David Chiu

Last night I started the 2nd year of the 2-year acting program at the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting Studio. The 1st year training really changed my life both as an actor and as a person. I gained so much because of my wonderful teacher Elaine Williams. I also had a smaller class and great classmates which contributed to a very safe and supportive environment which was highly entertaining and motivating.

This 2nd year training will be different though. I have a new teacher whom I’ve heard good things about, but I’ve also heard he is very picky, straight-laced, and can push you pretty hard. Elaine recommended me to his class because she thought that this would be good for me. I guess we’ll see.

Last night was basically just a lecture and the standard view and rules of the acting studio which at times can seem oppressive and cultish. Basically, the studio wants/demands 100% committment from its students and students cannot miss a class except for the most catastrophic/life changing reasons, or if you book a job on TV or film. There’s also the elitist view that this training is the end-all be-all. Then there’s the “Hollywood” name dropping (such as on the studio’s website). This class also is twice as big as my last class which means I could be stuck in class for 4 hours.

But everything has a negative side. Overall, I love the training and it has given me a lot. I look forward to this year knowing that I will really need to work hard and strive for excellence. I also hope there are not any personality clashes with the teacher or any of my classmates.

With all that said, now I need to come up w/ an improv scene for next class which demonstrates a specific relationship with my partner, has deep emotion, plus I need to act out a disease or some sort of impediment. Should I break out the Jamaican accent, or go for a heart attack, or what? Hmmm…