Why These 5 Acting Schools Names Leaps Out At You In Hundreds?

Which acting school to join? 

Which are the best acting schools in Mumbai?

What are the fees of good acting schools in Mumbai?

How to join NSD in Delhi and fees?

How to join FTII Pune for acting?

How to know the best select acting schools in India?

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Well, here are your answers

Why The Names Of These Schools and And An Acting Coach Leaps Out At You?

• Reputed
• Good Teaching Faculty
• Good syllabus
• Extensive Scene Practice
• Chance to Learn With Other Talented actors
• For Beginners-An Award Winning Personal Coach

Note: However, check credentials before deciding

1. National School of Drama Delhi

Please visit the website to know eligibility to join. It's pretty tough!
http://nsd.gov.in/delhi/
NSD Fee Structure
The fee structure for three-year course in Dramatic Arts is as follows
Fees: ₹8,560 Per Year
Break up
Admission Rs. 50.00 /-
Tuition Fee Rs. 80.00 per month
Costume for   Classes Rs. 800.00 per month
Caution Money (Refundable) Rs. 2000.00/-
Advance for Makeup Kit (adjustable) Rs. 1000.00/-
Students’ Union (membership fee) Rs. 24.00/-
Stationary Rs. 800.00/-
Hostel Rent per seat Rs. 110.00 per month
Electricity and Water Charges (adjustable) Rs. 40.00 per month
Hostel Expenses Rs. 14.00 per month
Medical Fee Rs. 1.00 per month
Mess Charges Rs. 650.00 per month (likely to vary
from one month to another)

2. New York Film Academy | Mumbai, India

Address: 9th Floor, Tower A, URMI Estate, 95 Ganapatrao Kadam Marg., Lower Parel West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013
https://www.nyfa.edu/mumbai/
Fees: Tuition: $ 3,929 USD(Approx. Rs 2.25 Lakhs) + Service Tax
https://www.nyfa.edu/admissions/dates_tuition/location-st.php?location=Mumbai_India&course=4-Week_Acting_for_Film_Workshop

3. Subhash Ghai’s, Whistling Woods International

http://www.whistlingwoods.net/
Subhash Ghai is the chairman of Whistling Woods International, Mumbai. The courses include a 2-year course in acting.
Fees: Rs. 9 Lakhs

4. Berry John Acting Studio

http://www.bjas.in/diploma-in-film-acting/
MUMBAI Studio
301 Nanak Chambers, Opp. Fun Republic
New Link Rd., Andheri West, Mumbai 400053
+91 9967977966/67, 022-26742192
bjasmumbai@gmail.com
*Delhi
NEW DELHI Studio
32 Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV
New Delhi 110024
+91 9716114466, 9999704455, 011-40578451
bjasdelhi@gmail.com
Fees
4-Month DFA:
DELHI STUDIO:  26 June, 4 September, 30 October 2017, 8 January 2018
Course fee: Rs 1,75,000 +  18% GST (total Rs 2,06,500), installments available.
6-Month DFA:
MUMBAI STUDIO:  3 October 2017, 8 January, 2 April, 9 July 2018
Course fee: Rs 2,75,000 + 18% GST (total Rs 3,24,500). 50% at registration, 50% before course opens – we no longer offer installments in Mumbai.

5. Anupam Kher’s-Actor Prepares

The institute offers full time and part time course in acting.
http://www.actorprepares.net
Fees:
Full-time course: Please contact Institute
Other Courses
A. Part-time Certificate Course
Acting and Dance: Rs 25,000
Only Acting: Rs 20,000
B. Weekend Workshop
Acting and Dance: Rs 12,500
Only Acting: Rs 10,000
C. Advanced Weekend Programme
Acting and Dance: Rs 75,000
Only Acting: Rs 65,000

Top Acting Coach

http://topactingcoach.weebly.com

• For "One On One" acting coaching privately
• With a money back guarantee to be a good actor

Fees:
Fast Track Rs. 20,000 (in a group of 3 only)
Supreme Course-Private; long duration with 5 years support Rs. 40,000 onward

Related important post 

Requirements To Become An Actor | Know And Be One | Video

Courtsey

What Are The Requirements And What To Do To Meet Them?

For Learning Acting-Whether A School Or An Acting Coach?

Who  Is The Top Acting Coach In India?

What Are The Acting Courses And Fees?

How To Contact An Acting Coach?

Mistakes Committed By Beginners

1. No research was done and no plan prepared
2. Forgetting the camera
3. Acting with the voice and not with the body
4. Acting too close to their own personality
5. Voice and speech-diction, articulation and volume
6. Camera or stage fright
7. Not remaining in character when something goes wrong
8. Falling on excuses
9. Interrupting and not taking director’s instructions seriously
10. Quitting early without knowing the struggle period

Watch This 3 Minute Slides Video, Follow And Be A Good Actor Easily

Join Us NOW!

Updated Post

Acting | Fixing The Confusion In Acting School Or A Coach

I want to be an actor. Help me

Sure, you can definitely be an actor, and a success one.
Identify requirements to be an actor and how to meet those requirements. Get professionally trained to have an excellence in the acting craft for all types of media like film, theater, TV, Anchoring, Modeling

Should I join an acting school or an acting coach?

If you're a beginner, you need personal "one on one" attention and therefore a good acting coach (Preferably an actor him/herself)  would be better. The schools are good for those who have been fighting for some time, learning in a group, scene enacting and networking

What can an acting coach do for me?

What can you as an acting coach do for me?

Do I Really Need An Acting Coach To Be An Actor?

Discussion

People often ask, ‘What can you as an acting coach do for me?’

Professional actors are themselves the most suspicious clients that I work with. They simply don’t see how an acting coach could help them. Probably because most of their learning or coaching experiences have ended in little or no practical help.

So what can I do as Acting Coach do to help you? What is my role?

It’s possible to recognize 4 distinct areas in addition to from training on acting techniques, acting for the camera, auditions winning techniques, playing emotions and different attitudes, script and character analysis and how to create a character, self-development and marketing and promotion of your acting career.
I’ve applied these 4 key areas to actor training and actor coaching and I hope it will give you a fuller picture of the roles and responsibilities of an acting coach.

1.
An Acting Coach will Recognise Your Potential

The first thing an acting coach should do is the test to see if you actually have the goods. I don’t mean that you necessarily need to have talent, but that you have a potential for training to a higher level. Some people are innately gifted, it’s true, but some people show the signs of being ‘trainable’ and some people clearly are not. An Acting Coach should be truthful with you about your potential and be honest with you about your chances for progression. Even (especially) when coaching experienced actors, the acting coach should always be truthful and honest. That doesn’t mean that they should ride roughshod over your feelings. They must believe that you can learn the skills of the actor. If they do not believe this, they shouldn’t keep appeasing you and taking your money, this is just Charlatanism.
Acting coaches have a responsibility to be honest with our students because the bond that is created is one of trust. This can’t be built on hypocrisy and bullshit.

2.
 An Acting Coach Will Encourage You

Once a bond of trust has been established, an acting coach should encourage you in any way that they can. Once they’ve established that you are trainable, they should point you in the direction that you want to go and give you the encouragement you need to believe in yourself and your developing skills.

3.
 An Acting Coach will Guide (Facilitate) You Individually 

An Acting Coach will give you the necessary practical tools that will help you to improve. These tools should relate DIRECTLY to the job of acting. None of us wants to learn to water-ski in order to tap dance. Likewise, your actor training should be job specific. You should be taught pragmatic skills that can be used immediately, or at least with practice. Their facilitation of you should be based in practice. It doesn’t matter how many books they’ve read, they need to know this stuff works for real, otherwise, they won’t facilitate you, they’ll actually disable you.

4.
 An Acting Coach Stretch You

A good acting coach will never stop pushing, gently, sometimes sternly, but they will always keep trying to stretch your capabilities. It’s not always pleasant, any kind of change is usually accompanied by some kind of pain, some mild and some less so. After a number of classes, you should feel that the coach is pushing you and helping you by not letting you rest on your laurels, or get comfortable, by constantly shifting the goal posts, they will continue to stretch you as you improve.
However, they should acknowledge your achievements and encourage you to press on ever upwards towards perfection, even if you never reach it. Based on

The Final Proof

Must Watch these 2 Videos By Me On Requirements To Be Actor And As An Acting Coach 

9 Reasons Why Acting Schools May Create A Bad Actor In You

I Want To Be An Actor

Which Is The Best And Economical Acting School?
Or An Acting Coach?

Wait!

Who Are You?

"I'm unique. There is no second then “Me” in the world. I  have my own “type’ an ‘archetype”. I cherish this uniqueness of mine and I'm proud of this self of mine".

Okay Great!

However, remember,

• This individuality of your's has an emotional intelligence- the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions and an intellectual capacity. This applies to learning also where an individual may learn with a group or where an individual may learn better in a focused individual environment’
• Acting is a very fine and an emotionally creative art. Therefore, in my opinion, acting is not like learning a subject like physics, history or mathematics with a large group in a class

  

Disadvantages Of Leaning Acting In A School

1. To an individual, the activities may be perceived artificial. The situations are sometimes and irrelevant to the individual learner’s need.
2. Learning exercises and activities in a large group are difficult to monitor and correct them individually.
3. There is a fear among teachers that a large group may cause sort of uncontrolled fun among learners.
4. It causes embarrassment and awkwardness, in some shy and introvert students in certain situations.
5. It indirectly may encourage incorrect forms of learning like language, voice defects, body language etc. as long as the teacher has a limited class timings and is not encouraged to correct mistakes immediately. 
6. Activities may not be suitable for all the students. The activities that succeeded with some in a group of students may fail with another group or with an individual.
7. One of the most important aspects of learning-To learn and to practice the power of developing imagination, observation and developing creativity, need to create a character and transforming instantly into a character may not be effectively ingrained individually in a group
8. Most of the schools don’t teach all the important acting techniques of the world like Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, Practical Aesthetics and perhaps no one teaches one of the most relevant “Michael Chekhov Technique”
9. Unfortunately, may be the lack of individual focus, marketing and promotion of acting as a business are not taught or stressed effectively and the result is disastrous. The actors fail in getting jobs in spite of being a good actor

The Above 9 Drawbacks of  Acting Schools May Create A Bad Actor in you

However, these problems could be solved if careful thought and planning are used in creating syllabus, creativity in group teaching, empathy and acting as a facilitator rather than a teacher and an instructor

Advantages Of Learning Acting From A School

1. It promotes confidence, trust, cooperation and group cohesion.
2. Learning scene enacting with co-actors.
3. Learning watching some good performance from others
4. Listening co-actors in a scene and reacting real
5. Developing network. A group can be a great source of industry information, auditions and creating good friends who could help an individual in career

Conclusion

• For beginners instead of an acting school, an acting coach who trains an actor on “one on one” basis is better
• For working actors but not professionally trained, an acting school could be preferred 

When Naseeruddin Shah Blasted Indian Acting Schools as Frauds

Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah Cries Foul At Indian Acting Schools & Their Teachers

Naseeruddin Shah is one of the best actors in India & is known to be not politically correct when it comes to speaking out. He recently attacked acting schools in India and explained how these institutions are playing with young, enthusiastic minds who want to make it big in the world of cinema.
He explained why he hates the concept of acting schools in India and it makes sense-

“There are no acting teachers in the country, they are all shams, they are all frauds and I have no hesitation in saying this.”

“All these people running acting schools are absolute and utter frauds, they are fooling the kids who come to them and teach them nothing.”
“There is no acting teacher in this country and it is a really unfortunate thing, considering how old the film industry is.”
“I believe that anyone who is passionate about acting can learn on his own.”

“Dilip Kumar never went to an acting school, Amitabh Bachchan never went to an acting school, Kamal Haasan never did yet all of them are such fine actors.”

“An actor trains himself and that is what I believe. Being in an institution is conducive to learning.”
“I learned at the National School of Drama because I had the urge to learn. I was exposed to many things I was not exposed to before, so my horizons widened, but you can do it on your own as well. I don’t think it’s essential for an actor to go to a training school to train yourself.”

It is important to add that these acting schools charge huge sums of money from the students. We invite the experiences of those who have attended these acting schools…

Source

Author's opinion


Basically, I agree with Naseeruddin Shah's views “An actor trains himself..." with our experience with this blog where many student readers of the posts from this blog have practiced with their friends  or in the front of a full size mirror are now actors in films and TV serials
However,  there may be some good acting schools in our country to learn, but for the beginners and those actors who want an update and sharpen their talent,  in my opinion the best option would be to hire/join a senior acting coach (Click here for an example).  He / she  should be a person of wisdom  possessing superb communication skills, compassionate towards young aspiring actors and presently still working as an actor

Is an Acting Coach Bogus? And a school? Review

Aspiring actor under private coaching

Why You May Need a Private Acting Coach

Here are some of the reasons why actors can choose to hire/ join a private acting coach. The private coaching sessions may be justified  in the following situations and needs of an actor:

1. When you are likely to feel confident in learning privately and not in a group, working men and women and  want to learn according to your convenient fixed days, Or in the comfort of your home eg child actors, aspiring elderly male and female actors, young girls shy of crowds.

2. Or you have apprehensions of being in a group and have a doubt that if others learn faster and better, it may frustrate and demotivate you

3. You need more time individually

4. To get ready before joining to an acting school
5. Want to work specifically on audition techniques to improve your selection chances

6. Trying know and to fix specific mistakes or bad habits you may have as an actor

7. You have some personality deficit like lack of confidence, nervousness, inferiority complex, shyness, inability to imagine and create characters, lack of aggressiveness etc

8. Learning a particular acting skill like playing different emotions, attitudes, voice improvements

9. Want to Learn how to set goals

10. How to market and promote your career- your individual plan and how to monitor
11. How to be an excellent public relation actor

12. Some actors also go to private coaching when they need a long term development and an extra motivation and mentoring to continue on this road

13. Or when you like to get back and reignite the flame of their belief in their ability to act. Experienced acting coaches are good at that.

When Private Coaching doesn't help

This is also true that new aspiring actors must learn in groups, where they get to work off their partners and observe others’ work. Also, the fact is true acting is about listening and reacting. You don’t get this opportunity in a private session.

Recommendations

1. Hire/ join an acting coach, initially. This could be economical also compared to a renowned acting institute in India
2. Then, join a good school to continue learning in a group

Once you understand how acting works and you have something specific on your mind, you can give private  coaching a shot.

4 Red Flag Warning in Selecting Acting Schools

Choosing to engage in a relationship with an acting class/coach is like dating a girl or a boy. You’re entering into a potential long-term (few months to years) relationship that must be mutually beneficial, healthy, and free of mental and emotional trauma.
The No. 1 factor when considering joining is the results of a school / coach's work: launched careers (even in short films), helping in booking roles etc.
The following are basic assessments I encourage all actors to employ when selecting an acting class.

Red Flag #1

Too many students

In addition to the teacher not know about you like your strengths, weaknesses and even not remembering your name, you will be lost in a group of students, forced to work with a scene partner, either for better or too poor compared to you, and may only be able to practice scenes or emotions  once every 2 or 3 weeks... if you’re lucky! I describe my classes as “private coaching in a class setting.” Because our classes are small either one on one or in a small group of or 2 or 3 students.
I would recommend an acting school with a class of not more than 7 to 10 students

Red Flag #2

Teachers who hate some actors in a class

Unfortunately, I see many actors who arrive at my private coaching program very damaged. They have been completely flattened by a sarcastic teacher/class who due to some whimsical reasons hates them. They may not be abusive, but behave negatively with a particular student.

How to spot such demotivating teachers? 

• These teachers who bully or are sarcastic to the students; allow ask some of their favorite students to directly comment on the performance of others actors they don’t like (may be due his/ her face, language or accent, body language etc.) or require more time to learn an emotion/ attitude. I remember one of my coaching students telling me that her teacher uses to ridicule her because she was poor in English. She got terribly upset as the teacher deliberately will encourage other students in a session to comment on her performance or talk to her in English, embarrassing her as she could not reply in a fluent English back.
• A good practice to be followed by a teacher in a class should be that all comments from students should be directed to the teacher only, as actors should never criticize their fellow actors, both in a class or even on a film set.

Red Flag # 3.

Whether you have learned or not, there is no time for training individually.

Suppose an actor can’t display a particular emotion or attitude like crying or laughing instantly or failing to develop ‘improvisation’ in a scene, they don’t wait for you. Why? The reason is simple-how can they hold a class of 20 for maybe an hour or more only because of you? They don’t.
This is a no-win situation for you as an actor. The biggest problem with these types of teachers is that though many of them are good there are limitations of time and may be their own reasons as a paid employee of a school with a fixed syllabus which defeats the basic objective of an acting class.
The “acting” is a delicate art and a fine craft. It cannot be taught as a subject of chemistry or history to 40 to 50 students with few practical in a lab.
However, few lucky ones who get attention and favor may be because of ‘like’ grab more benefit in a class though large. Thus, all craft development gets cast aside and the entire class’s focus diverts and revolves around fun and networking with co-actors.
This is a major red flag.

Red Flag #4: 

No results in sight.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints and fixed schedules of the subsequent classes, post training help is limited.
After training is over, most of the students do not know what to do, where to, whom to meet and how they can get roles in films, TV seials, commercial ads and print. Even in a class, sufficient time may not be devoted to how to be successful in auditions. This may not be deliberate or due to neglect, but again, may be due to time factor as a major time may be devoted for like ‘acting techniques’, ‘improvisation’ and ‘ scene enacting’
However, from an aspiring actor’s point of view who has paid a fee of few Lakhs of rupees, it may be a frustrating experience of not getting a job and to get lost in this ruthless cine industry after passing out a successful training.

How to find the red signals?

Before you decide to join an acting school or an acting coach, visit personally and find out: 

• Who are the teachers?
• Are they actors, directors, or from other cine stream?  What is their background-pictures released, work done etc. (Some of the existing actors may be teachers who join acting classes as teachers due to financial reasons, but are they good teachers?)
• Check their references on the internet
• What is the duration of each class eg 60 minutes or more or less?
• How many students are in each batch?
• Names and details (contact no, address, email) of the ex-students who got a break in films, TV serials or in commercial ads? You must make an extra-ordinary effort to contact them and seek their opinion.
• Also, try to contact other ex-students randomly on the phone even if they didn’t book any roles to seek their opinion of their school
• Remember, listen but do not believe what they say. Some of their talks may be their marketing gimmick.
• Does a school accept a fee in installments? If yes, then be cautious. Sometimes, their main objective may be financial benefits rather than an excellence in quality of training and would welcome students by paying full fees or a part of a total fee.
• Finally, most important-don’t fall to big industry names behind a school. The big names behind running a school seldom get sufficient time to devote to teaching to students and usually have employee teachers to do the job and big name, job get confined to ‘inauguration’, once a while 'pep-up' talks and prize/ certificate distribution ceremonies.

Just check the above red flags and points before you decide. Also, if already joined, never walk into a class with your tail tucked between your legs. Don’t be afraid to ask for results. It’s your right and responsibility. Raise your hand and inquire what sort of roles his/her students have acquired of late, or in the last year. Any reputable teacher or a school should be able to handle this question with aplomb and with hard numbers.
Acting class is also about creating offering predictable results for their students. Defensive or vague answers should give you a glimpse into this person’s or school’s soul. No reputable teacher/ coach or a school should feel good about taking hard-earned money from aspiring actors unless he/she knew they were getting the best guns they need to fight forward in their careers.

Special author's note:

However, please note that there are exceptions to what I have mentioned above. Some of the schools in Mumbai at least, are really good and their efforts in developing students into a good actor are commendable, indeed! There are teachers in these schools who truly love teaching and can’t help but inspire their students with their own energy and passion. This is a true spirit. Teachers and coaches should be pushing their students forward with respect and helping them succeed along their career path. Encouraged by

Read this post on schools 

India's Only 'One on One" Your Professional Acting Course

A PERSONALIZED ACTING COACHING SYLLABUS 

32 Steps of designing coaching program, especially suited to you

Introduction and Initial Step

Your audition is taken followed by interviews, not for selection in classes, but to know the level of talent in you, your dreams, why you want to be an actor, your determination, ability to struggle for a considerable period, financial resources to support you for a long period, your persistence and perseverance + more
Then we do your SWOT (your 'Strength', 'Weaknesses', 'Opportunities' for you, and finally 'Threats' to you)

Based on the above, we design a learning program, particularly suited to you.

Key points while designing Syllabus for you:

1. What is an actor?
2. What is your acting instrument?
3. How to improve your acting instrument
4. Body & mind
5. Improving all your 6 senses
6. How to really Listen and react normally
7. Why develop guaranteed and quick  relaxation techniques
8. How to fight tension on auditions and in a shoot
9. How to build confidence
10. How to improve your voice and diction
11. How to build a killer hot body
12. Two key factors in learning success- "Observation" and “Imagination”: Techniques
13. How to create a story after "observation" and importance of building up your sense-memory
14. How to play different emotions and 20 attitudes you see around you
15. Acting Technique: You are taught a special acting technique suited to you and are encouraged to develop your own technique after training you in Konstantin Stanislavsky method acting, Meisner technique and Stella Adler Acting Method.
16. How to win auditions
17. Why and how to do script analysis
18. How to do a character analysis of the role
19. Top tricks for quick memorization for auditions and large number of pages for film / theater
20. How to prepare a monologue and give a top performance
21. What is and how to enact 'improvisation"
22. Which are different acting techniques and which one suits you the best-create your own
23. What is camera acting and how best to play for the camera
24. Camera loves ‘eyes’-how to use them (use of your Eyeline)
25. How to work and get roles for the commercial ads
26. Why acting is a business and how to be a successful business actor
27. How to market and promote yourself, website making, monologue and show reel filming
28. Public relation secrets for actors
29. Life and career 'Goal Setting'
30. Casting directors and coordinators in India
31. Production houses and TV channels in India
32. Writing a script for your monologue and shooting a 2 minute video-film for promotion

+ More...

Get Coaching details here: Click

6 Reasons Why After Good Schooling You Fail to Be an Actor

What they don't teach you in an acting school

What Acting Schools Don’t Teach You

Like many of you, I attended a top acting school in the USA and in India with a diploma, a fancy piece of paper that says “You are a great actor!” I was a big fish in a small pond (school), played lots of big roles, and took lots of acting, voice, and movement classes. I studied Meisner, Stella Adler (2 of my favorites), Stanislavsky and some other techniques. I even learnt how to wear neutral mask!

One of the many useful things that acting school teaches is that training is essential, and should always be part of your career.

Fancy diploma in hand, I moved to Mumbai one month from USA with cheap headshots in my bag, a mediocre temporary job, and wondered “Where are all these high paying acting jobs I’m supposed to be getting? What do you mean I have to get few artist coordinators"? I quickly realized there is this whole “business” side of acting, nobody had told me about. I needed to change my approach, get humble, and come up with a game plan.

Later I came to know most of the acting schools in India and around the world usually forget to mention and train actors on these vital success factors:

Here is the list of those 6 things 

1. Don’t think you are special 

You may have gotten a standing ovation for playing a great role in a school class,” but you aren’t the star anymore. You will be in the audition room with people who don’t have any training, who have never taken an acting class, and yet have big coordinators. Some of them already have many of television serials and film credits. And guess what? They are up for the same parts you are in an audition. Accept it. Everyone is in the same boat now, top schools and fancy acting degree, diplomas or certificates or not.

2. For sure acting is business, too. 

It’s one thing to be a good actor; it’s another thing to be a “smart” actor. Acting school is all about the “art.” In the real world, it’s about the “business.” Nobody is going to come knocking on your door begging you to act for them. You have to do the work to get noticed. You have to combine artistry with business intelligence if you want to make money doing this and support yourself. That means killer headshots, a good 2-3 minute demo reel, great audition techniques, monologues (that aren’t too common and one for all), networking (without being annoying), branding, doing “meet and greets” with coordinators and casting directors, creating a website, making your own content, and being the CEO of your own acting business.

3. You won’t be Salman Khan or Deepika Padkone right away  

Yes, you were the lead in  your performances  in school. Everyone told you how great you are. Now you have to go back to the bottom. The reality is that most actors, once they register with few coordinators, just wait for some top producers like Karan Johar or Sanjay Leela Bhansali to knock their door. The fact is you will have to start, maybe with without a dialog, one liner role and slowly build up your résumé and show reel before casting directors are even considering you for auditions for major films or serial regular roles on television. This might take a few years, hence patience and taking care of financial irregularities is the key to survival. Bollywood star status comes later

4. Know your “type” 

In acting school you play all types- an executive, a lover, a villain, a taxi driver, younger or older than your age and many other types. Now you are in Mumbai- “Maya Nagri” Bollywood , one of the biggest cine and television markets in the world. You now have a five-year age range (not 40), and a character “type” that defines you. There are thousands of other actors who have the same type. Accept it and be the best actor in your type.

5. You must learn to “master the Audition Room” 

When it comes to television and film, you can be an amazing actor, but terrible at auditioning, or a terrible actor, but wonderful, confident, and charming in auditions. You have to be “good in the room” as they say. You have to learn the fine art of auditioning (eye-lines, slating, memorizing your lines in 15 minutes, etc.), as that is the gateway to you getting your dream role, and getting casting directors to “trust” you. Take audition workshops, see yourself on camera, or learn from your acting coach. You have to understand tone, the rhythm of television, what works on camera, how to take down your performance for a medium shot, how to embrace your personality, make strong choices, and be authentic.

6. Requisite focus on Acting for the camera

 If you don’t learn the art of acting for the camera, you will simply make a lot of technical mistakes, look either flat, fake or will just exaggerate gestures and voice
This is the most important, and took me months to figure out. Most casting directors for television and film will tell you to “keep it natural, “or “don’t act, just say the lines.” “But I went to a top acting school!” you argue with yourself. It doesn’t matter. You are no longer playing in an acting class. You are playing to an HD camera three to five feet away, which magnifies everything you do, and even the smallest gestures can seem too big. Be economical with your gestures, subtle with your emotions, and use your eyes. Just think and feel, instead of showing.
Acting school training can create confidence in you as an actor.  It can be amazing, and can give you the tools and technique to have a long, successful career. But being a professional actor requires an additional set of skills, which involves knowing the market and how you fit into it, so you can put your acting certificate, diploma or degree to good decoration use. Acting schools are an important part of the equation, but remember, it’s just “the part" of the success equation.

Should You Join Acting Classes? Good and Bad About Them

Is it your wish to break into film acting and become an aspiring Bollywood/ Hollywood actor or actress? If so, are you or have you recently taken an acting class? If not, you should take this step.
After all, acting classes have their benefits and are essential if you want to become an actor/actress. In fact, four reasons why you should take an acting class are outlined below.

1 – Gain Acting Experience and Knowledge:

Classes for actors, which come in a number of different formats, provide the skills you will need in the acting industry. There are classes that offer onstage experience and for those that want a film acting career, on-camera lessons are offered. Also, there are summer acting camps and programs available for teens.

Remember, you will be gaining experience even if you are just standing in front of the class reciting a monologue. This experience can set you apart from the competition and give you connections to the professional acting world.

2 – An Acting Class Gives You Formal Training For Your Career: 

Receiving formal training in an acting class is typical for directors, producers and especially actors If you were to take an acting course, which is multiple classes joined together, you will likely walk away with a certificate of completion. Although not a degree, it still highlights the training and experience you gained and is considered formal training.

The Formats:
Earlier it was mentioned that acting classes come in a number of different formats, and those that are highly recommended are not just taught by anyone. The professional instructors who provide face-to-face learning are trained in the field of theater, acting, drama and arts. This guarantees that you walk away with a lot of knowledge about movie acting.

3 – Necessary Feedback Provided For Actors And Actresses: 

Remember, you are paying the acting class instructor to improve your acting skills, not to boost your ego. Therefore, you will be getting positive and negative feedback and evaluations from your teacher.

Get Good At Accepting Criticism Of Your Acting Abilities
It will be difficult at first to have your work dissected and torn apart, but, these instructors have been there and they know what improvements are necessary. This criticism can be used to your advantage if you take their advice and put it into action.

4 – Learn Inside Scoop about Acting Classes: 

There are numerous acting classes available today, so ask around and get some input from people you know who have already been around the block. Acting classes are not free, so check around for an affordable rate.

Acting Class Size:
The size of a class can vary from as few as five students to twenty or more. If you have a good networking ability, you may enjoy a public class or for one-on-one help, you can choose a private acting coach.
Learn To Act From Someone Who's Been There, Done That:
Taking an acting class from a former actor/actress or one who has experience in the acting field can work to your advantage. You will have first hand information about open casting calls, agents and audition tips. There is nothing better than hearing this information firsthand through someone who has been in your shoes before.
Since you are all excited and know what's involved in taking an acting class, why not get started today? Even if you decide not to pursue an acting career, the classes will help build your confidence in whatever field you choose in the future.

However, there may be disadvantages of acting classes

1. Teaching acting is not like teaching maths or chemistry where you deliver lectures for a limited time, conduct some practicals and then leave students at their own fate. Unfortunately, this is what happens in most of the acting classes. Once a student leaves an acting school, he/she enters into a world not known to him/her and starts wondering "What to do now"!
2. Acting is an art where an actor has to create a life. Each actor like a normal, non actor person is different and may react to a life situation differently in the terms of emotional and physical reactions and needs a personal syllabus and coaching to develop how to display different emotions and attitudes, as we see in people around this world. Sadly, the acting classes in schools have limited time and too many students to focus  on them individually.
3. Most of the schools don't focus on how an actor should market and promote him or her, when in today's highly competitive cine industry environment, it is absolutely essential. They forget that to be a successful actor, apart from developing craft, an actor has to be a good businessman or woman!

Is there any option other than acting schools?

Yes. A private professional coach!
http://topactingcoach.weebly.com




The advantages:
An acting coach is like a sports coach who would ensure an individual's development to win a highly competitive race of stardom. He/she is supposed to work not only acting techniques, but on acting for the camera, filming of monologues, marketing and promotion of an actor of social networking, online promotion, setting goals and action plan and finally, to give information whom to contact, how to make portfolio etc. He/she would be your personal guide to success for a long time.

Lastly, weekend courses, in good schools is rare, but may be possible with an acting coach.

A must read related posts: 
Acting coach or a school?

An Acting Coach Answers Questions | Inerview

Finally,  before you start and decide to join a school, take this one bit of advice: 

There are many pseudo money making and fraudster schools. 
Therefore, research and investigate!