FAQ
The exact location of any present class is listed with the class information on the 'register' page of this website. In addition, the address will be sent to you directly upon registration.
We are very excited to work with students who are passionate, curious, and have a desire to learn, work with others, and to tell stories. These are who will benefit from our experiences. Albertans who will commit to the process, and apply themselves to the work.
Absolutely! All we ask is that you commit, show up ready to work and do the best work you can. If you are committed, present, and open-minded, you are welcome, regardless of your motivation.
It varies, and it's a mix! We separate youth from adults though. Adult classes are anyone over the age of 18, and typically adult classes have a variety of ages, ranging from twenties to fifties, or more. We need different age groups for exercises and roles, and this environment is great for learning. Youth classes on the other hand are broken into age categories, such as 12-14, 15-17, etc. We do not typically offer classes to age groups younger than 12/13. We focus primarily on high school students, and adults, with adults being a major focus. However, if you are interested in organizing a class for younger children contact us and we can discuss. As for class size, it depends on the exact class; intro classes typically have between 8-15 people, while scene study our minimum is 7 and our max is 10. All in all, expect around 10 people to be in your class.
Our classes are ensemble-based (all about the group and working together as a team), or in the case of scene study, are done with a partner. Therefore, attendance is very important, and so we expect all students to be in full attendance, and there are no make-up classes. We offer classes to committed and passionate individuals only. Many of our students are beginners and we do not require you to have outside experience to join our classes, but we conduct ourselves as professionals, such as the way we would in the industry. If your hamster is sick, and you don't show up to class, your partner might not be happy.
A key element of acting class is trust, and creating a comfortable atmosphere for actors to explore safely and freely. Therefore, we do not generally allow visitors to regular classes. However, from time to time there may be opportunities to bring a friend along to a class-end showcase, or to an open-house or special event. Inquire with your instructor.
Similarly to above, we do not generally allow guests to regular classes, due to how it affects the students in the class while they are working. However, we would be happy to chat with you on the phone or via email regarding the class if you have any questions after reading this website. If that still does not answer your questions, then we would be happy to set up an in-person consultation to discuss our classes with you. That should be sufficient to decide if you are interested in joining. If not, then maybe you just have a hard time making decisions in general, and you should take a look at that.
One is introductory, and the other is more advanced! Ok, ok, The main difference in terms of format and what exercises we do, is that the intro classes focus primarily on games and group activities that build individual skills, while the advanced class is a scene study class which means you will literally be performing full scenes in front of the class: analyze a script, learn the lines, rehearse, stage it, and perform it.
Similar to many practitioners in North America, we do not use one specific "method", and we are not concerned with a strong focus and adherence to a specific methodology. We believe that a combination of methods, and an array of approaches and tools for your actors' 'tool kit', best serve a performer. Furthermore, each of us responds differently to different methods. Therefore, we instead take you on a journey of discovery where together we try different things, and you develop your own way of working that best suits you. Your instructor will also identify problem areas, and guide you through exercises (drawn from various sources, and tailored to you) that improve them. That being said, we do have some practitioners whose teachings and methods resonate the most with us, and whom we reference more often, such as Stanislavsky, Uta Hagen, and Meisner.
Our main prerogative is training and education, which is a process. So while you will be doing a lot of performance- in some capacity, the main focus is not formal performance in front of an outside audience. That being said, from time to time we do offer opportunities for the class to perform in front of an invited audience of your family and friends, in the classroom. We prefer to call this an informal "showcase", or Demonstration of Learning (DOL).
While be believe that the best way to fully get the benefits of acting training (especially at the beginning) is classic in-person classes, and our main offering is in-person classes, we do occasionally offer some online options as there are some aspects that work great online. Keep an eye on our website. Or, if you'd like to request an online class or workshop, contact us. In addition, we offer private 1-on-1 coaching, and this can be done effectively online, so give us a shout.
Yes. Acting is acting; while "film acting" has technical differences, the core concept and methods are the exact same. And this style of is traditionally how film actors train , and is the same type of training taught at film schools. Acting started in the theatre, and this is what is generally taught in all acting training, both film acting programs, and theatre schools. So our classes will train you to become an actor that can work in any medium. In addition, we do offer specific on-camera classes and workshops from time to time. Though we prefer people that just "want to act", and love the art of performance, and storytelling. We can talk more about this in class.
Our classes are open to, and appropriate for, all levels, and each class is generally mixed level, to some extend. In our classes we ensure that material, lesson plans, groupings, and scene assignments are planned according to individual students' level, needs, and growth. However, we do divide the classes into "intro", "intermediate", and "advanced", to make learning most optimum, and to have the most effective cumulative curriculum that builds upon each other. That being said, in our experience, most people tend to come to us as beginners...but we do have some people that have had previous education or professional experience prior to moving here (and/or have a lot of performance experience from community theatre and beyond.)
Acting, like many crafts, is an art form where you are learning your entire life. Many professional actors take evening classes and/or work with a coach, ongoing during their whole career. As for when a beginner will become a 'strong performer' and/or be ready to start taking professional gigs, it depends on so many factors and it is different for every individual. I would focus on learning the craft... you'll know. And your coach/instructor will guide you. Usually after working on about 3 or 4 scenes in scene study class (3-4 months of advanced classes) an instructor would sit down with a student 1-on-1 and discuss their strengths and weaknesses as a performer and where they stand in the class. But start with a focus on the process, not on 'result'. If you don't like the process, then that may be troublesome for someone that wishes to be an actor. So just focus on the process, and enjoy. If you're a chomping at the bit like an Anxious Andy, put that energy into your work in class.
This is the age-old question. The general answer is yes. If we are talking about professional acting, it can be challenging, but it can be done. Traditionally this was near impossible, but now with the development of the internet and the industry shifting to online auditions, it is possible; more now than ever before. Part of our mandate is to make this art form, and this industry, more accessible to people in rural communities.
While our job is teaching the craft of acting, not employment, we do sometimes pass on opportunities to students when they come across our desk. If we hear of, or get asked about, a gig or related job opportunity in the province that we think is suitable for one of our students (and the student is ready), we certainly will pass it along. Also, once an actor has been with the studio for a year or more, and have demonstrated that they are prepared to start working professionally and booking gigs, we are happy to consider writing references, referrals, invite you to networking events in the city, etc.
We accept the following payment methods on this website: PayPal, Visa debit (via PayPal), credit card (via PayPal)- Visa, Mastercard, American Express. We also could arrange payment by cash or cheque in person, or e-transfer. To pay online, go to the register page of this website. For other options, please contact us. We do not accept bags of wool, or handfuls of pennies.
Full payment is required upon registration, and the registration deadline is typically 1 week prior to the first day of a class. You will need to pay in order to reserve a spot. In some special circumstances we might be able to accept a deposit at registration instead of full payment, with the full payment being due by the first day of class.
This is something we could consider. If this is something you require as cost is a barrier for you, please contact us and we'd be happy to discuss.
Our refund policy is simple: we do not offer refunds. Sorry. I know, life isn't fair.
We are working on getting opportunities set up in more locations, and establishing a newsletter, but at the present time we do not have a set schedule of when we will be in various towns. Please check the register page of this website for the latest information of present workshops/classes. We also encourage you to drive to the nearest town for an opportunity if you live nearby... they are open to all Albertans, regardless of your town of residence. If you'd like to request a workshop or class in your area, please contact us.
In the intro classes, we are mainly exploring with our voices, bodies, and imaginations; and that's it. We rarely will use props, set pieces, costumes, or even scripts. We will rely on our own creativity and imagination, and utilize improvisation. In the scene study class, we get more practical and we will be using scripts. In our classes we only use professional published plays. The published plays we use will be taken from the professional Canadian, American, or British contemporary theatre repertoires. We strive to use Canadian literature as much as possible. Only in the on-camera class (and part of the audition class) do we use material taken from film and television, and in those cases most of the material is taken from actual film & TV scripts from the Canadian and American film industry.
Yes, expect that there will be some work required outside of class time. Not often will it be in the form of traditional "homework" like in school, instead it will be work such as preparation for a presentation, rehearsal, observation, etc. For example, in the intro classes you may be asked to bring in an object, think of a memory, write a short passage, prepare a short speech, rehearse a performance with a group, listen to a song, or practice a poem, etc. In scene study, your only outside work will be scene preparation and rehearsal: rehearsing your scene with your partner (for several hours per week). The outside work required in the intro class is generally minimal, while the advanced scene study class is much more of a commitment.