LA Film School

[Drew Ott]

I have a friend who wants to skip his senior year in high school and go to LA Film School to study acting. Apparently it'll cost him (his parents) about $20,000 a year to go. Does anybody know if this is a good program for him? Are there better acting schools in the area?

He won't be reading this, so you all can be brutally honest. I'll relay the information kindly.

[Tom Marshall]

I'm not familiar with it. If he's looking for a school, probably The Stella Adler Academy of Acting. I wouldn't go to a school like that though. He's better off just taking classes.

[Mattykins]

Dropping out of high school and going to college? What college will take him?

Tell your friend he is an idiot. Get that high school degree. In the event his acting career doesn't make him enough money to live, trucking, fast food, are all good options for income without a high school degree or a GED.

[Blaine]

I have a friend who wants to skip his senior year in high school and go to LA Film School to study acting.Dumb.

[Tom Marshall]

Is he skipping it as in not getting a degree?? I agree with Mattykins, bad idea. It's nearly impossible to earn a living as an actor.

[Drew Ott]

Actually I was mistaken. He's graduating early I think by taking the bare minimum.

Basically I'm wondering if these "acting schools" are worth it. Is it essentially the same concept of film school? The whole "the degree won't get you a job" concept?

[Tom Marshall]

Getting an acting degree is a complete waste of time.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Getting an acting degree is a complete waste of time.

This is exactly why I REFUSE to go to school for acting. MAYBE for writing, but definitely NOT for acting.

On a somewhat related note, even if I was offered the chance to graduate early, I wouldn't simply because of the missed social opportunities. I am not one of those "I can't wait for High School to be over" guys, I am fine where I am right now.

[cool_splash1]

Actually you get more socialization once you get out of school

[Michele Seidman]

Drew

The fact is that very few actors end up making a living and those who do...very few ever got a degree in acting. The school you mention does not even offer a degree and your friend is shooting himself in the foot without a diploma from high school to begin with.

Tell him to do some black box theatre and find a camera acting coach. I bet in the same two years he would have been at that school, he will have learned more and actually HAVE a resume when he is done.

[craigbowman]

1. Hit your mark.
2. Be perfectly repeatable. (ie. Be able to sit down in a chair at the same speed each time)
3. Take direction.

There, I just saved your friend 20K.

[Michele Seidman]

1. Hit your mark.
2. Be perfectly repeatable. (ie. Be able to sit down in a chair at the same speed each time)
3. Take direction.

There, I just save your friend 20K.


Ha ha ha yes you did!

[Kyle Stebbins]

Hahaha!

--

Very obvious, dumb decision here. I'm glad to hear he is going to at least finish high school.

I used to study film but quickly learned that I was making bigger strides OUTSIDE of school than in. I decided that if I was going to pay a lot of money for a degree at a University, I was going to pick a much more marketable degree.

Advertising.

--

Now, I do think there are credible acting schools out there that will teach you a thing or two... and possibly get you some connections... but damn -- it's always such a long shot.

Second City Conservatory, baby!

[Tim Joy]

Best way to study acting IMO is to do as much of it as possible for the least amount of money.

Suggestions-
Audition for every short/feature film you can.
Join a theater group or company.
Take an acting class.
Use your camcorder and make simple little movies, even if you have to play all the roles.

If you have $20k bucks, instead of giving it to some school that might throw a bunch of theory at you, use it for 2 years living expenses, (yes, you might have to eat top-ramen everyday) and get into everything you can.

Same goes for film-school IMO.

[Michele Seidman]

If you have $20k bucks, instead of giving it to some school that might throw a bunch of theory at you, use it for 2 years living expenses, (yes, you might have to eat top-ramen everyday) and get into everything you can.

Yeehaw...on this you hit the nail on the head. GREAT info. The guy would learn so much by doing and if mom and pops are willing to let him use that to live on he could get to a major market and do some theatre or work with a stage company and do the indie and student films ALL while actually building a resume.

Perfect advice!