From the Midwest to Hollywood

There is no best choice for where to take acting classes. I decided to take classes at schools I respected and that would look good on my resume. Therefore, I am currently taking one course at the Second City Training Center (www.secondcity.com/?id=training-education/training/la_tc) and another at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting (http://www.stellaadler-la.com/contactus.html).

At Second City, I am learning the fundamentals of improvisation. Improvisation is the type of acting on which Saturday Night Live is based. Usually, to come up with their skits, they begin with an idea, or even just a word, and improvise to see where it leads.  I decided to take this class because many parts I see advertised request people with improvisation experience.

At the Stella Adler Academy of Acting, I am taking “Commercial Audition,” a course designed to help students get a commercial agent and to know how to succeed at auditions. One of our first discussions was about which “types” each of us could play. My types are from age 20-30 and include college student, graduate student, young professional and young dad.

So far, I do not have an agent. In the next couple of weeks, I plan to send out a mailing to perhaps 60 different agencies to seek an agent who would help me get auditions for commercials. In the Fall, I plan to send out a mailing for a theatrical agent, which means an agent who would help me get auditions for movie and television program roles.