Be careful where you study

Location > Networking > Forum > Be careful where you study

	Topic: Be careful where you study
Posted : 28/06/10 / Views : 824 / Replies : 5 /
Stephen.Gosnell 30 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I studied drama for 2 years in a further education college in irelandMy first year there nearly put me off acting,no admissions process pay the money and your in.A class of about 29 students all studieing together under one tutor,in one very dirty classroom. About 10% of the students had prior expierience in acting,about 10 openly admitted to attending as a means of getting benefits. Every Monday we would have a master class. My favorites Costume:told by guest tutor to go to the costume cupboard and put something on.Nothing else. Make Up:The guest speaker suffering from nerves. Career:A certain actor who is widely regarded in Cork as a swindler,who would offer paid work in Morrocco on completion of his courses. Enrolled in the class was the tutors son and on tuesdays her husband would take the classes. Clearly no screening had taken place on students. One clearly had severe learning dificultys,now i understand that everybody deserves a chance however this student could barely comprehend most things,often spewing incomprehensible stories at random. This student was removed at the end of year one after falsely accusing the tutor of taking bribes. During the rehersals for the end of year production introducing her other son as a cast member. The level of unprofessional behavior was unbelievable. I guess im telling this because i want to warn others about training,sometimes going out and doing shorts and plays will a far better understanding of being an actor. Dont like me believe that by attending an acting college you will learn everything.

[add comments | all topics]

	Reply #1
Posted : 27/06/10
Sam.Smith1 50 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I'm from Ireland and I chose to study abroad because the only decent course was cancelled But that all sounds beyond abysmal... where did you study?

	Reply #2
Posted : 27/06/10
Stephen.Gosnell 30 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Just check my profile IT BEGINS WITH A K:),let me stress it wasnt the Gaiety. For 3 years i studied in part time classes with the Gaiety in Cork,it gave me confidence as an actor,and an understanding of show buissness,we were told day one that you will not be in hollywood next week,that it is a struggle. Now some might call me biased as i worked for them aswell but i guarantee they are the very finest tutors Ireland has.

Reply #2

Posted : 27/06/10

Stephen.Gosnell
30 posts
last on: 07/02/12
send private reply

Just check my profile IT BEGINS WITH A K:),let me stress it wasnt the Gaiety.
For 3 years i studied in part time classes with the Gaiety in Cork,it gave me confidence as an actor,and an understanding of show buissness,we were told day one that you will not be in hollywood next week,that it is a struggle.
Now some might call me biased as i worked for them aswell but i guarantee they are the very finest tutors Ireland has.

	Reply #3
Posted : 27/06/10
Stephen.Gosnell 30 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Let me edit one thing. I fully believe in everybody having the right to study,regardless of disability either mental or physical,however I didnt feel it fair that given the students condition,that other students training was negatively affected. Not once was the issue raised,the tutor ignoring everything in front of her. Another Student was introced 4 months in who had no english. This proved very frustrating for the few in the class that were serious actors. Other students drinking on lunch,or in one case smoking pot less than 10 feet from the tutor,who i must assume had a blocked nose. I raised this fact with the principal and the tutor,who denied everything.

Reply #3

Posted : 27/06/10

Stephen.Gosnell
30 posts
last on: 07/02/12
send private reply

Let me edit one thing.
I fully believe in everybody having the right to study,regardless of disability either mental or physical,however I didnt feel it fair that given the students condition,that other students training was negatively affected.
Not once was the issue raised,the tutor ignoring everything in front of her.
Another Student was introced 4 months in who had no english.
This proved very frustrating for the few in the class that were serious actors.
Other students drinking on lunch,or in one case smoking pot less than 10 feet from the tutor,who i must assume had a blocked nose.
I raised this fact with the principal and the tutor,who denied everything.

	Reply #4
Posted : 27/06/10
leeravitz 1543 posts last on: 5 hours send private reply	That sounds absolutely atrocious, and it is certainly true that courses as appalling as this are surely operating throughout England, Scotland and Wales as well, if only because within an 'open' market place all sorts of courses can be advertised as 'teaching' vocational drama. With that said, and while I a) have no wish to stress that going to a drama school is a be-all and end-all in career stakes (I don't believe it is) and b) amke no assumption that going to a good drama school guarantees you anything approximating a good career, I do believe that the drama schools within the CDS (Conference of Drama Schools) offering NCDT accredited courses have been vetted thoroughly for these kinds of appalling behaviours, and they are given accreditation because the courses offered are solid and professional. So, of course, the first advice I would offer anyone hoping to go to drama school here would be to ensure that the school is CDS, or the course they wish to train on is accredited. As a final point, it might be worth saying that, if you are really, really unlucky, you can also end up in companies which are just as terrible in their incompetence, nepotism and general disregard for professionalism. Luckily, as years pass by, and you become more and more savvy to the ways of such companies, you seem to be able to avoid them!!

Reply #4

Posted : 27/06/10

leeravitz
1543 posts
last on: 5 hours
send private reply

That sounds absolutely atrocious, and it is certainly true that courses as appalling as this are surely operating throughout England, Scotland and Wales as well, if only because within an 'open' market place all sorts of courses can be advertised as 'teaching' vocational drama. With that said, and while I a) have no wish to stress that going to a drama school is a be-all and end-all in career stakes (I don't believe it is) and b) amke no assumption that going to a good drama school guarantees you anything approximating a good career, I *do* believe that the drama schools within the CDS (Conference of Drama Schools) offering NCDT accredited courses have been vetted thoroughly for these kinds of appalling behaviours, and they are given accreditation because the courses offered are solid and professional. So, of course, the first advice I would offer anyone hoping to go to drama school here would be to ensure that the school is CDS, or the course they wish to train on is accredited.

As a final point, it might be worth saying that, if you are really, really unlucky, you can also end up in companies which are just as terrible in their incompetence, nepotism and general disregard for professionalism. Luckily, as years pass by, and you become more and more savvy to the ways of such companies, you seem to be able to avoid them!!

	Reply #5
Posted : 28/06/10
Mary6 225 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I once attended a drama summer school, and was asked on the first day, 'Your mum used to be a drama teacher, didn't she? Yes. Can she come come and teach on the drama course, we don't have anyone. Er, no. Perhaps you could then, you've got more experience then us!. I'm 14 years old. (and at the time I did have more experience!) The entire thing was council funded as well!

[add comments | all topics]

Please note: Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of Casting Call Pro, nor have they been vetted by Casting Call Pro staff. If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.