. The awesome part about that one was the producer never told me it was cut and I had a premiere party at my house for that episode with family and friends. Most embarrassing moment of my life indeed. I called the producer the next day and he apologized for not informing me. I looked like a tool.
Anyway, I know no one cares about my mediocre acting career, but thought it was funny enough to share
Yes, acting is good for writing and helped a lot actually. I found truth and character development much easier.
Good luck
Have you seen the show Unscripted? Your premiere party fiasco is, like, a mirror image of something that happens to one of the characters. Hilarious!Ever thus to deadbeats.
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Re: Taking an acting class
Originally posted by Telly View PostMy acting career was short but fun. I got an agent and landed a speaking role (two lines) in the Showtime series, Sleeper Cell. Both lines were cut, however I'm still in a cool scene where the leads come into my RV and buy some anthrax from me. I then got a role on the show Numbers as Will Patton's aide but was fired after the first episode. They found someone else. I did get to follow Patton around an entire episode and act like a bad-ass, it's still on TV all the time, so is the Sleeper Cell episode. I also got an amazing role on Will & Grace as one of Sean Haye's flings. I was a bus boy he picked up at a restaurant. The scene we shot apparently was "too racy" and was cut. However it was an incredible day I'll never forget. I hung out with the cast and crew all day and ate lunch with Sydney Pollack and Megan Mullally. That was pretty much it for me and I quit. The awesome part about that one was the producer never told me it was cut and I had a premiere party at my house for that episode with family and friends. Most embarrassing moment of my life indeed. I called the producer the next day and he apologized for not informing me. I looked like a tool.
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Re: Taking an acting class
Very cool, Telly. Why did you quit?Brown-Balled by the Hollywood Clika
Latino Heart Project's MEXICAN HEART...ATTACK!
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Re: Taking an acting class
Originally posted by Telly View PostBecause I sucked and thought I could write better than I could act. That's yet to be proven by the way.
But the access you'd have as an actor would be amazing to advance your writing career, yes?
And dayam, I LOVED SLEEPER CELL!Brown-Balled by the Hollywood Clika
Latino Heart Project's MEXICAN HEART...ATTACK!
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Re: Taking an acting class
Originally posted by umo View PostBut the access you'd have as an actor would be amazing to advance your writing career, yes?
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Re: Taking an acting class
My sister (she's the pretty one) met her second husband during her short-lived acting career. Not to mention other doors that opened for her. Yeah, she's pretty, and her acting skills are so-so (don't tell her I said that) but the point is she was "there".
Just sayin' a screenwriter is rarely seen in front of the camera--that would make you & your work much more visible and marketable IMHO--with or w/o a rep.Brown-Balled by the Hollywood Clika
Latino Heart Project's MEXICAN HEART...ATTACK!
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Re: Taking an acting class
Originally posted by umo View Post...that would make you & your work much more visible and marketable IMHO--with or w/o a rep.
In my position as an actor, nudging the producers during or even after a shoot with a screenwriting motive, for me, would be unprofessional and would come off just as lame as some guy who handed a script to a producer while he was eating at a restaurant. I don't know, it just NEVER felt like an appropriate thing to do on major studio sets. Yes, you could develop friendships with producers but like anything, if you're forcing that friendship with ulterior motives, it will be sniffed out and you'll end up being a douche.
In all likelihood, the friends you might make will either be production assistants or at best a 2nd AD. Usually, it's just other actors and to be honest, other starving actors will usually have zero benefit to your writing endeavors. I mean, as a small role on set, befriending the director, producer or even 1st AD is a LONG-shot at best.
I'm not saying it can't happen, just not very practical as a means to break in as a screenwriter. Landing the real acting jobs in front of people who matter is hard enough. Befriending those people when it happens is even harder.
Acting used as a tool to expand your knowledge of truth in film and dialogue is an excellent idea. Beyond that, stick to writing the best scripts you can and use the industry avenues that have been proven to work. For me, acting is not one of those avenues to "break in".
That's been my experience.
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