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 FYI,
OUR STUDIO "RULES": WE
ARE PROUD to offer one of the best physical set-ups anywhere for our
acting students.
OK, there are a few basic rules
for acting classes in general and our studio in particular. * No shoes
please in our
studio! [So socks or bare feet are the "style".]
You will
sometimes work on the floor.
* Dress comfortably and casually. We strive to keep the space
comfortable and we are air-conditioned. But it seems that studios and theatres
always seem to be a bit too warm or too cold, so be prepared.
* Class always begins ON
TIME. You should phone if you are going to be late or if you will miss a
class. * No food or drink other than water anywhere in the building.
[It's our Landlord's
rule!] * You are expected to warm-up vocally and physically
and to rehearse assigned scenes before class begins. *An actor should
always bring pencil or pen, and a notebook or journal to any class or rehearsal. * For weekend workshops please bring enough cash to go out for a light
lunch in the neighbourhood. [We always close at lunch… … Usually a
chance for a fun chat with some of your classmates, informal networking etc.]
* Your focus and attention to others are a critical part of your
work in any acting class or rehearsal; so please no cell phones, Blackberries,
or text messaging during class [as if we needed to say that.]
Thanks for caring about the studio
environment.
For students in our Scene Study or Film Scene classes here are some
general actor/scene guidelines!
Sears and Switzer Rules of Scene Study:
Art doesn’t have rules…
but we do! Since there is often no director or stage manager present at your
rehearsals in Scene Study, here are some useful guidelines/rules for you to
follow.
- For all scene study and film class participants, preparation, rehearsal and memorization of scenes is of course
required outside of regular class time. Usually we think you should work as
many hours outside class as you spend in class running your scenes, learning
lines, and practicing the skills we teach.
-
Do
not DIRECT each other! [Only amateur actors direct their partners.]
-
PREPARE
or REHEARSE 2-3 HOURS PER WEEK OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME. You have committed
yourself to as many hours outside of class as you spend in class .
-
COME
TO CLASS WELL-PREPARED. Each week we will give you the assignment for
next week. Work on those AND keep working on the total.
-
Memorization can be
hard work so don’t procrastinate. The sooner you are "off book"
the better.
-
Warm-up before
class and plan on using the 6 to 7:30 open studio time to run scenes with
your assigned partners when you
can.
-
NO
PROPS. NO COSTUMES. In our approach, we focus on you and your actor-work. We
don’t want you to try and become a set designer, art director or props
master as well. [Please note other teachers in other studios may work
differently than this and may ask you to costume or prop out your
scenes.]
-
Clear your calendar and make class a priority! You must not miss more than
one night of workshop, since classes are only 6 weeks long.
-
RESPECT
YOUR PARTNER.
-
Phone if you are going to have to
miss a class, etc. Even if your partner can’t make a class you will always
have lots to do, so come!
-
Be aware that you are sometimes
working on scenes without a supervisor, so make sure you always do your part to
make the rehearsal setting safe and comfortable. Acting is intimate work so
respect each others boundaries at all times.
-
and, once
more, don’t direct your partner!
Finally,
we wrote the Toronto Association of Acting Studios Code of
Ethics, so check it out!
The TAAS Code of Ethics:
- We dedicate ourselves to excellence, honourable effort,
self-discipline, integrity, personal growth and development, and respect for
the body, mind and soul.
- We will honour all relationships established as a
coach/teacher and we will not further personal, political, or business
interests at the expense of the best interests of the participants. We will
avoid situations which might present a conflict of interest or reduce our
ability to be objective and unbiased in our determination of the best
interests of our students.
- We are responsible for delivering a high standard of
professional competence.
- We strive to work in safe and appropriate situations
that enhance the quality of services and support the health and safety of
participants.
- We act towards professional colleagues in a manner
characterized by courtesy, good faith, and respect.
- We will abstain from all forms of harassment, including
sexual harassment.
- We will be realistic in the preparation of participants
for performance. We will assess participants accurately and avoid
encouraging expectations that are not appropriate.
- We will respect the confidentiality of information
gained through the class work or offered by participants.
- We will encourage a climate of respect and mutual
support among all participants.
- We support, promote and practice the concepts expressed
in the Canadian Human Rights Code.
* Please note our privacy policy:
We retain your names, photos, email, postal addresses and phone numbers for
three years so that we can track your class participation. We assume that as a
performer you will want us to occasionally suggest your name to casting people
and agents, if asked. We will also act as a confidential reference for the
industry or other schools if requested. If
you do NOT want us to use this information on your behalf, please let us know
upon course registration.
We keep credit card information on paper file only for 12 months and will
never release it to anyone else. We do not keep e-files or e-archive credit card
details. Our class lists are available for scrutiny only by Canada Customs and
Revenue for GST and income tax audit verifications only.
And that's all the "rules"
for now..... see you in class!
David and Theresa
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