<p>^^^^ Agreed. I think “interesting” is really more the ticket than knock down drag out gorgeousity. And even gorgeousness has to have some kind of hook to it for the camera to find it interesting. I mean, yeah … Most of the women you see on TV are good looking, but all you have to do is take a stroll around Studio City or West Hollywood on a Saturday evening to see just how dime a dozen that is and that they really aren’t always among the most attractive in person because the camera just doesn’t see things like the human eye. It’s some other intangible. </p>
<p>Just check out some of the recent success stories coming out of these places. Like I remember seeing the website for the 2008 UNCSA showcase, took a look at Dane Dehaan and was like, “Wow, what an odd looking dude. What is he? Fifteen?” But my eye couldn’t stop going back to him amongst some of the extremely attractive people in his class (including a close friend from h/s) and look at all he’s done since. Monica Raymund who finished Juilliard the same year is clearly easy on the eyes, but still looked like a teenager when she graduated and is about as ethnically ambiguous as a human being can be. And Justine Lupe who just graduated last spring and had her guest star on “Harry’s Law” instantly turned into a series regular is certainly attractive, but it’s in a different kind of way than your average lingerie model. Take a picture of her in a lineup of those girls and I’ll bet you’ll still find yourself looking at her even though others will be more conventionally “perfect.” The camera just doesn’t find “perfect” nearly as interesting a subject. I guess there has to be a science to it, but I don’t think anyone has figured it out yet. Of course, actual talent plays in, too …</p>
<p>Now here are the extant showcase sites for the schools listed on the Hollywood Reporter “Top 25” list.<br>
[2012</a> Master of Fine Arts Program Showcase - American Conservatory Theater](<a href=“http://www.act-sf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=conservatory_showcase]2012”>http://www.act-sf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=conservatory_showcase)
<a href=“https://www.pace.edu/dyson/sites/pace.edu.dyson/files/media/files/pdf/actors-studio-drama-school/2012_Industry_Showcase.pdf[/url]”>https://www.pace.edu/dyson/sites/pace.edu.dyson/files/media/files/pdf/actors-studio-drama-school/2012_Industry_Showcase.pdf</a>
[CalArts</a> Actors Showcase](<a href=“http://www.calartsactorsshowcase.com/]CalArts”>http://www.calartsactorsshowcase.com/)
[FSU/Asolo</a> Conservatory Showcases in New York City | FSU CVATD News & Information](<a href=“http://info.cvatd.fsu.edu/2012/04/fsuasolo-conservatory-showcases-in-new-york-city/]FSU/Asolo”>http://info.cvatd.fsu.edu/2012/04/fsuasolo-conservatory-showcases-in-new-york-city/)
[Guildhall</a> School of Music & Drama:Third year actors 2011-12](<a href=“http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/acting/final_year_actors/third_year_actors_2011_12/]Guildhall”>http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/acting/final_year_actors/third_year_actors_2011_12/)
[Group</a> 41](<a href=“http://www.juilliard.edu/degrees-programs/drama/4yr/]Group”>http://www.juilliard.edu/degrees-programs/drama/4yr/)
[LAMDA</a> - Three Year Acting Course - 2012](<a href=“http://www.lamda.org.uk/drama/students/2012/c/index.htm]LAMDA”>http://www.lamda.org.uk/drama/students/2012/c/index.htm)
[New</a> York Showcase Students, School of Communication, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/theatre/students/showcase/new_york_showcase_students.php]New”>http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/theatre/students/showcase/new_york_showcase_students.php)
[NYU</a> Tisch Grad Acting 2012 - The Class](<a href=“http://nyugradacting2012.com/class/index.html]NYU”>http://nyugradacting2012.com/class/index.html)
[Profiles[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.rutgersbfaactors2012.com/Rutgersbfaactors2012.com/Home.html]Home[/url”>http://www.rutgersbfaactors2012.com/Rutgersbfaactors2012.com/Home.html]Home[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.purchaseactors2012.com/]2012”>http://www.purchaseactors2012.com/]2012</a> BFA Acting Showcase - Purchase College, SUNY - Conservatory of Theatre Arts](<a href=“Student & graduate profiles — RADA”>Student & graduate profiles — RADA)
[Syracuse</a> Showcase 2012](<a href=“http://syracuseshowcase.com/]Syracuse”>http://syracuseshowcase.com/)
[2012</a> Industry Showcase | UCLA MFA Actors 2012](<a href=“http://www.uclamfa2012.com/showcase]2012”>http://www.uclamfa2012.com/showcase)
[UNCSA</a> Class of 2012](<a href=“http://uncsaclassof2012.com/]UNCSA”>http://uncsaclassof2012.com/)
[UCSD</a> MFA 2012 Fundraising](<a href=“http://www.showcase2012.com/]UCSD”>http://www.showcase2012.com/)
<a href=“http://theatre.usc.edu/senioractingshowcase/Variety_BFA_Ad_12_10x13_Color_FNL.pdf[/url]”>http://theatre.usc.edu/senioractingshowcase/Variety_BFA_Ad_12_10x13_Color_FNL.pdf</a>
[UW</a> Professional Actor Training Program - Showcase 2011](<a href=“http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrama/showcase/Showcase-2012/]UW”>http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrama/showcase/Showcase-2012/)
[Yale</a> School of Drama | The Showcase of the Class of 2012](<a href=“http://drama.yale.edu/showcase/]Yale”>http://drama.yale.edu/showcase/)</p>
<p>That’s 370 actors about to be pumped out on the market. Maybe I’m getting jaded and overstepping by playing God (or casting director ;)), but really only 60-70 of them “pop” to me as having serious on-camera looks and they aren’t necessarily the most gorgeous ones in the mix. In fact, I’d consider a good number of the ones that do pop as being more character and “everyperson” types.</p>