Yes it’s a financial nightmare but I was born for this

Truth to that. It is so rare that somebody tells how it is. When I was full time working a normal job it was impossible to continue my training. It would have been impossible to go to auditions during the day. I came to a bit of money now. Not enough to retire but enough to take time off work and after a few years use the rest to start some business. I am now full time training and dedicating my life to this. The chances of me making this a career are very slim. Especially since I am an old fart and only discovered this when I turned 50. But I do not want to regret not pursuing this when I am at the end of my life.

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for kind words. My experience is that there are quite a few parts for people of your age, and not all that many who want them, so high hopes of having fun and success, and, of course, doing fun parts (or good parts in plays) anywhere at all can be - as you probably know - as satisfying as for those who are 'famous'. The age problem starts at 70, but still winnable then. John

@roncenti

2 жыл бұрын

@@NewYorkActingCoach Thank you for your reply. I agree that there are many parts for my age especially in my current Pre-Union phase. Everybody has either moved up or does something else. I have put emphasis on training and found a great school with a teacher I really like. Every classmate is 20ish, but to my amazement that is not awkward at all, it actually makes me fell younger. Contrary to most people I have patience and time. Plus feeling that I get better every week fills me with joy and I think that is the whole point.

He’s like a father to all of us

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

I've only just seen that kind remark ! What can I do to live up to it !? OK, I'll give a session free to anyone who wants to work seriously on a Shakespeare or seriously interesting monologue. It will be fun for me then! I certainly won't want anyone to come to me for more sessions afterwards, just to achieve as much as possible in that one session. But any applying must - please - be READY, and choose something you like and study carefully (not 'learn' because "learnt" lines can just sound "repeated") before the session, so that we can get into it DEEPLY ! I'll put a video up about this in a week or so, and - forgive me - I only want to help people who are serious, so please explain in any email to me why you want to work on whatever it is - at jwcactor@yahoo.com not here . But I'll happily do a free session for anyone willing to work hard BEFORE the session. John Windsor-Cunningham

@TheMightyBlackPearl

11 ай бұрын

​@@NewYorkActingCoachis this still an available option? I would love to email you. As soon as you mentioned Shakespeare, I was certain that you, sir, could help me! Thank you for that very kind offer. I've always wanted serious classes, I just have not been able to afford them as of late. I had a baby a few years ago.

@NewYorkActingCoach

11 ай бұрын

@@TheMightyBlackPearl Yes, I am still an "option"! And happy to help. The best way to get in touch and let me know what you want is to us the 'Contact' page on the website ( Windsor-Cunningham.com ) or my direct email ( jwcactor@yahoo.com ). Congratulations on your baby, and how wonderful that he or she will hear a few words of Shakespeare while growing up! John.

@JasznJewelz

2 ай бұрын

@@NewYorkActingCoachI would like one 😄

I’m his age and I couldn’t agree more with everything he says - make sure you do what you love but also be realistic about this as a profession and understand that it involves luck, access and that many acting careers have a limited life span. Be prepared to try even when you know the odds are against you. Hard work, persistence, a nice personality will get you faster than talent. Just keep looking for work. Keep auditioning for everything that comes your way. Use every opportunity to learn your craft, make connections and make friends.

That end bit made me chuckle. I was waiting for the sweetener that never came. - Adrian (Full Time Finance, Part Time foot dipper in of acting)

I respect you with all my heart, You care about us, Where nobody even does or even tries to. I hope you are doing well and have a healthy and prosperous life. Keep on doing what you love man. I'll support you no matter what...

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for kind words. And you'll "support me, eh? Well if you know of an honest publicity agent for a show I'm planning this year pass me the name: organizing a show is as big a nightmare as acting! Otherwise all is excellent here, thanks, and best wishes back. John Windsor-Cunningham

Glad to see you upload again

Man, you're a living legend!

I'm so happy to see you!

Glad you're back! Another great video!

Nice to see you again! Thankyou for your advice and lovely videos.

Good to see you back man !!!! This video has came at the perfect time for me thank you so much :)

Welcome back, man! We’ve missed you!

Another great video! I went to an acting school which turned out i wasnt really happy with, but i did finished my 3 years. Now im 32 and work part time as an actor and part time at a funeral home. Not really what i wanted, but i just really couldnt go on financially even though i still love acting. Always great to hear your advice and stories John 👍

Thank you! We miss you so much

I just found this channel and I am so grateful for these videos! John is such a talented teacher! I hope I bump into him some day.

@NewYorkActingCoach

11 ай бұрын

Thanks. I always answer short (and preferably difficult) questions without charging anything if sent through the 'Contact' page on my website. John

Love your videos you help me a lot to improve my British accent I was sad they were making any more videos but now I’m happy you made my day

I have learned many things from your videos sir. Thank you for sharing such golden information

Thank you so much this Video. It helped me so much with the understanding how to prepare properly. I will now give not 100% but 120% to get what i really want to do in my life. It is truly my passion to bring scenes to life und to understand what the character i am portraying is going through. Thanks again. Very nice and helpful video.

Amazing to see you back!

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I've just been very busy. And better videos to come soon hopefully, as soon as enough people agree on what they want them to be about! Best wishes back to you, John.

Hey John, I just got into LAMDA! Thank you for the advice. I hope we can work together someday.

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

Great, so now be the best person there, friendly to everyone, but well-prepared for every single class, even if you have to stay up late and miss one of the parties ! People can go to LAMDA or RADA and disappear afterwards if they don't set their minds to doing everything well there. A fact, sorry!. John Windsor-Cunnningham

Thank you, I wanted to hear that.

YEAY NEW VIDEO!

What a king

@NewYorkActingCoach

11 ай бұрын

Ah! A kind remark about a king! Thank you! I think Charles is a kind man, I don't see any rudeness in him at all, ever. So strange that a man who is King of England is rather shy about it! John

I’ve been heavily considering getting into acting. I’m unfortunately in Michigan and there isn’t as big of an opportunity as there would be in NY, or LA, or what have you, but there is a theatre near by where I’d love to audition for roles. I wanna get into behind camera films. I’ve always been intrigued by films, the way characters act, the art style of the camera itself and the point of view.

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Well, - and this will be obvious to you, but - be careful about taking such a risky decision, although you might find somebody at your local theatre who runs classes, and that - like friends I have in Florida, Colorado and Washington - it is possible to work full-time in one state (by finding enough small agents, small commercials companies and theatres to save them from having to go to NYC or LA !) But it's a huge risk, and needs a stack of classes to be 'ready' for it. John Windsor-Cunningham

@natechenry

2 жыл бұрын

@@NewYorkActingCoach thank you sir!! I’m willing to take that risk because acting is an art form I’ve been captured by. Inspired by films and directors. If I ever do make it I’ll be sure to credit you for inspiring me to take the leap

@ezenwa2132

10 ай бұрын

@@natechenry I feel the same way, films are an art form and acting is my passion and I live in Africa so the odds are not in my favor but I’d love to be an actor someday

I’m in a drama club in my school. But now, I wondering about give up them seriously. I love performance and write some script. But I noticed that we have different direction. This is big problem for me. Thank you for advices and video! I learnd a lot. (I can't really write English, so I am sorry if I make mistakes.)

Thank you John! 🙏😁

awh, i've missed your videos!! :)

I MISSED YOU MAN!!! I hope you're doing well. It's good to hear from you! :)))

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

YEs, all well thanks. And better to come. Next week hopefully. Best back to you, John Windsor-Cunningham

¡always so glad to hear from you! hope you’re doing excellent. :-D

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Hating Covid, but hopes of excellence soon, news of which will appear here. John.

'sorry... except im not sorry'

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, a bit sad, but at least one moment of humor, so I kept it in. And in fact, of course, there are people with extraordinary talent (I'm thinking of genius director) who hardly works at all! So one can't ever really judge people! John Windsor-Cunningham

Thank you!

I’m in the Midwest right now. I didn’t find out about acting until I was 18. I talked to my family about changing my degree to a bfa but they weren’t very supportive of it and would turn their nose up at it saying I won’t have a stable career. I’m majoring in computer science and minoring in theatre with a (ba). I figured I could do this to keep myself stable while trying to pursue an acting career. I’m serious about it and I try to learn everything I can on my free time like doing my own personal projects on the side, monologues, and watching your videos. I’m in my colleges MainStage play right now so I’m putting in the work.

@stevedoesitt

2 жыл бұрын

I would love to make acting a full-time career. I just need resources to pursue it and support myself while I make that transition.

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Well, it's good that you understand your 'situation' so well, and working hard at your '|Mainstage play' will be all the more memorable. Getting people to take you seriously when they know you have a career in Computer science, may work out, of course, the trick is to work harder at your acting (when you ARE doing it) than anyone else. Try not work out what lines really mean (that "Hello" may mean "I'm busy, leave me alone" or it may mean "At last! Let's get to work" BUT IT DOESN'T mean "hello". John Windsor-Cunningham

@stevedoesitt

2 жыл бұрын

@@NewYorkActingCoach Thank you for responding. I do work very hard whenever I’m on set. The theatre professors even mention my work ethic. I think I spend a lot of the time with the theatre kids do to how much fun I have and their pure extrovertism compared to the kids in my major. But nonetheless I do work very hard on set and with the character I was given.

You're quite charismatic 😇

Do you coach/teach people who aren’t actors but want to learn how to become a more compelling or interesting speaker/public speaker in general? Also I have remnants of a slight southern accent (I’m from Louisiana) I would prefer to not have. I have a good voice but am interested in how to control it better. 😃😃 Great to see you Mr. Windsor-Cunningham! You look great! Loved the video!

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, when I've time. Politicians, priests, lecturers, and people in prison who want to get good jobs when they leave, ( - and obviously that last group doesn't have to pay.! It's simply a matter of whether I've got time. John Windsor-Cunningham

I’m hoping to got into drama school in 2025/2026 at a school in Dublin and even though it’s years away I still get anxious about it

@NewYorkActingCoach

8 ай бұрын

It's GOOD that you're starting to work for it in advance. Lots of people auditioning for the schools leave it til the last minute and wonder why they don't get in. Choosing simple monologues is the key ,and finding a coach where you live, or come to me on Skype (but don't give away your secret problems here, use the 'Contact Page' on my website, please). But honestly people who live in your area may be better suited to you than me, so look around! But get the mono's chosen SOON. John

king

Finished my first round auditions for most schools now hoping that I get recalls 🤞

@bunbun2001

3 ай бұрын

How did it go?

@caitlinloismaxfield

2 ай бұрын

@@bunbun2001 well I’m now studying at a drama school

When I was a kid, I want to be a princess, hero, doctor, lawyer, nurse, teacher, police and etc. I wanted to be good at everything. As I grew up I realized I can't do all of that. I can only choose one path. Come to think of it "if I become an actress I can be anything". I knew I wanted this path. My imagination is wide and when I'm alone I imagine things then I suddenly do "acting" by actually having my own world and living in it. However, I lived and came from a poor family. I am in an asian household and I'm the eldest child. I'm supposed to be practical choose a safe path and earn money. But it's killing me, I feel I will be forever lost if I didn't pursue this path and I don't know what to do, I don't have money to enroll to a class or have the courage to follow this path. No one at home seems to understand snd know my dreams. Should I chase my dream and risk everything or should I sit, do nothing and play safe? It is a very hard for me to decide for my real problem would be money and my parents. I am 20 yrs old, going 2nd year college with Graphics course that I am not sure about. I like the course but I really feel like I would be more "alive" in performing arts. I am sorry for venting out here, I just don't know who to talk to

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

Well you are right to want people to talk to. And you must research 'acting' on the internet so that you find out how difficult a career is EVEN IF you go to good classes for a year or more. And you should start when you're young, but find a local college that makes student films, or a community theatre company which does not pay but may give you some small parts. But learn more. There are so many hundreds who want the jobs, and the agents, and you need to learn how the business works. Then you will be ready to argue with anybody about what you're trying to do, because you will know. Do what (possibly) successful beginners do, read 20 screenplays, and 30 plays, watch all films twice, join a class with others of you own age, and see if they are already far in advance of you, or if you feel you have a chance. John Windsor-Cunningham

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

​@@tasyfan.314 Then do it with an amateur company or a community theatre company or the film department of a college, and see how you feel about it. If you like it enough to give everything up for it, if you are willing to work day and night to save enough money for a good drama course, then, well, then you want it. If not then you may find it difficult to survive and wish you had tried small unpaid companies first, as I suggest. John Windsor-Cunningham

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

I only just saw your message.. Half of what you describe is, as you say, being a 'kid'. That is how kids think. All actors, however successful, usually play one kind of part most of the time. Do it, don't talk about it. Or do something else, be a writer, or an editor. THere are unpaid acting jobs you can TRY yourself in, but it sounds as if - like most serious actors - you need to have gone on a drama course. It's what actors do. And then, thank heaven, half of them give it up because it's so hard. John Windsor-Cunningham

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

@@tasyfan.314 Don't even say things like 'not having a headshot' the idea is impossible and makes you look too inexperienced. Get whatever photo you can afford, and do some zoom play-readings online (through Backstae.com which is - I think - free for the first 2 weeks) then you can put those plays as your resume. ) And if you say you "know I am a beginner but I would be very committed to this play if you cast me" that may get you an audition which is experience anyway. No more here please. John

SAG as of the strike 06.01.23 has 160k active paying members

@NewYorkActingCoach

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for pointing that out. but I was rounding the number up with the members of the other Actors Equity union. many of whom are not in SAGAftra . But I think we agree that the number is scary! John.

wow, that was really well acted...in my opinion....or were you.....well it was convincing

@NewYorkActingCoach

6 ай бұрын

Well, sorry it sounded as if I might be acting. Anyway I meant every single word! John.

Hello, are you still giving classes on Skype?

@NewYorkActingCoach

Жыл бұрын

Yes, of course. For drama schools and 2 Shakespeare companies mainly, but really anyone's welcome if I've got gaps which I often have. But better not to send messages here, as they can get hacked, so please use my direct email ( jwcactor@yahoo.com ) or the 'CONTACT' page on my website ( Windsor-Cunningham.com ) Just give me some idea of what kind of help you want. If I know somebody better than me for it I'll give you their name. John Windsor-Cunningham

John which drama school did you go to?

@NewYorkActingCoach

10 ай бұрын

RADA.

How to get into drama school? Just give them money 💰.

@NewYorkActingCoach

2 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean, there are courses which will give people a place if they know they can afford to pay some hugely increased fee - ! - but even they give beginners the chance of working together and learning off each other, of forming relationships with them which may be useful throughout their careers, so - well - it's up to students to just work harder at those places and make friends for LIFE who will help each other get work. I'm sorry to say that it's still very easy to tell which beginners have been to a serious course and which haven't. John