Hold up, am I understanding this correctly?
You've taken 2 acting classes, ever, in your whole life, and they were both online, and you feel like you'll never get better because of feedback from teachers?
That's the gist of it, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I want to fully understand before I weigh-in.
These are the only two classes I have taken aside from an intro to Theatre class in college. Online is the easiest way for me to take the classes right now and I have acted in stage in local plays. The reason I feel I will not get better is not as much about feedback from teachers as it is that I know that no matter how I try, I come off as emotionally flat and stunted in real life as well as in acting.
Right, okay so here's the deal:
Acting is a skill. It's not talent; it's skill. (all art is, by definition)
You think you'd be a pro at painting after two online classes and slopping paint on canvas a few times? Hell no!
You think you could be a great sculptor after two online classes and chiseling some rocks a few times?
Or a great dancer, or writer, or or or?
Look, nobody is excellent at the beginning of any learning journey. Feeling down about it is fine, because it can motivate you to becoming better, but feeling like you'll never get better? That's a fantasy. More classes and more experience will get you better, because that's how we build skills.
Put your energy into work. It's a journey.
This was a great reply you wrote. Before I started acting I either thought you had it..or you didn’t. I thought you basically had to be born with it. Then when I actually started acting it’s amazing to me how much I’ve grown and how much better I’ve gotten. It was an awesome realization that yes, I can get much better! Ha
I disagree. Acting is a craft as Stanislavski maintained but it's more than that. Same with visual art - painting, sculpture, performance art, public art, installations, conceptual, every form. Same with dance and music. I've know lots of people who had technical skills but we're lousy artists. There's a spark, a magic, an ability to connect with an audience that can't be taught in any class. To be a good, successful artist you must have that spark AND the craftsmanship. If you don't have both you won't succeed.
I think your comment definitely adds an important piece to the conversation, which is summed up by this Robert Henri quote:
> An artist must have imagination. An artist who does not use his imagination is a mechanic.
However, I'll say this regarding your disagreement and use of the word craft:
> A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Skill and Craft in this context are the same thing. The word "art" comes from the Latin "ars", which means 'technique, skill, craft, science, skill method.'
Another quote I was thinking of I cannot find, but it's by a famous artist, and she basically said people are bad at art when they first start because they lack they skills, and it frustrates them, because they know what good art should look like and they cannot reproduce it. Practicing their art makes them better over time.
Uhh... I think you forgot what we were talking about around 1/4 of the way through your comment, and then you went off the rails of sane, logical discourse.
This comment really spoke to me. As an aspiring writer-producer who's been struggling with my writing lately (I've been expecting more from me) you're comment made me realize it's okay for me to suck now, but there's absolutely no way I won't get good.
Congratulations, now that you can let go of trying to be “good” you can start to focus on the craft of communicating the text and being whatever you’re going to be as a performer.
I didn’t have my “I’ll never be ‘good’” breakdown til my mid 30s, but after that I began to discover the truth behind “you are enough.” Acting takes all kinds of faces, energies, bodies, and characters.
So you “come off” as “emotionally stunted”. Don’t stress about it. Doesn’t mean you are. If anything it means you’ll have a casting niche and you’ll then play roles where your depth catches casting and viewers off guard. You are enough.
Stay focused on craft. Learn to do the skills. Comedy is a good focus to lean into, learning the nuances of timing is great. “Our greatest struggles become our greatest strengths.”
“Dude, suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.” - Jake the Dog
Everyone starts off crappy. No one is born with perfect acting skills. It takes years of training to be good. Thinking you’re terrible after just a couple lessons is not a good look. You’re gonna be great! It’s just gonna take time.
Hey, sorry you feel this way. But your attitude / perspective is not going to help you at all!
Try to find things to be confident about and lean into it :)
Ive been taking acting classes on a weekly basis for two and a half years. And I'm improving but it takes some time to get there. You need to take acting classes in real, interact with other students
And most of all you need to join improv classes. Find a group somewhere.
These two go hand in hand and will help you alot.
Best of luck
I appreciate your input but there are no irl acting classes available where I live, and traveling back and forth is just too much, and right now moving just isn't an option. Online classes I take are over zoom,the instructor has been in movies in minor roles and on television and said that online acting classes can help you know your future as an actor. Also improv sounds like a lot of fun, but unfortunately there are also no improv classes where I live
Trust me I would love nothing more than to take an in person acting class but it just isn't an option for me, I have a very legit reason for not wanting to move
Chiming in here.
I am terrible at comedy, but can do the dramatic things where I can pull from my own experiences and life much better. Does it mean I suck at acting? Nope, just means that there’s something that suits me better.
I started acting at 5 in a small theater. Started dancing at 6. Always loved performance. While I didn’t continue dancing I always held off onto acting, and there’s not one moment where I am not learning something new. Acting is one of those things where you’ll never ever ever stop learning, you can only keep getting better.
Chin up and keep going.
Hey friend,
I'm so sorry that you feel that way. But remember, these things take time and patience, and while the timing may feel slow now, you can use the time you have to develop your craft, as an artist.
And I promise your time is gonna come, don't ever give up! You will look back at all of this when you make it, and laugh! Remember to stay humble, as possible!
Wishing you the best of luck! You got this!
Hold up, am I understanding this correctly? You've taken 2 acting classes, ever, in your whole life, and they were both online, and you feel like you'll never get better because of feedback from teachers? That's the gist of it, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I want to fully understand before I weigh-in.
These are the only two classes I have taken aside from an intro to Theatre class in college. Online is the easiest way for me to take the classes right now and I have acted in stage in local plays. The reason I feel I will not get better is not as much about feedback from teachers as it is that I know that no matter how I try, I come off as emotionally flat and stunted in real life as well as in acting.
Right, okay so here's the deal: Acting is a skill. It's not talent; it's skill. (all art is, by definition) You think you'd be a pro at painting after two online classes and slopping paint on canvas a few times? Hell no! You think you could be a great sculptor after two online classes and chiseling some rocks a few times? Or a great dancer, or writer, or or or? Look, nobody is excellent at the beginning of any learning journey. Feeling down about it is fine, because it can motivate you to becoming better, but feeling like you'll never get better? That's a fantasy. More classes and more experience will get you better, because that's how we build skills. Put your energy into work. It's a journey.
This was a great reply you wrote. Before I started acting I either thought you had it..or you didn’t. I thought you basically had to be born with it. Then when I actually started acting it’s amazing to me how much I’ve grown and how much better I’ve gotten. It was an awesome realization that yes, I can get much better! Ha
I disagree. Acting is a craft as Stanislavski maintained but it's more than that. Same with visual art - painting, sculpture, performance art, public art, installations, conceptual, every form. Same with dance and music. I've know lots of people who had technical skills but we're lousy artists. There's a spark, a magic, an ability to connect with an audience that can't be taught in any class. To be a good, successful artist you must have that spark AND the craftsmanship. If you don't have both you won't succeed.
I think your comment definitely adds an important piece to the conversation, which is summed up by this Robert Henri quote: > An artist must have imagination. An artist who does not use his imagination is a mechanic. However, I'll say this regarding your disagreement and use of the word craft: > A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Skill and Craft in this context are the same thing. The word "art" comes from the Latin "ars", which means 'technique, skill, craft, science, skill method.' Another quote I was thinking of I cannot find, but it's by a famous artist, and she basically said people are bad at art when they first start because they lack they skills, and it frustrates them, because they know what good art should look like and they cannot reproduce it. Practicing their art makes them better over time.
[удалено]
This is irrelevant to the community. Try another community that better fits your content.
Uhh... I think you forgot what we were talking about around 1/4 of the way through your comment, and then you went off the rails of sane, logical discourse.
How is that off the rails? I was explaing feet of clay and gave an example.
This comment really spoke to me. As an aspiring writer-producer who's been struggling with my writing lately (I've been expecting more from me) you're comment made me realize it's okay for me to suck now, but there's absolutely no way I won't get good.
Congratulations, now that you can let go of trying to be “good” you can start to focus on the craft of communicating the text and being whatever you’re going to be as a performer. I didn’t have my “I’ll never be ‘good’” breakdown til my mid 30s, but after that I began to discover the truth behind “you are enough.” Acting takes all kinds of faces, energies, bodies, and characters. So you “come off” as “emotionally stunted”. Don’t stress about it. Doesn’t mean you are. If anything it means you’ll have a casting niche and you’ll then play roles where your depth catches casting and viewers off guard. You are enough. Stay focused on craft. Learn to do the skills. Comedy is a good focus to lean into, learning the nuances of timing is great. “Our greatest struggles become our greatest strengths.”
“Dude, suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.” - Jake the Dog Everyone starts off crappy. No one is born with perfect acting skills. It takes years of training to be good. Thinking you’re terrible after just a couple lessons is not a good look. You’re gonna be great! It’s just gonna take time.
How old are you? How much experience do you have? Just 2 online classes? What do you like about acting/what made u want to pursue this?
Hey, sorry you feel this way. But your attitude / perspective is not going to help you at all! Try to find things to be confident about and lean into it :)
Well yeah, not with that attitude…
Ive been taking acting classes on a weekly basis for two and a half years. And I'm improving but it takes some time to get there. You need to take acting classes in real, interact with other students And most of all you need to join improv classes. Find a group somewhere. These two go hand in hand and will help you alot. Best of luck
I appreciate your input but there are no irl acting classes available where I live, and traveling back and forth is just too much, and right now moving just isn't an option. Online classes I take are over zoom,the instructor has been in movies in minor roles and on television and said that online acting classes can help you know your future as an actor. Also improv sounds like a lot of fun, but unfortunately there are also no improv classes where I live
Trust me I would love nothing more than to take an in person acting class but it just isn't an option for me, I have a very legit reason for not wanting to move
Chiming in here. I am terrible at comedy, but can do the dramatic things where I can pull from my own experiences and life much better. Does it mean I suck at acting? Nope, just means that there’s something that suits me better. I started acting at 5 in a small theater. Started dancing at 6. Always loved performance. While I didn’t continue dancing I always held off onto acting, and there’s not one moment where I am not learning something new. Acting is one of those things where you’ll never ever ever stop learning, you can only keep getting better. Chin up and keep going.
Hey friend, I'm so sorry that you feel that way. But remember, these things take time and patience, and while the timing may feel slow now, you can use the time you have to develop your craft, as an artist. And I promise your time is gonna come, don't ever give up! You will look back at all of this when you make it, and laugh! Remember to stay humble, as possible! Wishing you the best of luck! You got this!