4 Lessons to Learn From Abusive Acting Teachers

I wrote this article with no small amount of reservations, but I am getting so frustrated, deeply saddened, and downright disturbed by the stories I have been hearing repeatedly from actors about the abuse they have endured from other acting teachers. I feel called to protect actors from this type of “theatrical malpractice.” When they reach me, their talent and natural instincts have been completely flattened. Just as my good doctor friend is horrified by the care some of his patients have received at the hands of other negligent, ego overdriven practitioners out there, I too am outright horrified by the abuse my students have endured at the hands of other “qualified professional coaches” paying their bills by denigrating actors. 

When I was a student, I definitely experienced both my fair share of phenomenal, life-changing teachers, along with ones who should go off and open candy shops in Vermont and leave the entertainment industry well enough alone. Looking back on my experience, here’s what you can learn about human nature and the human condition from even the worst acting teachers. 

1. The human ego knows no bounds. Have you ever heard that “love is boundless”? Well that works both ways. Self-love is also boundless and there are truly no limits as to what certain acting teachers or “delicate geniuses” (as George Costanza would say) can reach when it comes to tiresome expressions of egotism: namedropping, unbridled condescension, the endless stories about the shows/films/plays they worked on regardless of relevancy. Understanding the powerful breadth and depth of the human ego is important. As you go on your way, you’re going to encounter many more egotistical people. Many bad acting teachers are also egomaniacs, and being aware of this can help you understand the power dynamics at play when you deal with such people. Egomaniacs have a knack for making anything (including your struggles with a scene or an audition technique) about them. Your successes are used for further self-aggrandizement. 

2. There is no lesson to learn from abuse. I hear actors rationalize abuse-based classes all the time. They claim there’s something to be learned or some form of development that goes on when an acting teacher will “cut someone down” or “put them in their place” or mock, deride, or otherwise make an example of other actors. That is complete BS. These actors are simply making an excuse for bullying, and are thus enabling it. I would love—and when I say I would love, I mean it would be my dream—if a class of actors walked out on a teacher that did that asserting an ultimatum: We’re not coming back until you talk to us like the equals that we are. 

When acting teachers engage in such unacceptable behavior it’s simply akin to them attempting to feel empowered. Other times, it’s the teacher expressing frustration through a mini temper tantrum. If you’re not going to call the teacher out on such behavior—and who more better suited to doing this than the actors who pay (ostensibly employ) this teacher—then at the very least, you should make certain to make severe mental notes to yourself on the matter, and hopefully view the teacher through a new lens and greater scrutiny. 

3. Yes, some teachers are jealous of their students. This might sound crazy because why would a teacher (or anyone for that matter) be jealous of a bunch of struggling actors, but the reality is true: some teachers are. They envy your success, your talent, your fearlessness, your energy, your fresh perspective, and likewise, your lack of jadedness. Sometimes this jealousy comes out in bullying behaviors, as discussed above. Other times this jealousy manifests as the teacher being negative, projecting negative outcomes, or being overly critical (and masking that criticism as “instruction”). 

Before studying privately with me, one of my hugely talented and award-winning musician/singer-songwriter clients described being publicly berated and humiliated in front of her peers by a well-known, abuse-based acting teacher in L.A. simply because her acting career was starting to take off and she needed to take a break from studio classes.

4. Fear manifests in a variety of ways. Fear doesn’t just rear its ugly head through bullying or hysteria—sometimes it’s via the soft and saccharine-esque environments of certain acting classes which have the demeanor of a summer camp session. Some acting teachers manifest their fear and insecurity by not offering any real correction. This largely manifests via warm and fuzzy classes where actors are coddled and not given any real corrections or points for improvement. Acting teachers like these generally have a very warped viewpoint of what their job is or, I find, are uncomfortable saying anything unpleasant. As many of you have learned, it is through unpleasant realities, presented respectfully and professionally, that we all learn to grow and adapt—and in the context of an acting class, hopefully become better actors. 

This article was originally posted on Backstage

What’s the Best Advice an Actor Has Given You?

One of my celebrity clients recounted an audition experience reading for a major TV role. She felt her first read was OK, and then asked to go again. Instead of standing by her work, she gave away some of her power by asking for an additional read. When you ask to go again, you’re telling the whole room that according to you, the first read could’ve been better. This act of second-guessing is something many of us suffer from. Actors want to be open to direction and always do their very best, but there comes a point when you need to trust your instincts, deliver the work you prepared, and let it go. Trust yourself and others will trust you. Act as though you don’t trust yourself, and no one will. Oftentimes, your first read is incredibly moving and your best work. Thus, don’t judge yourself when you are in the room. Ever. Stand behind your personality and brave choices. Since adopting this attitude, my client is now starring on her own FX series.

This article was originally posted on Backstage

What Are Some Qualities of Successful Working Actors?

One of the most pervasive qualities of successful working actors is that they play well with others and they’re able to make genuine connections with everyone on set. They’re truly good people. They handle themselves with grace and decorum at all times and they have the courage to bring their personalities to every role. This is a business that attracts a lot of difficult people, and sometimes rewards people for being difficult. Those rewards have a very short shelf life. Be one of the actors who is a joy to be around and you’re setting yourself up to win. 

The second quality is a combination of optimism and tenacity. These actors understand that this business has an ebb and flow. They are able to ride the highs and lows without having their faith and confidence in themselves shaken. This is staying power. 

The final quality is talent. These actors who work consistently are talented; they know how to make the fun and impactful choices that consistently win them the role. We help actors launch their careers by empowering them to use their personalities to book every role for which they’re right.

This article was originally posted on Backstage

5 Reasons You Must Stop Listening To Other Actors

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, there is never a one-size-fits-all path to a successful acting career. The same can be said about most acting techniques: There isn’t a single method that works for everyone. The best acting coaches are those who empower their clients to ultimately be the creators of their own techniques. 

One of the issues with being an actor is that you are often surrounded by other actors. It’s very akin to being in the trenches with other soldiers who all have limited intelligence of the situation at hand and are relying on ancient strategies of warfare along with lore and anecdotes of battle. Listening uncritically to the “advice” that other actors give is akin to giving up your power—something that is easy to do if you’re new to L.A. or NYC and are trying to get your start or tap into the larger acting community. Here’s why you should stop doing it.

1. It keeps you at the murky bottom. The murky bottom of the acting world is analogous to the celebrated ballet scene, “The Kingdom of the Shades.” This is a place where one’s very shadow can pose a threat to moving forward as this is often a fear-based environment and so much of the advice given actor-to-actor reflects this dynamic. The more aware you are, the more you can spot the baggage, insecurities, and uncertainties that taint their “guidance.” These fear fortified shackles can be contagious and can do a remarkable job of keeping your progress stalled—at best. 

2. Residing in the murky bottom prevents your career from moving forward. I’ve heard actors spout all varieties of this form of “advice” and it ranges from not great to terrible. For example, I’ve heard actors say that it’s good for an acting to teacher to “break students down” because it creates thick skin—that’s just an excuse for abusive and subpar teaching. I’ve heard actors say that “casting director workshops are the best way to get ahead.” That’s just another manifestation of what I describe as “the herd mentality.” I’ve heard actors say that they just need to “be patient and my turn will come.” That attitude can too acutely set one up for a lifelong lethargic career where one expects opportunities to be presented on a silver platter.

3. It can make you believe in a narrow existence and even narrower possibilities. The main problem of all this fear-based, actor-to-actor advice is seen in its trite quality: Nearly all of it is tired, overused, and markedly lacking courage. Listen for the fear. If you hear any fear in their advice, it’s probably not advice worth taking. Much of this advice believes in constraints and narrowness rather than a wide range of possibilities. For example, actors will say: 

• You can’t compete for major film and TV roles because you don’t have enough credits or the “right” credits.
• You can’t be signed by a top-tier agent or manager if you’re not SAG-AFTRA.
• Casting directors have the final say in casting.

Statements like these are false and serve only to prevent you from getting anywhere in this business. 

4. If you’re living in the murky bottom, you can’t ever reach the club. The club is the polar opposite of the murky bottom. If you conduct your career with the “I’m a member of the club mentality,”you’ll notice big changes in how you think, what you believe to be possible, and what you are able to achieve. Members of the club aren’t afraid to take daring steps into the red mist in an attempt to get noticed, assert themselves as artists, turn down exploitative parts, and leave nasty, sadistic or damaging acting teachers. 

Roles are won over lunch.

I help actors launch their careers by empowering them to pitch themselves for every role for which they’re right! You can compete for major film and TV roles even though you may not have a lot of credits. You can compete for SAG-AFTRA roles via “Taft Hartley” even though you may still be nonunion. The acclaimed TV director and producer, David Semel (“Homeland,” “American Horror Story,” “Code Black”) was a recent industry guest at my studio. One of my students asked him if he would consider casting an actor in a major role if they only had a few credits. His response was “Absolutely, of course I would.”

None of these realities are possible from the perspective of the murky bottom of the lake and the creatures that reside there. 

5. It’s your job as a professional to screen all advice given. As actors, we are programmed to be direct-able. A good actor is one who takes direction. Stop taking notes from all your friends and colleagues. In other words: Don’t be that direct-able. Don’t water yourself down with everyone else’s opinions. Limit your list to only a few people who you trust—those who genuinely have your back—and when in doubt, defer to them. If you open yourself up to opinions from other actors, friends, and family, you begin to dilute your own vision and pick up on everyone else’s insecurities, etc. 

Just as you had the courage to choose the difficult and beautiful path of being an actor, so you must adhere to that courage when it comes to turning a deaf ear to fear-based advice. 

This article was originally posted on Backstage

What’s One Thing I Wish All Actors Knew

Photo Source: Jesse Balgley

Actors are fed a lot of utter nonsense when it comes to developing their careers. The one thing that I desperately want all actors to know is that their personalities are their secret weapons and are that truly special sauce they can add to their scene work, character work, and auditions in order to create performances that are truly memorable. Too often, I see actors being sold the same tiresome (and just plain wrong) ideas that they need to strip away their personalities and build a character upon a blank canvas. Without actors being fearless and gracious enough to dig into their personalities to develop and enhance characters, we would never have some of the more memorable roles that Nicholson, Dunaway, Hackman, and Hepburn generously gave the screen. I constantly see actors getting suckered into someone selling them their “niche” or “type.” Get in the habit of rejecting those archaic concepts, as they only serve to box you in and suffocate your originality.

This article was originally posted on Backstage

Understanding the Importance of Flexibility.

There are a range of factors which can be unexpected or adjusted in the room which you can’t control, and which could potentially throw you from how you felt when rehearsing the scene on the phone with your Mom—whether they have you sitting down or standing up, whether the reader is close or far or male or female. If you aren’t malleable, you’re not going to be able to survive.

This article was originally posted on Backstage

Photo Source: Shutterstock