BYU Acting Class... So Far

Susan had insisted that i take an acting class while at school. i'm taking the first level acting class: TMA 123 Acting Fundamentals; TMA stands for the Theatre and Media Arts department. I thought i wanted to get into TMA 124, the next level of acting. but the professor never responded to my emails or phone calls. Stupid! But apparently the auditions for that class were last year. 

Though, it may be a good thing because this class (the one i'm in) is pretty intensive:

• Every Tues/Thurs at 9-11am! 
• Have a rehearsed exercise each class with a different partner each time: objects, objective, tactics, room conflict, physical obstacle, secrets
• See 10 mask-club performances (45-minute plays)
• See 5 separate plays
• Read 5 separate plays. 
• All of which need a play-card with certain info on it. 
• We are also asked to read a few different books: Respect for Acting by Hagen, An Actor Prepares by Stanislavsky, and Chapter Two by Simon.

At first i didn't really like the class. The professor doesn't teach. That's him to the right. seemingly fun enough.. but he doesn't take this class seriously. Last class he said to me, "i've got 3 other acting classes, and i don't know what going on in any of them." Really? ..and this is the same guy that never responded to my email inquiry about TMA 124. He just sits back and asks the students, after our skits, "so what'd ya think?" as if the students are going to know anything! Lame. There's no real critique or coaching. So all of us students have no idea what he's looking for.

Finally, today the TA (thank goodness for her) mentioned "truth in imaginary circumstances" -- finally some actual teaching happening! I want some critiques and coaching for goodness sake. That's what I'm paying for, that's why I'm here.. So I think the TA and professor will now do better at actually TEACHING us, I hope. 

Though, it is a nice practicum and interesting to do partner work. Learning here makes me realize how lucky I've been to learn privately from Susan back east.