I've been told that studying acting is good for someone working on emotional problems and/or personal issues. 
Which classes would be suitable for this purpose?
This is NOT a good Idea.  Anyone who is working on personal or emotional issues is not a good candidate for acting workshops.  True, drama therapy and role-playing can be helpful, but only under the supervision of a mental health professional.  The staff and instructors at The Acting School are not trained, licensed nor certified to handle these situations.  Therefore it is not recommended that an individual enroll for this purpose.

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  I'd like to get started as an actor.  Please send advice.
This is a common request.  Basically, there is no specific way to "get started." This is a down side to this business. It is unfortunate that acting is not more like medicine or law, with prescribed methods of success, objective analysis of ability, etc. The reality is that one must find his/her own way. The best advice is to just start where you are. Doesn't matter where that is, there is ALWAYS something you can do to prepare for a career in acting. Perhaps, you will have to create more opportunity for yourself than someone living in NYC or LA, for example, but inspiration, discipline and persistence can flourish anywhere. When the time comes for you to move on, you will know when that is, and you will go. Then the process starts all over again where ever you end up. Again, unfortunately, step by step instructions do not exist.

That said, what you can do to find out more is, read biographies of your favorite actors to learn how they did it. Some of actors choose to stay in a minor market area, either for a short while or for the long term. Others move on to LA and/or  NY.  Some take the academic track, going to university.  Some of them are happy, some are miserable.  There is no secret formula. It is about choices. And persistence. It is a tough business. No guarantees. If you think you will enjoy the journey of acting, go for it. If you are focusing only on the fantasy of fame, re-think your career choice.

For more advice see What kind of work will I get as an actor? (Below).

  Please send information about admissions for foreign students.
Admission for foreign students is the same as for those enrolling locally.  See How do I sign up? (above).  We're sorry, but we do not offer student visas. The student must secure the proper forms and permissions on their own. The Acting School and our staff will do what it can to help the foreign student with the adjustment to living in the U.S.

One important thing to consider before you study anywhere in the U.S. is, that it will most benefit you to have a very strong command of the English language. The easier it is for you to speak and understand English the more quickly you will learn acting skills. Acting is about "re-acting", and if you have to stop to "translate" to yourself, then your instincts will not be spontaneous.

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  Does The Acting School offer financial aid, scholarships or student housing?
No, we do not offer any of the above.  In very special cases The Acting School may be able to offer partial work/study opportunities, however, these are usually reserved for currently enrolled students. It is the responsibility of the student to contract their own housing.

  Is The Acting School of South Florida licensed and/or accredited?  
Unfortunately, no, we are not licensed nor accredited.  We are not an educational institution.  We do not provide academic nor vocational training.
Because the entertainment industry does not regulate or require training for employment as an actor, the State of Florida considers our school "avocational".  It is forbidden by law for The Acting School of South Florida to promise or imply "that people who enroll in or complete the program have a more substantial likelihood of obtaining employment in the field to which the training pertains than people who do not."
[Florida State Statues Ch. 1005.02 (3b)]

Since The Acting School of South Florida is an avocational institution, we do not qualify for a license.  We are considered "exempt".
[Florida State Statues Ch 1005.06 (1d)]
In accordance with the State Statues, The Acting School of South Florida is required to include the following statement in all published materials:
"All programs, workshops and seminars offered at The Acting School are intended for enrichment and are not designed to qualify the participants for employment in the entertainment industry. The completion of any class at The Acting School is not a guarantee of employment or representation".

Accreditation as defined by the State of Florida in Ch. 1005.02 (1) is "accredited status awarded to an institution by an accrediting agency or association that is recognized by the United States Department of Education and that has standards comparable to the minimum standards required to operate an educational institution at that level in this state."  Here's the catch in accreditation, in order to apply for accredited status from one of these organizations, the applying institution must be licensed by the state where they do business.

The Acting School of South Florida is a corporation registered with the State of Florida and has a license to operate in the City of Hollywood.

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  If I take courses at your school, what kind of work will I get as an actor?
The State of Florida prohibits any talent agent from operating a school and prohibits any school from acting as a talent agent or agency. Therefore, The Acting School provides no formal placement and receives no fees from opportunities that students or graduates may obtain from their association with The Acting School. 

Please be wary of any Actor Training Program which guarantees a student employment.  The nature of the business is such that most work is temporary and requires constant pursuit.  Actor training can provide skills and in some instances the experience to give one an edge in this endeavor, however, guaranteed job placement is not realistic nor is it honest.  Also training is not a requirement for employment as an actor.

Although there are actors who never have studied and work professionally in films, it is rare, that the untrained actor will work in the theatre. The sad truth is that the opposite is more frequent, trained actors who never get an opportunity to work. Training is not an indicator of opportunity but it is DIRECTLY correlated to preparation. The odds of becoming famous is slim and the life of an actor can be a grim existence unless you truly LOVE the craft.  The best advice that one can give is to always be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way. You may get lucky, but if you don't know what you are doing, you may NEVER get the chance again.

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