actor training shown to be more important than name affiliation for american actors

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actor preparation and why american Jeff Labrecque, in an article in Entertainment Weekly, spoke about the impact that the immigration of British actors has made upon the welfare of American actors in the United States. He pinpoints training as the main issue. There are far too many American actors who are prone to laziness. Far too many young people who come to New York or LA in search of an acting career are not there to learn, but are there to become famous. In contrast, British actors spend years learning how to become better actors. They work on their voice, versatility, and speech. They also spend time practicing on the stage itself. In the 1940s and 1950s, Harold Clurman spoke about the extensive training required by every actor who wishes to improve in their art. There were many acting teachers who emphasized the importance of training; these leaders in the acting world include Lee Strasberg, Bobby Lewis, Elia Kazan, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. This belief has gone by the wayside.

All forms of art, from painting to music, require frequent practice and constant dedication. True artists will spend a lifetime improving in their craft. To be successful, an artist has to make creativity a habit. Both dedication and talent are crucial to any actor's ultimate success. Treating acting as a real art form is not something that most American actors understand. Unfortunately, our society puts the focus on money, fame, and outer appearances. And, of course, Hollywood is mostly focused on making money. Networks are focused on fame and will most often look for the most well-known individual to represent their studio. For this reason, most actors focus solely on making sure they know their lines and nothing else. These big names and personalities flood the Hollywood and acting community. The result is often a bad one. This is certainly frustrating, especially for a serious actor. There are countless young American actors I have spoken to who have said that they feel that they cannot commit to two to three years of continuous training. Even those who are still young want to skip the education and go straight to working. They struggle to understand that acting, like any other art form, requires technique and creativity. In Britain, actors are required to improve upon their skills on the stage. They don't fall for the lazy way out, and they know that no short class will do the trick. However, in the United States, many actors are sold these lies. Far too often, actors here are fooled into believing that, in order to succeed, they need to spend money in order to be seen by a casting director. This is all too true, especially in cities such as LA and NYC. Tons of inexperienced actors fill rooms in these acting studios, spending hundreds of dollars just to be seen by big-shots. Even if the result is only to get a couple of lines on a television show, these places draw people in with promises of fame and fortune. This has led to training taking the back burner. Unfortunately, the result is the intricate characters and great roles being given to British actors who have been trained. For American actors to be able to land these better roles, they must make training a priority. Knowing that talent is not the only important thing and that technique is crucial is perhaps the best place to begin. Mastering their instrument is beyond essential. All actors need to be aware that


there is nothing that can possibly take the place of hard work and dedicated training for the American actor. For more information on Classes For Acting new york ny , Classes For Acting new york ny and Acting Lesson new york ny you can contact us at: Maggie Flanigan Studio Inc 153 West 27th Street #803 New York, New York 10001


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