Grading acting?

[odonnelly99]

This is an academic question about acting. It may sound petty and whiny, but I could really use some advice on it. This is kind of long, so I apologize.

After 5 years in the Marines, and thanks to the new GI Bill, I got a chance to go after my dream, and went to college to study film and creative writing. I've been doing great so far, high GPA, having a blast, and most importantly, learning ALOT about both art-forms. I can't say enough about how great my schools film department is.

My question is, this spring semester I took a class for acting on film. I've acted in a few shorts in the past, nothing big, and I've been doing stand up for a good while, but I lacked any real film acting experience. So, I thought it would be a good thing to better myself at.

Throughout the course, I was doing great. A lot of the students in the course were theatre actors, so it was a breeze for them. A few of us, including me, were new, but we were assured that we wouldn't be judged on our lack of experience.
The prof. told the class that getting an A in the course isn't hard, just be in class every week and give it your all. So, accordingly, when the prof. sent out midterm grades, I had an A. Never missed a class, never missed the weekly acting review we sent in.

Then for the final acting exercise, she gave me a role that I really struggled with. The character was completely different than me, and while at first I thought it would be a interesting challenge, I really had a tough time with it.

One of the reasons I struggled is that the character was a Tom Cruise like character, who talks slick and fast. I have a mild speech impediment, where my tongue isn't disconnected from the bottom of my mouth. It's virtually unnoticeable when I talk, unless I try to talk really fast, and moreso noticeable when talking fast with certain words.

I didn't excel in the scene. I knew my lines, but had trouble, I explained this to her, and she seemed to understand.

Today I get my grade, and its a B+. Now, I know what you're thinking: So what?? And I understand why someone would think that.

But, this does affect me. This course is part of my film major, and it knocks my GPA down. Anyone who has applied to a Graduate school, as I'm going to be in the fall, knows that your GPA, especially in your major, is a HUGE factor into getting accepted. When they review my transcripts, they're going to wonder either how bad of a job I did, or how undisciplined I was to get a B+ in what is basically an intro acting course.

Don't take this as sounding whiny. I've dealt with 110 degree heat and roadside bombs in Iraq, and I don't whine about that. I'm pissed that I busted my ass in this course, an area that I was new to, and got spanked for my lack of experience.

I've written her an polite email asking if she could explain the drop in the grade, but I just wanted to see if anyone on here, in particular actors or actresses, can help me figure out how to argue my case.


Thanks to anyone who is even taking the time to read this, let alone help.

 

[Tom Marshall]

I would just tell her that I did the best that I could have possibly done. I think that what you did (by explaining your speech issues) that you really put forth the effort to show her that you deserved a better grade than you received.

It seems odd that she would knock you down a bit after telling you that if you put forth the effort you were basically guaranteed an A... did you kick her dog or something?

 

[Michele Seidman]

The prof. told the class that getting an A in the course isn't hard, just be in class every week and give it your all. So, accordingly, when the prof. sent out midterm grades, I had an A. Never missed a class, never missed the weekly acting review we sent in.

If you want to argue or debate the grade I think you need to remind her of her own word choice and then remind her that with the minor impediment that not only did you give it your all but had to work harder to get anywhere near the scene, where other actors would not have had an issue.

Honestly, I think all acting classes in colleges and universities should be pass or fail because grading an actor is silly in my mind. I have taught privately for over 25 years and an actor gets it or does not. Once they get it, they either get stronger or find a level they can work with.

But giving out grades to actors to me has always been silly.

 

[stan harrington]

Academic and acting dont really go together in my mind...I think many have some sound advice here for you ...all I want to add is that I hope you take the grade with a grain of salt when it comes to your actual craft...because it is a craft and not something that can necessarily be graded the way they grade science, math, grammar, etc...

 

[Michele Seidman]

Academic and acting dont really go together in my mind...I think many have some sound advice here for you ...all I want to add is that I hope you take the grade with a grain of salt when it comes to your actual craft...because it is a craft and not something that can necessarily be graded the way they grade science, math, grammar, etc...

Stan I so agree.

I think this gentleman's concern comes more to how it will bring his GPA down and what that might look like when he applies to the next school. I did run a film program at a college for 2 years but we did not look at those things as closely because our program was a certificate program.

I am now wondering if anyone reviewing his records will take note the lower grade is in a class that is subjective and will dismiss it as an issue BECAUSE it is so subjective.

With that in mind, it might not hurt him to call a few college's and speak to some department folks and ask specifically if that would affect his possible acceptance or if they take note of the fact the class is not what his major is in. He said he was going to major in film.

Wonder if we have any college film deans running around here in DVX that would know more!

 

[stan harrington]

Hi Michelle...always enjoy your posts...I feel sorry that this poor guy was led to believe he would get an A. I am just wondering what the object of a graduate course in film is geared towords? is it to make a career in filmmaking? The Acting Class was just one class in the entire course and not all filmmakers are good actors...Is the object to become a teacher? I'm just commenting really on the stupidity of the system. Does everyone have to get straight A's to go to graduate school? I guess Because this is an acting forum I just want to encourage actors that are reading this to know that grades are not what will get you a job in this business. Perhaps commenting on this requires more from the original poster as to what the end goal of doing the graduate course is...If you are still there please chime in!

Cheers,
Stan The Man

 

[Michele Seidman]

Stan

I enjoy your posts too! Mutual admiration society!

I wish he would come back and fill us in a bit. I can't imagine a GPA going down that much from one grade, and certainly not enough to cause issues applying to a graduate school. I don't know though so I hesitate to articulate on this.

And I am so with you on the grade not mattering if the goal is acting or filmmaking. I know tons of working actors who did not get great grades, and plenty who quit college and lots who never went. I am also with you on this teacher making a promise like that and then downgrading him. Maybe Tom is right...he kicked her dog or something....lol

But we really do need him to chime back in and fill us in on the long term goal of his degree.

Michele

 

[JonathanLB]

B+ in an acting class? LOL oh boy you are totally boned, I know that my 3 friends who are all admins at major film universities would reject you outright just for that grade alone. I'm sorry dude it's over for you, probably best to get good at a series of phrases that may help you in the real world: "Paper or plastic?" "Would you like fries with that?" "We can supersize that for an extra 29 cents" "Would you like the Happy Meal?"

Haha, j/k

I wouldn't sweat it. I got a B in screenwriting my last term in college, it was my only B the entire way through, similar situation to yours where basically I felt that having shown up to every class but one (when I was extremely sick and e-mailed him the night before saying I'd do my best but I was throwing up and probably wouldn't make it), busting my butt to give every other student great feedback, always went above-and-beyond the call of duty there and wrote twice as much, really engaged the material. I worked tirelessly, this despite having 24 credits and a part-time job for the Philosophy department, and yet he still gave me a B simply because he didn't like my screenplay idea, basically. And yet he steered me to that idea in the first place, away from what I really wanted to write. Teachers can be very frustrating.

The guy is a loser, though. A film historian who has edited a bunch of books, only written a few, I've written as many books as he has, and he's never written a screenplay, whereas my first is about to become a movie with successful Hollywood producers. So while he teaches his classes in the middle of nowhere at a non-film college, I'll be busy actually doing industry work that he talks about. What a tool!

 

[Michele Seidman]

So while he teaches his classes in the middle of nowhere at a non-film college, I'll be busy actually doing industry work that he talks about. What a tool!

ha ha ha I so get you.

I only reply because at most of the film schools in our state, there are many REAL filmmakers teaching at them. So, not all school instructor of film are tools who never did the work.

But I too get frustrated by instructors in ANY department who has never actually applied what they teach. When it comes to art forms of any kind...those who teach should have done the real work they teach or step aside.

However, most universities won't hire anyone who does not have a Masters to teach...and the funny part there is...many who got that Masters and applied the work, never went to teaching while many who could not make it in the field teach what they have never pulled off.

Just wanted to give all sides since I know UNCW and NSCA and others in our state have REAL film people teaching many of their classes. Thank goodness. I think it makes a difference.

I once saw a film Dean talk about his 'art' and how he makes it and leaves it for someone else to do something with. Problem is, no one else is doing anything with it and I had to call him on it because there was a large group of students sitting there hanging on his every word.

I reminded them THEY had to promote and market their work and if lucky, someone would come along and help them take it the rest of the way but in this new web based world....if ANY person wants to make art of ANY kind...they darned well better learn how to promote and market too! Maybe it was bad of me to call him out in front of his students...but I would rather those kids have a fighting chance instead of take as gospel...bad information.

Don't promote your art...and you got a fancy paper weight!