CMU School of Drama


Thursday, September 11, 2008

Mamet to actors: Stay out of school

Arts and Entertainment: "“…the life of the academy, the graduate school, the studio, while charming and comfortable, are as removed from the life (and the job) of the actor as aerobics are from boxing.”"

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Uh, actually, aerobics are pretty relevant to boxing. It's not uncommon for boxers to have some sort of footwork training. Aerobics, although totally lame, are good for cardio, strength training, and agility.

So although not a normal association, it's relevant.

I think acting school is worthwhile indeed. It allows one to grow in a nurturing environment, versus the cold industry. If you're not good at acting, don't go to school for it. You'll be wasting your time just as if you were bad at math and trying to be a statistician. However, if you're talented, school isn't going to hurt. I feel like the article doesn't address this very well at all.

Anonymous said...

I think what the article didn't delve into is the practical experience versus theoretical teachings. Apparently, Mamet takes the side a pure hands-on approach which provides a good argument, but that's assuming that these actors have some inborn talent that just needs experience to flesh out their technique. The issue is that some people would learn better from a mix-up of both schooling and experience.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how well this fits in with actors, but I can say that at least in the design world, the ability to say "I have a diploma from..." can really help you land a job. I have to assume that it is the same way for actors. Regardless of how you feel about the in-class experience, earning the diploma can be the important thing.

Jacob Jimenez said...

I don't really agree that training is unnecessary for actors. Sure, there are some actors who naturally have a knack for the craft more than others, but training is still a essential for your skills as an actor. It also helps to provide experiences that may not have been possible otherwise.