Jabba TheHut
5/5
Brian Timoney Ultimate Acting Programme testimonial
Having done a few of Brian Timoney’s online courses, and also an in-person one, I took the plunge at the last minute and applied to audition for the Ultimate Acting Programme. I was lucky enough to be successful and so the journey began. And wow! What a journey. The Ultimate Acting Programme is exactly that. It gives you the skills to become a professional actor, from basic relaxation (very important for actors) to the nuances of characterisation to the practical aspects of the business of acting and everything in between.
Brian has designed a programme to help your skills develop and grow in a way that is both guided and organic. The exercises really do help you to become a character. To think, move, speak and behave as the character, and not just a pale imitation. And Brian knows how to get the best out of his students. He understands people and uses his own intuition and his wealth of knowledge and experience to develop his students’ intuition. All of the students in my cohort were different. We were different ages, had different backgrounds, different occupations and different experiences of acting. There were some that had done a lot of acting and some, like me, who had done virtually none. Brian recognised our different learning styles and was able to guide us all to achieve our best work. He is a very talented and intuitive teacher. And believe me, once you have learned lines the Brian Timoney way, you will never worry about forgetting them again!
We learned how to recognise and act on impulses just as you would in your everyday life. We learned how to be creative and intuitive within the confines of scripted work and given circumstances. We learned how to communicate with voice, body, thought and behaviour. We learned how to give our characters a life of their own, so much so, that when performing, we were the characters. This level of intuitive acting leads to some very believable and powerful performances.
Don’t get me wrong, it is hard work. Anything worth having is worth working for and you will work hard. Brian gives 100% commitment, and he expects the same from his students. This is method acting training at its best. They say behind every great man is a great woman and that is certainly true here. Natalie works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that things run smoothly, from sending us scripts, to producing the showreels. She is a Wonder Woman. I cannot stress enough just how important these two people have become to me and how grateful I am for what they have both done for me.
But, for me, this wasn’t just about the acting. It was also about the journey. I had no idea where it was going to take me, but I knew I was looking forward to the ride. And what a ride it has been! It was also about the people in the group. We became very close, we helped each other, we laughed and cried and enjoyed each other’s company. We became like a troupe, like a family. This journey has been one of the best things I have ever done. I was one of the oldest students in the group and thought I knew myself pretty well, but I learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. I also look at other peoples’ behaviours with a different mindset. I question it more. For example, if someone is rude to me, I will often ask myself if they are bad, mad or sad? I have grown as a person not just as an actor.
The showcase in the West End was even more amazing than I thought it would be. Industry professionals came to see us all perform. I was lucky enough to be offered representation by several agents and have been asked to submit self-tapes for both film and TV. After a long and successful career in the NHS I have decided to resign and concentrate on acting. That’s the other thing the course does for you. It gives you confidence in your own ability. I can proudly say, ’I am an actor’.
Do the course. You won’t regret it.
Julie S