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Bad Acting teachers

Question:

Remember, acting is reacting.  Stagecraft is not a problem as you learn with experience.  Why don’t you try to get feedback off your colleagues?  They are in just as good a position to judge.  Believe in yourself!  I mean, for example, I want to hear "If I’m not facing the audience – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -well enough" but I would also like to hear "I like how you did that, keep that up" type of thing. *Kelly*

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing right <snipDoes anyone have any comments on this? More importantly what do you like about the class????  In my expirences I have come across many teachers who operate the way you describe…some are  famous for being  brutal…and there are students who love it (!!!!) I Out here in the trenches it’s rough, but if you are spending your time & $$$ for a class find a teacher that will help you find and develope your talent. Linda Gillen

I like what she does with the class, the scenes, the excersises etc.. I just don’t like how she handles her students. I mean as a teacher you should teach-that means letting us know our good points as well as what can be improved. I mean, for example, I want to hear "If I’m not facing the audience well enough" but I would also like to hear "I like how you did that, keep that up" type of thing. *Kelly*

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – she praised her like she was Meryl Streep. She didn’t even do anything that much different from anyone else. Does anyone have any comments on this? Speaking as an acting teacher, I can tell you that this is a common complaint.  Teachers tend to presume that the student-actor knows that, if nothing is said to the contrary, then what he just did in the scene/monologue was good.<g  We sometimes forget to accentuate the positive. My fourteen year old daughter visited one of my acting classes one night and, during the drive home, she said, "Dad, why is it that all those people get up there and work so hard, and then all you do is tell them it sucks?" I cracked up.  That’s not really an accurate observation, but it gave me a heads-up, and I’ve tried to be more positive ever since. Out of the mouths of babes, etc. I suggest you tell your teacher about your concern.  She probably is unaware that she is playing favorites and accentuating negatives.  If she’s like me, she’ll be grateful for your feedback. Ed Hooks

It sure would be lovely to have you as a teacher Ed, you really seem to understand things. A fellow actor in the class went to the head of the theatre department about it and he told her to talk to her. I think we all should because I’m afraid that she will hold some kind of vendetta against me if I’m the only one that brings it up. I mean, she shouldn’t, but you know how some people get. Thanks! *Kelly*

Response:

I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are

doing right <snipDoes anyone have any comments on this?

More importantly what do you like about the class????  In my expirences I have come across many teachers who operate the way you describe…some are  famous for being  brutal…and there are students who love it (!!!!) Out here in the trenches it’s rough, but if you are spending your time & $$$ for a class find a teacher that will help you find and develope your talent. Linda Gillen

Response:

If your teacher is approachable; approach. If your teacher is unapproachable this is why she is bitching – and that is all it is. Some teachers use constant criticism as a technique, I avoid them, but it can suit some if it is valid. It is valid if it is consistent and they are approachable. If a I have had teachers I still hate to the point of violence, but though tough they were approachable, and I did benefit from their tuition. In the mean time there is a wonderful opportunity: 1st: Start to develop Self Awareness within your performance i.e. another set of eyes and ears like an inbuilt camcorder. As this develops you will learn to have it running in the background while performing, and then rerun it after class. It is a bit like Emotion Memory but you are reliving Events of the character. Anyone who has done mask work should have experienced this – when you can’t fully remember events until long after. 2nd: Start to develop your own appraisal of your classmates work, what worked, what didn’t, why, what’s the next step. stuff like that. Take advantage of every situation – never let a situation take advantage of you. Not true – just a choice. — http://www.pippin.dircon.co.uk/

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you. I actually meant " all she does is criticise everyone’s bad points and never lets us know what we are doing right" It was a typo.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing wrong. I think it’s ridiculous. I agree, but I will go one step further with your observations. There is no such thing as right or wrong in acting. The only thing that could be "wrong" would be not doing the work. To me, acting and pursuing the craft is about the work and nothing else. As long as you are actively pursuing the craft you are "right". No one has ever mastered the craft and no one ever will if your teacher would live by that, she would be able to nothing but inspire greatness. humbly submitted Athespian

Thank you. I actually meant " all she does is criticise everyone’s bad points and never lets us know what we are doing right" It was a typo.

Response:

They pay for class, spend their vauable time, and ultimately don’t develope the thick skin necessary in the real world.  You will if you stick it out.

I was a favorite of one of my acting teachers and I felt ripped. By the end of the semester I figured out I could just get up there and improv some crap and he’d praise me to the heavens. Fine. It felt good. But it wasn’t the education I was paying to recieve. I found a different teacher. Scott

Response:

Acting teachers always pick favorites.  They’re like most everyone else, no better than anyone else, as much we expect them to be. I’ve seen so many ‘favorites" over the years.  I came to realize that they are the ones that are cheated by lack of correction.  They pay for class, spend their vauable time, and ultimately don’t develope the thick skin necessary in the real world.  You will if you stick it out.

That’s a good way to look at it, thanks. I just see her as unfortunate because she’s getting all this overt praise, and probably thinks her acting is flawless which it’s not.  Believe me, I want to know my bad points, but I also would like to know what I’m doing right. Actor’s need both kinds of feedback otherwise it’s easy to get lost. I just think that a good acting teacher should make a concious effort to do this, since it’s very important for your growth as an actor.

Response:

Acting teachers always pick favorites.  They’re like most everyone else, no better than anyone else, as much we expect them to be.   I’ve seen so many ‘favorites" over the years.  I came to realize that they are the ones that are cheated by lack of correction.  They pay for class, spend their vauable time, and ultimately don’t develope the thick skin necessary in the real world.  You will if you stick it out.

Response:

she praised her like she was Meryl Streep. She didn’t even do anything that much different from anyone else. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Speaking as an acting teacher, I can tell you that this is a common complaint.  Teachers tend to presume that the student-actor knows that, if nothing is said to the contrary, then what he just did in the scene/monologue was good.<g  We sometimes forget to accentuate the positive. My fourteen year old daughter visited one of my acting classes one night and, during the drive home, she said, "Dad, why is it that all those people get up there and work so hard, and then all you do is tell them it sucks?" I cracked up.  That’s not really an accurate observation, but it gave me a heads-up, and I’ve tried to be more positive ever since. Out of the mouths of babes, etc. I suggest you tell your teacher about your concern.  She probably is unaware that she is playing favorites and accentuating negatives.  If she’s like me, she’ll be grateful for your feedback. Ed Hooks

Response:

I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing wrong. I think it’s ridiculous.

I agree, but I will go one step further with your observations. There is no such thing as right or wrong in acting. The only thing that could be "wrong" would be not doing the work. To me, acting and pursuing the craft is about the work and nothing else. As long as you are actively pursuing the craft you are "right". No one has ever mastered the craft and no one ever will if your teacher would live by that, she would be able to nothing but inspire greatness. humbly submitted Athespian

Response:

I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing right. I think it’s ridiculous. I feel that a good acting teacher is supposed to let the actors know what they are doing right as well as what they are doing wrong. She also picks favorites which is really annoying. I think that kind of thing is so childish. For example, we were doing scenes from the Glass M. today. Every female that read Laura’s part she found something at fault with. However, as soon as particular actress Christine got up and read it she praised her like she was Meryl Streep. She didn’t even do anything that much different from anyone else. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Response:

This is part of the learning curve.  You need to learn to appreciate criticism, even if you think that it is negative.  Theatre bods will always have "favourites", and their own idea of what is good and bad.  Just remember that diversity is what keeps the business vibrant, and that there is no wrong or right way.  As long as you are true in your character, and believe in your work, then stick two fingers up at your critics and carry on regardless.  If you are on the wrong path, somebody will always guide you back.  Please don’t be put off by one person.  If you would like any further info feel free to email me.  Good Luck! Chris

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing right. I think it’s ridiculous. I feel that a good acting teacher is supposed to let the actors know what they are doing right as well as what they are doing wrong. She also picks favorites which is really annoying. I think that kind of thing is so childish. For example, we were doing scenes from the Glass M. today. Every female that read Laura’s part she found something at fault with. However, as soon as particular actress Christine got up and read it she praised her like she was Meryl Streep. She didn’t even do anything that much different from anyone else. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Response:

I am really getting annoyed with my college acting teacher. All she seems to do is criticize everyone’s bad points without letting them know what they are doing wrong. I think it’s ridiculous. I feel that a good acting teacher is supposed to let the actors what they are doing right as well as what they are doing wrong. She also picks favorites which is really annoying. I think that kind of thing is so childish. For example, we were doing scenes from the Glass M. today. Every female that read Laura’s part she found something at fault with. However, as soon as particular actress Christine got up and read it she praised her like she was Meryl Streep. She didn’t even do anything that much different from anyone else. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Response:

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