<p>Given that you’ve already set a precendent with your son, she hates school, she wants to be a screen actress and she’s only “open to stage,” I wouldn’t recommend that she attend a BFA program. At least not at first. Those places are theatre, theatre THEATRE 24/7 until the final year - often the final semester - and there’s a pretty good chance she wouldn’t last if she isn’t passionate about theatre to the point of obession. </p>
<p>Another option besides to “just help her get an agent and try to work” (It doesn’t work that way unless you’re well-connected in the biz), would be to set her up in a studio apartment in West LA and have her enroll part-time in the liberal arts track at [Santa</a> Monica College](<a href=“http://www.smc.edu/Pages/default.aspx]Santa”>http://www.smc.edu/Pages/default.aspx) while concurrently attending one of the two-year Adler or Meisner schools or perhaps piecing together proper training through some of the other reputable studios and private coaches. Just stay away from the four and five letter acronymed two-year conservatories (I’d prefer not name names) because they do NOT enjoy good reputations in the industry and are actually a good bit more expensive than the respected schools. </p>
<p>An advantage of doing it that way is that she would find out pretty quickly if she’s cut out for the business or not (most aren’t) and could change her plan accordingly after a year or two. A disadvantage is that it really won’t save you any money and would end up costing you more if/when she decides she wants to go back and get a four year degree. Another potential disadvantage is that it would take a very mature 18 year old to effectively pull it off without turning her life into a trainwreck. It’s very easy to become a casualty of the LA party scene … </p>
<p>Some of the acting schools I’d recommend towards this end are …</p>
<p>[Ruskin</a> School of Acting<a href=“Close%20by%20SMC%20and%20very%20legit”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.aldersonstudio.com/]William”>http://www.aldersonstudio.com/]William</a> Alderson Acting Studio<a href=“Tough,%20old-school%20Meisner%20teacher,%20but%20very%20good”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.emasla.com%5DElizabeth”>http://www.emasla.com]Elizabeth</a> Mestnik Acting Studio](<a href=“http://www.ruskinschool.com%5DRuskin”>http://www.ruskinschool.com)
[Art</a> of Acting Studio](<a href=“http://www.artofactingstudio.com%5DArt”>http://www.artofactingstudio.com)
[Stella</a> Adler, LA](<a href=“http://www.stellaadler-la.com/hollywood-acting-school-la/stella-adler-los-angeles/welcome.php]Stella”>http://www.stellaadler-la.com/hollywood-acting-school-la/stella-adler-los-angeles/welcome.php)
[Marjorie</a> Ballentine](<a href=“http://marjorieballentine.com%5DMarjorie”>http://marjorieballentine.com)
[Howard</a> Fine Acting Studio](<a href=“http://www.howardfine.com%5DHoward”>http://www.howardfine.com)
[Aaron</a> Speiser Acting Studio](<a href=“http://www.aaronspeiser.com%5DAaron”>http://www.aaronspeiser.com)</p>
<p>Of course, none of those schools besides the Adler conservatories really cover voice and body work in any depth, so she could supplement through private coaching sessions with qualified teachers of her choice in [Linklater[/url</a>] or [url=<a href=“http://fitzmauricevoice.com/locations/]Fitzmaurice[/url”>http://fitzmauricevoice.com/locations/]Fitzmaurice[/url</a>] voice and [url=<a href=“Find an Alexander Technique Teacher in the United States or Canada – The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique”>Find an Alexander Technique Teacher in the United States or Canada – The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique]Alexander</a> Technique](<a href=“http://www.thelinklatercenter.com/designated-linklater-teachers/geographical]Linklater[/url”>http://www.thelinklatercenter.com/designated-linklater-teachers/geographical). And of course there are any number of dance, yoga and martial arts schools with which she could supplement to try to make up for the movement training she’d miss out on in a quality BFA program. </p>
<p>I actually got curious awhile back and went through a [list</a> of LA acting schools and coaches](<a href=“http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/los-angeles-acting-schools-and-coaches_6]list”>http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/los-angeles-acting-schools-and-coaches_6) published by Backstage plus some other lists I knew about to see how I could have pieced together training to somewhat approximate aspects of what I actually use from my college conservatory training in my TV and film work had I known myself well enough as an actor to do so at 18. It’s kind of a moot point because I did not yet know myself as an actor at 18 (nobody does), but the training portion of my resume would have looked something like this around my fourth year in town had that been the case … </p>
<p>Acting Technique - Lindsay Crouse, Marjo-Riikka Makela, Elizabeth Mestnik
On-Camera - Robert Cicchini, Brad Greenquist
Audition Technique - Annie Grindlay, Saxon Trainor
Commercials - Killian McHugh
Improv - Second City
Voice, Speech & Dialects - Bob Corff, Fran Bennett
Movement, Masks & Clowning - David Bridel, Peter Frisch, Leigh Zhang
Combat - Dan Speaker, Jan Bryant</p>
<p>Just thought I’d throw that out there as something to think about …</p>