acting teacher new york ny - charlie sandlan

acting teacher new york ny - charlie sandlan - (917) 789-1599 Q: How would you describe Charlie Sandlan as an acting teacher? How much time do we have? Charlie's second to none. Hands down, second to none. Probably, one of the most excellent teachers I've had in terms of anything I've done in my life. He's a master of his craft. When you're at that level, you have a higher bar of expectations, and you don't lower the bar. That's what I love. That's how I was brought up. That's how my parents raised me. That's how some of the most influential coaches I had from playing sports taught me and trained me. He has a standard, and he won't let it waver. He is tough, but he's fair. There were a couple of times where I wasn't where I needed to be. I don't want to say dropped the ball because I was so new, and there's no ball to drop. I think people forget that you wish to constructive criticism, and that's really what it is. He has such a vested interest in each one of the students. You wouldn't be accepted into this program if he didn't see anything. That's why you have the interview process in the beginning because he gets a feel for you. He's not going to let everyone in if he doesn't feel like you're going to be committed. He's tough, but he's fair. He reminded me a lot of a coach that I had in high school. I was a big track athlete. My coach was just; he saw something in me that sometimes I couldn't even notice. I used to run a 400 open, and I would go so hard that for the last 50 meters, 100 meters, I would run out of gas. My coach would start when you come around that final bend, and he would run the last 50 meters, the last 100 meters, and he would be yelling at me and pushing me, and I would keep going and going. When I had nothing left, I still kept going. That's what Charlie reminded me of, right from the first class. I don't want to be cuddled. I want to be pushed. I want you to get on me. If I'm not doing it, you tell me how to do it. It's tough love, and he loves his craft. He loves acting. He eats, breaths, and sleeps it. It's just cool, and it's fantastic to have somebody so passionate as your teacher because it creates that passion. We all want to do something. We are all on this program to be actors. That's what we want to do. Sometimes people forget, you could be enthralled with being an actor, but you aren't fascinated with all the work that you have to go along with it. That's what Charlie brings to the table. He gets you to be passionate about the hard work and all the little steps. I mean he got me-- I almost cried twice in class. Look at the size of me. He got me to be vulnerable, him and Karen. They were like a one-two punch. When he wasn't there, she was there. It was just amazing to have that level of intensity. I honestly can't say enough great things. He's a cool dude. You want teachers like that, especially for this. You want somebody that's like that. You don't want somebody that's kind of not do something wholeheartedly. You don't want a teacher, especially with this, you don't want a teacher that's a, I don't want to say like a failed actor, but like an actor trying to get to where you are going. When he explained how he got into teaching, I think that's what helped mold our perception, at least in my opinion, because his goal is to educate and help us. That's what you want as a teacher. You want somebody who will cultivate your ability and help you find what you're looking for. There's a lot of things-- this is a big complicated thing right here. This is very complicated, but he helps simplify it as best he can. I was legitimately sad that yesterday was our last class. I didn't want it to end because I like coming here. I love hearing; I just liked hearing the Charlieisms. "Would you be willing to walk on hot coals for this?" That's one thing that I remember, especially with that independent activity. He says, "If you have passion, you have to be willing to walk on hot coals if you have the desire." I'm ready to burn the bottoms of my feet off. That's what Charlie does. He makes you want to burn the bottom of your feet. You want to keep working. You want to be dedicated. You don't want to let him down. That's a big thing. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 (917) 789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/new-york-ny https://flic.kr/p/2jnGNxN