Q. I want to be a professional actor and plan to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in indie films when I graduate college. Can these classes help me get ready?
A. Yes, that is exactly our focus.

Q. I'm 26 and a complete beginner. I've always wanted to act but my parents were against it so I went to law school. Do you take people like me?
A. Yes, our classes are perfect for serious beginners who are looking for training and self-expression. A lot of the class revolves around the inner-life and subconscious. The recent attention to the left-brain (liner thought) right-brain (intuitive thought) goes right to the heart of the matter. Check out this TED video of Jill Bolte-Taylor. If it speaks to you then so will this class.

Q. What should I expect to get out of an 8 week course?
A. If you are a complete beginner you will acquire a working vocabulary and understanding of what the art of acting is about. If you are already an experienced actor, especially if you're visiting SF from NYC or LA, you'll find this class to be a place where you can challenge yourself and continue pushing your edge.

Q. I am an engineer working in Silicon Valley and have always loved films. I'm not sure if I'm an actor but I'd like to try. I also want help with public speaking because I often have to present my work to small groups at my company.
A. Over the last few years there have been over 100 students in the class with similar profiles. A free suggestion; read Jaron Lanier's YOU ARE NOT A GADGET. If you're interested in what he has to say then my class is a great place to build up your chops and learn about the art of dramatic acting. If you are an actress in an engineers clothing the truth will come out. More info about my Communication Consultant work for technical experts and business professionals can be found... here.

Q. I am in my senior year of high school. Do you let teens into your class?
A. You are welcome to audit a class and if it is appropriate then yes, you can enroll with your parent's permission.

Q. I want a career in show business. How do I get started?
A. Please go to the following web site for help with that question: www.smartg.com

Q. Are these classes for film or theater.
A. These classes are for both.

Q. I'm not an actor but my therapist suggested I take an acting class. What should I expect if I enroll in this class?
A. Acting will bring a lot of attention to your inner life, strengthen your emotional expression and increase your self-awareness. It will teach you about poetry, philosophy, psychology and the humanities in general. Read this NY Times article by Jonathan Franzen, if it resonates then you might get a lot out of this class.

Q. Do you have visas for international students?
A. No, this is a very small school and we don't have visas at this time.

Q. How do I know that 'Method' acting is the right technique for me?
A. There is no one method that anyone can pin their talent on; talent does not like to be put in a box! I'm interested in what it means to be a great actor or actress. I have to watch this stuff! The buzz around the term Method Acting started in the 1950s with the startling new energy found in the performances of Marlon Brando, James Dean, Shelley Winters, Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman and Geraldine Page (all Oscar winners except James Dean who died at the age of 24). Elia Kazan (founder of the Actors Studio in 1948), Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Harold Clurman, Bobby Lewis and Sanford Meisner were all members of the Group Theater, which thrived in New York during the 1930s. The Group Theater ended with the beginning of WWII. By the late 1940s all of the above named Group Theater members opened schools of their own based on their understanding of Stanislavsky. The Actors Studio and the work of Lee Strasberg always dominated but this was due to the laziness of the media and sexism of the times (reffering to Stella Adler's work being overshadowed by Strasberg). Other important teachers we incorporate into our classes are: Ute Hagen and Peter Brook each with their own important spin on great acting.

More Questions about ACSF? Give us a call (415) 861-4965