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Why Actors Should Watch Classic Films
Jeff Richardson teaches film history classes for actors at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. In this video Jeff discusses why actor training needs to include film history and why actors needs to have a plan for regularly viewing classic films.
Film History Class for Actors – Jeff Richardson – Call (917) 794-3878
Why Actor Training Should Include Classic Films
One thing I constantly hear from young actors is: āI wish Iād seen more films.ā They love movies, they say, but they donāt think theyāve seen enough of the classics. And it makes perfect sense that they would feel this way. Most of them want to act in film. Watching movies not only provides inspiration and influence, but it gives them a shared knowledge base with others in the industry. The filmmaking world is a world of film buffs. Unless youāre planning to get into the business through the backdoor of professional wrestling or reality television stardom, being able to talk about great films, filmmakers, and performances is an important skill. How well are you going to fit in at a meeting, audition, or film set if your entire knowledge of pre-2000 cinema consists of Titanic and Toy Story?
OK… so how does one watch more movies? That sounds like a silly question, but itās not as simple as it seems. Having a catalog of films in your head doesnāt just happen overnight. Iām a huge movie buff ā I teach a film history class at the Maggie Flanigan Studio, and even I can feel overwhelmed by what I havenāt seen. For a young actor, even one whoās always loved movies, their lifetime of film-watching isnāt going to equal that of an industry veteran 10, 20, or 30 years their senior. And, letās face it: life is busy, and watching movies ā especially classics ā is a commitment. When busy days become busy weeks, etc., itās not easy to spend your limited free time watching a strange old film outside your comfort zone.
So how to fix this āfilm shortageā problem? The first step is realizing that you have to make a viewing plan. And to do that, you need to learn something about film history to add to your actor training. Surveying a century of movies at random is not only inefficient, itās likely to subtract from your enjoyment. Youāll get a lot more out of a classic film if you know a thing or two about its historical context, its cast and crew, its style, its reception and impact. In other words: why the film is considered a classic. By studying film history, youāll gain an understanding of key periods, genres, and filmmakers, and, most importantly, youāll have a crash course in your own interests. Once you know what appeals to you ā and there absolutely is something for everyone ā you can confidently create your own personalized film guide for future viewing. Youāll enjoy the films more and youāll have more thoughts about them afterwards. Even just watching one film a week will steadily make a big difference. Itās a great method to kick start a purposeful, pleasurable film education that can continue for a lifetime.
Film History Class for Actors at the Maggie Flanigan Studio with Jeff Richardson
Film History Classes at Maggie Flanigan Studio
Learn more about the film history class with Jeff Richardson at the Maggie Flanigan studio, as well as the other acting classes and acting programs at the Maggie Flanigan Studio by visiting the programs page on the studio website Ā ( http://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com ) or by calling (917) 794-3878.
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