Choosing Acting Classes for Teens

I have, for quite some time, been interested in how people made the transition from taking kids acting classes or being involved in acting classes for teens to actually deciding that they want to work in the film or theatre industry. It's not as if you have to wait to graduate from college before you can act- movies need actors of every age, shape and size. Different personality types are needed, and it doesn't much matter if you're male or female (finally, an industry where that's not a big deal). How do you go from the classroom to the stage, and how many people who have found work in the field continue taking classes? Los Angeles, where I imagine the largest population of aspiring screen actors to be, seems like the perfect place to make that transition.

Starting off with acting classes for kids, there is a real need for children to become comfortable in front of the camera. Whether practicing or performing, goofing off or making an audition tape, kids shouldn't make that transition until there isn't any camera shyness or fear. Nerves that enhance your ability to perform are one thing, but nerves that cripple your performance are entirely another. Likewise, acting classes for teens that focus on a certain method, such as the Stanislovski system for acting, should be viewed as a way for teens to access that which is hardest to replicate and nearly impossible to control: emotions. Until a teen can experience for themselves the emotions, actions, and reasoning that a character encompasses, they still need to be in classes, not on the stage or the set.

Many parents who drag their children to kids acting classes are of the opinion that their child is "a natural," and is bound for imminent greatness because of their inherent talent for acting. Unfortunately for them, but perhaps fortunately for others, success in the acting industry, as in many others, is usually the result of a lot of hard work and training. The actors that work the hardest, practice the most, audition tirelessly, etc., are the ones that will likely see the most success. Does it help to have natural talent? Why, of course it does. But then, being lucky is also a really great way to get ahead in this business, so it really is all up to chance...or hard work...or any other number of factors combined. If you want to create a great actor, find someone who really and truly loves to act.

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