Acting Classes
AGES 18+
our classes
Our core classes are broken down into different levels we call Acts where we delve into a particular area of acting. We believe in taking time to really focus on a specific area of acting as opposed to "throwing a bunch of spaghetti at a wall" and hoping some of it sticks. It's one of the many things that sets our studio apart.
Each Act is a 4-week course, (occasionally, we offer these classes as weekend intensives). After students complete the Act courses, they move into the Advanced class. The Advanced class is an ongoing class. If you have prior experience, you may apply to skip to the Advanced class.
Act 1: Intro to the Studio
What's covered in this class?
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How to act for TV and Film
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The differences between different acting platforms.
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Becoming natural and believable
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How to take direction well
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Character and scene development
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Practicing scripts from T.V. shows and movies
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Tips and tricks we've developed over our 20 combined years teaching and acting in the industry.
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How to be comfortable in front of the camera
All students must start in Act 1 unless given approval to skip ahead in our program. No prior acting training is required for Act 1. This class is well suited for complete beginners to acting as well as actors at an intermediate level. We will teach you some of the "do’s and don’ts" of the industry, as well as prepare you to not only enter the world of television and film auditions, but equip you with tips on how to be one step ahead of the game when that day comes.
Act 2: Channeling Emotions
What's covered in this class?
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Learn how to tap into deep emotions.
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Dig deep into your mind and imagination to create raw and moving performances.
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Work on character development and learn what questions to ask when you get a script.
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Channel emotions you may have never felt before.
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Learn techniques to help cry on cue.
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Strengthen listening and reacting skills.
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Work on mastering some of the strong emotions called for in the drama genre, such as, rage, despair, and terror.
Drama is one of the most intense forms of acting there is--from bawling on screen because your character endured a traumatic event--to running around the dark woods at midnight because you're being chased by a mad-man--you'll learn the basic know how's to be able to realistically put yourself in that mindset and perform the scene in an authentic and believable way. Some of what we will work on: thorough script analysis, strengthening listening and reacting, emotional set offs, and more. We will teach you how to tap into deep emotions. When actors are filming a crying scene for a project, often times they are required to perform that scene over and over-- that means not just tapping into the emotions- not once, not twice, but several times. not only for one magical performance, but several-- sometimes all day long.
Act 3: Cold Reading
What's covered in this class?
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How to cold read.
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Cold reading "do's and don'ts".
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Audition tricks.
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Memorization tips.
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How to make a cold read stand out.
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How to make strong choices.. fast.
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What the most important things are to focus on when you have very little time to study.
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Work on commercials and scripts.
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Learning how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Cold reading is when you are given material to perform with little to no time to rehearse. Mastering this skill will be very useful in your career. Often times, when you first meet with an agent or manager, they will have you perform a monologue, scene, or commercial cold read style. Actors are rarely given their sides/audition materials more than a few days before an audition. Sometimes, they receive them the night before or even the day of! You may get to an audition fully prepared to read one character and the casting director may decide you fit another character better. Then, they may ask you to look over a whole new character and new scenes. You may only have 5 minutes or so to review the new material. Then, it' s time to perform! This class gives you the tools to nail your cold reads.
Act 4: Listening and Reacting
What's covered in this class?
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Listening and reacting
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Inner monologue
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Figuring out how to think as the character
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How to captivate an audience, even when you are not speaking
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The importance of "lines" without lines.
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Skills you should carry with you in EVERY scene from here on out
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Being truthful to the character
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Active listening
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Distraction exercises
Acting is so much more than delivering your lines well. You must listen and react as the character. A movie doesn't always stay focused on the actor speaking; many times, they cut away to the character that is reacting to whatever is being said to them-- actors are conveying people, not line readers. Many actors make the mistake of making their work and performance all about them and their lines. If we aren't really listening and reacting to what is being said by other characters and what is happening in the scene, we aren't playing the character truthfully. We truly believe (with good reason) having this skill or lacking this skill can really make or break a performance. Casting directors look for actors who embody the role and captivate the viewer. If you are in an argument in real life, you don' suddenlyt just calm down and check out while the other person is talking-- you stay in the moment and listen. In this course, we will work on listening and reacting skills and exercises. You will perform a scene where your character has very few lines and is mostly listening and reacting to what the other character is saying. You will work on inner monologue, creating thoughts for your character, and be given several non verbal lines that will be said in your head. This truly is one of our most important courses. You will carry these skills with you in every scene you do from here on out. We will also work on distraction exercises. Auditions don't always run as smoothly and ideally as we'd hope. Examples where distractions may occur while in character: Someone behind the scenes building sets with loud tools between scenes/socializing while you're performing, the casting director's phone going off in the middle of your audition, the director giving a lunch order while you're in the middle of a scene, loud outside noises such as traffic and planes filling the air, etc. All of these which has happened to me numerous times. You need to be prepared to stay in the scene and not break character when these things happen. This exercise will help prepare you for these instances and more.
Act 5: Comedy
What's covered in this class?
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How to break down a comedy script
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Adding comedy between the lines
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How to find and mark up the jokes
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How to “find the funny”
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Comedic timing
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Comedic character types
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Physicality
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Adding variety to scenes
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Staying in character during funny and unexpected moments
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What to add to comedic scenes to make it your own and still honor the writing
Act 6: Beyond the Average Character
Description coming soon!
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How to play characters that are specific and opposite most of our personalities
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How to make "the bad guy" multidimensional
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How to approach characters that speak, act, and dress differently than you do
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How to find truth in a character you don't agree with
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How to transform through physicality, speech, tone, emotion, etc.
This Act is one of our founders favorite Acts because many of you transform into characters you may have never imagined you could play.
The Advanced Class
This is an ongoing Advanced class where students continue their studies. You're ready to kick it up a few notches and become the best actor you can be! Our Advanced class is like no other. We cover a vast range of acting tools and techniques. We find new ways to challenge students. Your curriculum is molded for YOU!
HAVE PRIOR TRAINING/EXPERIENCE & WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PLACEMENT IN THE ADVANCED CLASS? Sick of auditioning and not hearing anything back? Have you taken classes and don’t feel like you're getting super individualized attention? Do you simply want a more challenging class and feel you have enough experience to skip the Acts? The Advanced class is the class for you! Email us with the items listed below and our team will get back to you to see if you would be a good fit for our Advanced Class. If we feel you would really benefit from taking one of our ‘Act’ courses, we may recommend taking one of those first. The Act courses focus on a specific area of acting for the duration of 4 weeks— meeting once a week. EMAIL: katie@justbeactingstudio.com WHAT TO EMAIL Send in whatever you have. -2-3 OF YOUR BEST AUDITION TAPES OR TAPES FROM CLASSES -RESUME -PRIOR TRAINING -DEMO REEL (If you do not have one, self tapes will work instead)
What's covered in this class?
Everything & anything.
This class is where you will continue your studies with us every month, unless invited to the invite-only masters class. Teachers will work with you on strengthening your weaknesses, and you will work on challenging scenes and characters.
This class strives to expand your skills, emotional depth, roles you can play, understanding, experience, and character work. We will push you to become the best actors you can be, and help you be prepared for any audition, screen test, or booking that comes your way. We change up what we work on each session (i.e. different genres, roles, etc.) - bring your 'A game' to class every class!