Famous feuds: Me & this acting class on google.com.
This week’s updates:
The crazy acting teacher from the class I took in May (mentioned in a previous Substack) has returned. The teacher responded to my Google review of his class. I’ve only written positive Google reviews in my life with the exception of 2 negative ones:
One was for a hairdresser who pulled my hair and cut it shorter than we discussed.
The other, was for this acting teacher who did not explain 1 thing about how to approach a script or a character. HE DID, however, puff his chest up and shout at my 25-year-old female scene partner “Do you wanna go? Let’s Go!" when she giggled at him for saying, “You all should’ve shit yourselves when you saw my resume and who I’ve worked with!”
During the class, one of the things I found odd was when the teacher ranted at us for not being starstruck by him.… So that took up a lot of time.
I read his bio and didn’t recognize any of the people or projects he’d worked on. I also couldn’t find him on IMDb. I am no success story myself, but just sharing what I learned from my studies.
He did teach me this breathing exercise at least:
“Breathe in the Cannes Film Festival, anyone who matters is there right now, and it’s where we want to be,…breathe out, the Cannes Film Festival.”
Unfortunately, that speech did not immediately teleport him out of the room and over to France. Had he just flown away at that moment, I wouldn’t be writing this, which I would prefer.
Summary: He probably has anger issues and I’m still mildly afraid of him even though there is nothing less threatening than a grown man pursuing an acting career.
Below is a screenshot of his first response to my review from last week.
“We teach teenagers who have zero issues with our approach to acting. You are a grown adult. I suppose it’s just easier for some to point the finger anywhere but inward.”
Woah bro, sorry I, a 30-year-old who has spoken to well-tempered business owners wasn’t as impressed with you as a high school sophomore.
In my defense, the class did not require an audition, and in New York City that kind of gives off ‘open-to-beginner’ vibes. Apparently not!
BUT plot twist, surprise surprise, the review was edited yesterday to sound LESS psychotic, leading me to believe his assistant went in and cleaned it up so he doesn’t sound like the type of person he is.
Note the changes: “ridiculous” has been changed to “unrealistic” & “teenagers” has been replaced with “serious people from all ages.”
They also added in some new rankings and accolades that Google couldn’t corroborate.
They now claim their studio is one of the top 10 acting schools in NYC AND is rated top 10 on Google (there are 79 reviews total…) I am clearly an absolute psychopath for not having a 5-star experience. They could be ranked in all those things, but that doesn’t make me find the owner any less unstable.
At the end of the day, being trolled on GOOGLE REVIEWS by an acting studio is so stupid it sounds like something that would happen to Liz Lemon on “30 Rock” if Liz Lemon was unsuccessful and unemployed.
All the students in my class will probably win Oscars and the joke will be on me, the girl who was “attempting to be funny in a scene about abortion” (see above.)
Through this all, I did learn 1 thing: I will NEVER work in this town* again!!!!!!!!
*Because I no longer live in New York City and I’m going to school for advertising/copywriting not acting.