5 Things I learned Attending Acting School During A Pandemic

5 things I learned attending acting school during a pandemic

There was once a time in the world where everyone that got a degree in the arts started to question their life choices (oh it’s just me?!). The pandemic seemed to put a pause on the entire world, specifically the theater world. On March 12, 2020, Broadway shut down and I was soon on a flight back to Chicago where I would remain for the next 6 months. I would eventually return to NYC to try to have some semblance of a “normal” semester regardless of being constricted to zoom classes and wearing a face mask. It all felt like a strange episode of Black Mirror.

Although, attending acting class during a global pandemic felt very much like this.

There were a lot of lessons I learned along the way. Here’s a list of some of those lessons.

You are not the only person having a hard time right now, so give grace to yourself and others. We’re all doing the best we can.

Be patient and slow down. It’s a little sad that it took a global pandemic to fully step into this realization but because of capitalism and grind culture it feels like I always must be on the go. Always looking for my next audition and the next big booking that’ll send me right to Hollywood. During the shutdown I realized that my blessings are already divinely laid out for me, and that once I give my best effort and put my full trust into the universe my blessings will find its way back to me. I don’t have to stress and over work myself. I can give myself permission to lay in the grass and enjoy the sun. Ultimately, when I take care of myself, my art and everything else elevates.

Process over product. Since we couldn’t be in person with a scene partner for any of my acting classes or have our final performance festival, I had to heavily rely on myself and my inner work as an actor to deliver in my zoom performances (and not think of the esthetic aspect of performing or the energy exchange that happens between scene partners on stage). I had to think deeper of my character’s inner life and spend more time exploring their psyche. This has allowed me to hone my process of what I need when I am taping into a character. The turnaround time in tv & film is oftentimes more immediate than theater. Most of your prep work will be done alone anyway. Furthermore, you might get a reader or a scene partner who quit frankly sucks and isn’t giving you anything, so knowing how to work independently and doing your research as an actor should be priority.

Limitation can breed creativity. With no scene partner, limited access to props, and a sometimes-failing internet. I had to get creative about the ways in which to do a zoom scene, and ways to continue to work on my acting. During a guest workshop course, actor and director, Javier Malina said, “there’s no reason for you not to record yourself acting, you have your own little camera in your hand”. And with that, that’s what I did. I made a short film (oddly about a solo traveler facing the end of world) on my mom’s iPhone 6 (my storage was too full). Surprisingly, it was selected to be a part of the London Lift-Off Global Network Film Festival for their first-time filmmaker session.

A dream deferred is not a dream denied. Since I was in about the 8th grade, I knew that I was going to be an actress, receive an MFA, and move to either LA or NYC. I just didn’t know that it would all take place in the middle of a pandemic, social uprisings, and ensuing wars. But nonetheless it happened. I officially have my MFA, and I’m living in one of my dream cities pursuing my dreams. Note to self, and to those reading this, the destination may be the same but the road map getting there may look different. Life comes in ebbs and flows, just enjoy the ride.

(Highlight from officially graduating is taking a picture next to THE Ellen Burstyn)