Here’s an interesting story.
When method actor, Mickey Rourke, was starting out he was having problems with a monologue he was doing to get into acting school.
In the monologue, he had to speak to his father in the play, but he found it very difficult.
You see, Mickey’s father in real life left the home when he was six and he hadn’t spoken to him since.
The acting teacher he was working with suggested that he find his real father and reconnect.
He did. He found him at a small diner. He bought Mickey dinner and sat for hours talking to his son as he downed 22 screwdrivers. He then gave him $50 and that was the last time he saw him.
Mickey a few days later auditioned and got in. In fact, the panel that day agreed it was one of the best auditions they have ever seen.
The approach the acting teacher took here is called personalisation. It’s when you get in touch with something similar in your life, so you can relate to something similar in the character’s life.
It can be a powerful tool within the method acting arsenal, which is, let’s face it, vast.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. You need to know all this in intricate detail if you want to be as great as the method boys and girls.
All part of the Timoney Method taught on my Ultimate Acting Programme.
For all the details and to apply go here:
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate/
Brian Timoney
Over the years, I’ve discovered that most actors DON’T want to become a genius at acting. If you ask them if they want to attain acting mastery at the highest level, they will swear blind that they do. But actions speak louder than words Grasshopper. The price that is to be paid to reach the highest levels tends to be too high. The truth is that most are just not interested enough to aim for that. They do a bit of training or even a lot of training and then stop after a year or two saying that they have ‘got it.’ I guess that’s fine if your ambitions are to solely get on a soap or action film but if you want to deliver acting of the highest standards the idea that you do a bit of training and stop is nonsense.
Let me use a no acting example to highlight what is required.
Leonardo Da Vinci, recognized as one of the most amazing minds of the human race, painted a picture called the Mona Lisa. It’s regarded as a masterpiece and to many the best work of art ever created. It took him close twenty years to paint it, and he was still painting it up until his death. So, it never got worldwide recognition until he was gone. The reason being Leonardo took a ‘never finished’ philosophy to his work. He was continually improving, learning more and perfecting. One of the fantastic things about the Mona Lisa is that the brush strokes are invisible. He used a process of continual layering so that they would disappear. He studied the human body to the nth degree. He dissected dead bodies to understand the inside workings, which gave him great insight into how it looked on the outside. He studied nature, especially river flow and landscapes not just from an artist point of few, but as an engineer. He worked on providing damns and bridges for various governments of the time. This gave him a vast knowledge of how rivers flowed on landscapes. If you look at what is behind the Mona Lisa, you will see a river and a country landscape that was created from his knowledge and understanding of the subject. Finally, the woman and the landscape are symbolic. He felt that nature and humans are similar, flowing and connected.
I could go on, but you get the idea. This was a man who never stopped studying, never stopped learning and kept working on his art until the day he died.
Kind of makes a mockery of those who think they don’t need to learn acting or give up learning after a few years.
In acting terms, the likes of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are the acting Da Vinci’s of their time. They have never stopped learning, they have never stopped improving, and when you watch the Irishman, you are watching two acting genius at work. The sad thing is that many don’t even know that they are watching genius-level acting because they rate mediocre acting just the same. It takes a trained eye to understand the subtlety and finesse of such performances.
So here is the thing. You need to ask yourself what kind of actor you want to become? The type that does a bit of learning and then waits for a job or the type that sees their work as a life long work of art.
If you believe in the later, then it’s time to meet The Master who has put in more than 20,000 hours on the subject. It’s common knowledge that if you want to become a genius, you have to work with Masters to gain the highest insights.
If you have yet to train professionally then check out:
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate
If you are a Pro check out:
https://www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/timoney-method-pro/
Brian Timoney
The Master Of The Method
It’s election day.
Tomorrow there will be a new Prime Minister or the same one.
Either way, Brexit still divides the nation, food banks are now a part of our society, there has been an epidemic of knife-related killings on the streets, the NHS is at breaking point, the economy is teetering on recession and terrorist attacks are now the norm.
Happy days! But don’t lose heart there is something you need to be aware of that is good news for the artist. As we head into 2020, there is something reminiscent of the 1920s. Across the world then there was massive unrest. The USA headed into the worst and deepest recession in its history, Europe was recovering from World War I and Russia had a revolution. Sound familiar?
But here is the thing. This period of history also saw a record number of artistic genesis come to light and thrive. In fact, there was a creative revolution that came along to lift the spirits of the suffering people. It was the artists of the day that brought hope and understanding to the world and lifted it out of its turmoil. I do believe actors, directors, artists, dancers, and the like reflect our society and allow the people to understand themselves and their situations and as a result, allow change to occur.
So here is my advice. Cast your vote as you see fit but then getting busy becoming the acting artist you want to become and change the world. I know it seems a lofty aim, but the power of the acting artist should not be underestimated. Films, plays and actors performances drive deep into the public psyche. We have a responsibility as acting artists to go as deep as we can, to add our profound contribution towards change.
There you have it, and perhaps your start in all this is to start your acting training on the Ultimate Acting Programme:
www.briantimoneyacting.co.uk/ultimate
Brian Timoney
Master Of The Method
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In Hollywood, there is a self-created word they use now and again, which is…
…Afflucked.
Let me explain.
In 2013 the world was shocked when the Academy Awards snubbed Ben Affleck for his directing on the film Argo. He also starred in the movie.
No one could quite work it out. His directing was of an extremely high standard, and he had even won a Golden Globe for best director that year, but he was not even nominated for an Oscar.
Why?
Well, there are plenty of theories, but the main one is compelling.
Hollywood, ironically, doesn’t like people showing off. If someone is already successful, they tend not to like them getting out of their lane and trying to be more successful in other areas. They prefer people to stick to what they do. They also like the underdog or the unheard of.
So when Affleck tried his hand at directing and pulled off a corker and also starred in it, the Academy shunned him.
So now when someone who should be getting recognition but doesn’t, is said to be Afflucked.
Bradley Cooper is about to well and truly Afflucked this Sunday at the Oscars.
Why?
Here is my humble (but accurate) opinion on it.
1. Bradley is getting out of his box. He not only stars in it but co-wrote it, directed it and co-wrote the music for it. All of it is brilliantly done. I don’t think the Academy will approve.
2. The film itself deals with a subject matter that is a bit close to the bone — spoiler alert. We have a successful musician who squanders his talent due to substance abuse and a rising star who becomes egotistical and betrays others and herself in the pursuit of fame. This could be a summary of what happens every day in LA. It’s a bit close to the bone. I doubt the Academy will like a mirror being held up like this.
3. The Awards scene. There is a scene in A Star Is Born – spoiler alert – where Bradley’s character goes on the stage with Lady Gaga’s character to accept an award. He is extremely drunk and urinates in his trousers and falls over making a mockery of the award ceremony. Definitely to close to the bone for the Academy methinks.
If this was just a competition about the best actor, Bradley should win hands down. Anyone who knows anything about acting would be able to see that. It’s no contest.
It’s Method Acting at its best not only by Bradley but Lady Gaga too.
Perhaps years from now, people will look back and wonder why this film and the performances never got the recognition it deserved.
The Afflucking commences this Sunday evening.
Brian Timoney
The Master Of The Method[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Round two of this particular acting cage fight is about to take place tonight at the BAFTAs. If there is any jutice. If there is any sanity when it comes to awards Bradley should (for the love of God) MUST win.
Which is why Bradley should win best actor tonight and not Rami.
All the details are here:
Brian Timoney
The Master Of The Method[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]They gave it to the wrong man.
Rami Malek won Best Actor at the Golden Globes yesterday, for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
It should have gone to Method Actor, Bradley Cooper, for his role in A Star Is Born.
I don’t believe this is a matter of opinion. It’s not up for debate; it’s a fact.
Here are the reasons:
- Bradley’s level of emotional depth is astounding. Putting any preference aside with regards to the material, his emotional intensity and ability to touch and move you with a single look is outstanding.
- Rami gives a good performance, but it’s imitation. Good imitation, but imitation nonetheless. He captures the physicality, the voice, the attitude but has very little emotional depth. Reason being he is imitating. The difference between him and Bradley on this particular aspect is like night and day. It’s much easier to imitate than to reach into your soul as Bradley did
- Bradley’s level of authentic and organic charactisation is astounding. The character is a subtle blend of him and the creative take he has on the role. He and the character become one. He is the character. You cannot see the joins. It’s seamless.
- Rami’s charactisation is closer to a clumsy impersonation. He is “playing” the character rather than being him.
- Bradley’s connection to the other actors is profound. There is a deep and authentic bond with Lady Gaga that is very difficult to create. You can feel the chemistry.
- Rami interacts with the others but lacks deep connection.
Bradley is a Method Actor Rami is not.
The difference is clear as day.
If you are ready to touch and move your audiences with a single look, delve deep into your soul and deliver profoundly moving and affecting acting then check out the Ultimate Acting Programme.
Brian Timoney
The Master Of The Method[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Social media is one of the most effective marketing tools for actors, allowing you to promote yourself and the acting projects you are involved with. It is increasingly seen as essential for actors to be active on social media, both in terms of raising their own profile and the profile of the projects they are involved in.
To get the most out of social media, it is important to understand what goals it can help you to achieve and which channels can help you most effectively achieve those goals. In this article, we explain how to use social media for actors across different channels to help you further your professional acting career.
What social media can do for actors
At its most basic, social media can act as a free advert for your career, showing people what you are up to and what you can offer them. This might take the form of sharing what roles you have won, where people can see your work, reviews of your performances, or anything else which demonstrates your value as an actor.
Increasingly, social media is also playing a direct role in who gets cast for acting projects. The number of social media followers you have is often now seen as a plus by producers and other industry insiders. The logic behind this is simple: the more followers you have, the more of an in-built audience you are likely to bring with you for any new project you are cast in.
Finally, social media can be a highly effective way of networking and staying up-to-date with industry news and opportunities. By making the right connections and following the right sources for upcoming auditions and other industry insights, you can increase your chances of getting to the head of the queue when a new opportunity arises.
Which social media channels are most useful for actors?
The best social media channels for your acting career will likely depend on a number of factors.
In terms of popularity, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter are the most used social media platforms, with the following numbers of monthly visitors:
Facebook – 1.9 billion
YouTube – 1 billion
Instagram – 700 million
Twitter – 313 million
You also need to think about who you need to appeal to. If you are promoting a new film project, then it is worth bearing in mind that 64% of cinema-goers are under the age of 35.
While Twitter and Facebook are popular with all age groups, Facebook is the most popular social platform for older users, while younger people are more likely to be found on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. For theatre work, however, your audience is likely to be older, meaning Facebook may be a more effective way of reaching out to your target market.
What are you looking to share?
Social media for actors is all about sharing, but different platforms can be better for sharing different types of content.
One of the reasons YouTube is so popular with actors is it allows you to easily share your acting showreel and other video clips of your acting to instantly show people what you can do.
Instagram is obviously focused around photo and video sharing and this can be a great way of generating interest in both you and your acting projects. You will, of course, want to share your acting headshots, but to create a following you need to create posts full of personality.
Chris Pratt recently got a lot of attention for his funny on-set short Instagram videos about the strict diet he was on while filming Jurassic World 2. The videos didn’t directly refer to the film, but have generated hundreds of thousands of views and helped to strengthen Pratt’s personal brand as an actor and raise awareness of the film.
Facebook, on the other hand, can be great for sharing more in-depth thoughts as it allows you to post longer text-based content, as well as pictures, videos and links to your website, places to buy tickets for shows you are in and a whole range of other content.
Twitter, likewise, is great for allowing you to post links to external content, such as your website, blogs and relevant news articles. It can also allow you to be part of wider conversations relating to the acting industry which can be a great way to network.
Cross-promotion is the key to social media success
The key to effective social media for actors is to understand that you need to be promoting your acting and projects across multiple social media platforms at once, to make sure you get the biggest possible reach.
There are various social media management tools such as Hootsuite which can make this process easier, allowing you to post across multiple social channels from a single place. When cross-promoting, it is important to remember to tailor your posts to the different social channels you are targeting.
A basic example is that you might ask people to retweet something on Twitter if they agree, but this would make no sense if you posted the same thing on Facebook. It’s also worth taking advantage of the extra space afforded by Facebook to craft effective posts, rather than restricting yourself to the 140 characters allowed by Twitter.
Mastering the art of cross promotion means you can connect with more people, while making sure you hit the right demographics for different projects, depending on where your various target audiences are most likely to be found.
Master social media and much more to build your acting career
Understanding the importance of social media for actors and effective self-promotion is just one of the tools successful professional actors need to have at their disposal. To build a successful acting career that allows you to earn a living doing the thing you love, you need to have a complete understanding of the business of acting.
At the Brian Timoney Actors’ Studio, we specialise in both world-leading method acting coaching and teaching our students how to take those skills out into the world and find regular paid acting work. That’s one of the fundamental differences between our approach to teaching acting and what you will learn elsewhere such as drama school.
Our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme covers everything you need to succeed as a professional actor, so if you want to turn your acting dreams into your everyday reality, please don’t hesitate to apply today!
To find out more or to enquire about our 3-Day Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp, please get in touch.
So you have an agent, congratulations! You’re already one step ahead of the rest of the many actors still looking for representation. At first, things all seem to go well: they’re excited about you, they say they’re putting you forward for lots of roles, and almost guarantee that work is right around the corner. As far as you’re concerned, things couldn’t be better! And yet, after a few months, their calls dry up. You barely get any auditions and when you do, it’s clear you’re not right for the part. If this sounds familiar, it can mean only one thing: you need a new agent.
With competition so fierce in the acting world, getting an agent can seem like an impossible task in itself, let alone having the luxury of picking the one you want. But the truth is, getting the right acting agent is absolutely fundamental. If you don’t and you choose to stay with them anyway, this will only delay your career. This is a wide-ranging problem in the acting industry and affects many actors, who frequently find themselves stuck in a rut under the wrong representation.
Don’t let yourself fall victim to it, work hard at getting the right acting agent.
How To Get The Right Acting Agent
Leave them with a letter
You’ve probably learned by now, that in this business, reputation is everything. Leaving your current representation in any other circumstances than amicable may haunt your career prospects. As always, it is important to be professional about it. So ring them up and discuss your feelings, after all, they may feel the same about the incompatibility. If that sounds a little difficult, consider sending a formal letter or email. Make sure it’s polite, professional and grateful, whether you feel particularly thankful to them or not. Agents tend to have contacts, and if you don’t want those contacts to write you off as a performer, make sure you bid goodbye with a fond farewell, not a bitter one.
Go solo for a while
Having an agent is not a prerequisite to finding work. There are many other ways you can find it yourself. While you are in between agents, there’s no reason you should stop auditioning and searching for promising projects. After all, taking a breather from representation will give you some time to take stock, get some perspective and understand just what is that you really need from an agent, and the kind of work you want them to find for you. Seeking it out yourself will really give you a taste of what’s available out there, and may even lead to agents approaching you. There are many ways to find auditions without an agent, from using websites such as using Backstage or Spotlight to networking with friends and contacts in the business.
Be aware of your type
Now you’ve made the courageous step to leave your previous representation, you have to be your own superstar agent for a while. Getting yourself the right acting agent starts with knowing exactly what kind of a performer you are, and the sort of work you’re right for. You might already have some sort of idea about the kind of actor you are, but you need to have it completely worked out. Typecasting is a standard method for casting in the industry, and you need to decide how to make yourself the best in your respective field. So are you a bad-guy type? Enhance your look, be exactly what someone would picture when considering the typical bad-guy character. Agents often select actors on the type first, talent second. Work with what you already have and make sure you tick that box first.
Give them a reason to be interested
Before you start making your list of agents to contact, you need to be ready with something to offer them. You can’t just send them an email with your acting CV and headshots: you’ll just be added to the pile and probably fail to receive a reply. You need to have proof that you’re a serious, working actor, and proving this can take many forms. You could send them a link to your updated showreel on IMDb, or an invitation to a play you are starring in: something that shows you are actively working, not just lazily sending out your CV to agents hoping that they’ll do all the hard work.
Do your research
Now you know your type and have managed to find some work on your own, it’s time to start researching agents. Getting the right acting agent can be a long process, but ultimately it may be the difference between a successful career and a failed one, so it is worth investing the time and effort. Use resources such as Backstage’s online directory of managers and agents to find reputable agents for building up your list of possible options. Research further into the agent’s work and the agency they’re affiliated with websites such as Backstage’s Call Sheet. There you will find a list of the kind of actors they represent, as well as get an idea of the size of the agency and whether they are SAG or Equity-franchised or not. Speak to your friends and colleagues in the business, and check out the websites of agencies you are interested in.
Select realistic options
If you are still new to the business, don’t approach a big prestigious agency which is likely to have numerous actors with far more experience than you. Be realistic. Go for small to medium sized agencies and those with a reputation for finding and signing new talent. Getting the right acting agent doesn’t necessarily mean getting the best one in town with all the contacts, it means getting one that will have time to work with you and have experience of working with newcomers.
Start contacting them
Once you have your list, you can then begin selecting your preferred choices and sending them your CV, headshots and cover letter. Some you may hear back from within a few days, others you may not receive any response from. If you know someone who knows an agent you’re interested in, get them to recommend you. It may be just what you need to catch their attention. If it’s been a few weeks and you’ve had no responses, redo your CV, retake your headshots and start sending out submissions again. Persevere and continue sending out emails until you have a good number that has gotten back to you and wish to set up a meeting.
Attend multiple meetings
For each agency that shows an interest in meeting you, you need to research them ahead of the meeting. Find out about them, their clients, how many agents they have, the background of those agents, and even how long they’ve been in the business. At the meeting represent yourself well, but remember, it is just as much an interview for the benefit of the agency as it is for you. They will assess your personality, look and type, but if you’re serious about acting, you’ll want an agency that auditions you, giving you a chance to show your talent. Otherwise, they’ll be putting you forward for auditions based on nothing more than how you look. Pick an agency that you know is on your page and understands the roles you want, but also the roles you’re likely to get in the current climate.
Get ahead of the game
Getting the right kind of acting agent can seem like a daunting task, particularly if you already have representation. Ultimately, however, it is worth the effort and time, especially if you feel like your current agent is not fulfilling your needs.
Brian’s Ultimate Acting Programme provides world-class method acting training and gives students the opportunity to gain real and meaningful insight into the acting industry. At the end of the year, everyone participates in a graduation showcase, hosted at a top London venue frequented by many of the industry’s biggest players. There, students have the opportunity to perform and meet agents and set up promising meetings there and then.
Ready to get serious about your acting career? You can apply here for your chance to get accepted.
The steps you take in the first stages of your acting career will have a huge impact on your entire acting future. One of the most important decisions you can make when embarking on your journey to becoming a professional performer is whether or not to go directly into movie acting.
Stage, television and movie acting will all require you to learn different techniques and adapt to the unique styles of each medium. From voice modulation and breathing techniques to learning how to work with cameras as opposed to audiences, there are several major differences in these different forms of acting.
The first thing to remember is that there are around 38,000 working actors in the UK. However on average, only one in 50 makes more than £20,000 per year. This is why it is so vital that you know exactly what part of the industry you want to join and that you hone and perfect the skills specific to your acting style.
Successful actors are few and far between because star quality is hard to come by. When an actor has star quality, audiences, directors and casting directors know it. If you do decide to go straight into movie acting, then you will need to know exactly how to work with cameras, set lighting and, most importantly, have the skill-set and ‘star quality’ to engage movie audiences, hold their attention and make them believe in the emotions you portray on screen.
What Makes Movie Acting Different?
If you were to start out by acting in theatre or on television, you would learn to develop your character through the rehearsal process. However, according to actor and director, Ben Miller, when acting in a film role, you must spend the entire process becoming your character. In an interview with The Guardian, Ben Miller describes the movie acting process as one in which you;
“live and breathe the character”.
He also says that filming a movie creates an atmosphere which makes this as easy to do as possible.
Movie actors are often required to prepare for a role more thoroughly than actors preparing for smaller roles. This means that as well as reading scripts and memorising lines, you will have to look at your character in-depth and really try to work out the basis of their behaviour and create a fully rounded personality. For example, if you were to play a character from history, you would start by reading up about that person and learn about them in as much detail as possible. If you were cast in the role of an evil antagonist, you might want to think about why this person behaves the way they do- no matter how unsympathetic they might seem at first glance. If you don’t put this sort of research into your role, you might find that the final result ends up quite flat and not believable to the audiences watching the movie.
In his 1990 book, Acting in Film: An Actor’s Take on Moviemaking, the iconic British movie star Michael Caine goes into great detail about the aspects of movie acting that make it different to other styles of performance. He explains how the technology used in film, which allows viewers to see an actor’s face in extreme close-up and hear even the slightest sounds they make, means that movie acting can be portrayed much more subtly. He describes how it is much more truthful and potent for a big screen actor to downplay their emotions.
Michael Caine isn’t the only person to note the difference sort of acting that movie roles requires. In the 1952 thesis; Theory of the Film, Bela Balazs attribrutes the power of movie acting to the close up. He says that the close up causes a subtle style of performance, the likes of which had not been seen before in theatre acting. Balasz calls this the ‘polyphonic play of features’. Similarly, Walter Benjamin also points out the uniqueness of movie acting in his famous 1936 essay, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Benjamin believes that the difference lies in the fact that the performance in a movie is not happening live. This means that the actor cannot adjust their performance to suit the audience.
Both of these are examples of very early acting theory, which goes to show that even in the earliest days of cinema, experts were making note of the difference in stage and screen acting- particularly the fact that the technology, production and editing techniques used in film production play a big part in the way stars act.
The Art of Movie Acting
If you decide to dive straight into movie acting, there are a few things you need to know first. For example, you will film scenes individually and separately from the other actors. This means that you won’t get a chance to watch the entire story unfold like you would in a play. Because of this, some actors may need help from the director to see how their character fits within the wider story as a whole. Taking the time to do this can make a big difference to your performance, even if you only have a small part.
Movie acting is all about ‘hitting the mark’. Film sets are organised very carefully. The lights, cameras and all objects in the scene will be positioned very precisely. This means your movements will be carefully constricted. You will need to stand and move in exactly the way that the director tells you to. Usually, the floor of a movie set will be marked with tape to show actors where to go. This is where the term ‘hitting your mark’ originates.
Movie actors also need to know how to work with cameras. Every time you act in a film scene you should be aware of the type of shot a director wants. A few kinds of shots you’ll work with include extreme close ups, close ups, long shots, over-the-shoulder shots, high angle shots and dolly zooms.
Movie Acting – Should You Go Straight Into It Or Not?
Every person wants to start their career as they mean to go on, and with an acting career it’s no different. However, the question of whether or not to go straight into movie acting is one that you will need to think about. The movie industry is a sector that the majority of actors dream of being in, due to the fame, glamour and the fact that they expect the pay to be significantly higher. However, in reality, if you go straight into movie acting you should be prepared for smaller parts and low paying roles. In the early stages of your career you will need to focus on building up experience by accepting smaller parts. This might seem disheartening at first if you have dreamt your whole life of being a film star, but it will make you a better-rounded performer and build a foundation for your career in the long term.
Some new actors believe that they have to get stage acting experience before they are able to make the switch to performing on the big screen – but this doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. You will need to work your way up through the ranks of the film industry before ever landing a larger role, but it is very possible to begin your career in movies. If you were to pursue a career in film after working on stage for some time, you would be close to starting all over again from scratch. This is because the two mediums are so very different- as are the skills they respectively require.
Many actors prefer to accept as many acting jobs as possible, on stage or on screen, in the early stages of their career, while others prefer to stick steadfastly to their chosen forum. To decide what’s right for you, you will need to spend some time working out which areas of acting excite you most and which you excel in. You might want to speak to your agent or acting coach about this. Some questions that frequently pop up about whether or not it’s best to go straight into movie acting include:
- What type of training are you going to undertake?
- How much do you understand about the entertainment business and how it works?
- How will you go about finding auditions and applying for them?
- Which kind of acting appeals to you most- film, theatre, television etc?
When you’ve really researched these questions, you can make an informed decision about which acting route is right for you. You will then be able to create serious goals for yourself.
Start Your Acting Career
Whether or not you go straight into movie acting is a decision that only you can make and the decision will be totally personal to you. Whichever you decide, it is important to remember that there is no easy route or fast track to becoming a successful star.
When you apply to join one of Brian Timoney’s acting courses, such as the Ultimate Acting Programme or the Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp will provide you with enough tools and insider information to get your career off to the best possible start.
Brian will teach you not just about the techniques of method acting, and how to draw upon them to enhance your performance, but he’ll also teach you about the business of acting too. This is an absolutely fundamental aspect for any aspiring actor who is serious about making it in this highly competitive industry – particularly when it comes to movie acting.