The following are answers to the most common questions about becoming a student at The Meisner Technique Studio.
#1 What is the criteria for acceptance into The Meisner Technique Studio?
There is no audition and previous training and/or experience is not a consideration for acceptance. The only criteria is a sincere desire to take your career and dream to the next level and humility and maturity to accomplish that. Also, we don’t just take students, you must interview for acceptance with Jim Jarrett.
#2 I’ve heard the training lasts two years? Since I’m not sure if this is the right fit for me I’m uncomfortable committing that much time, expense and energy to something unknown. Could you please address this?
First of all, you can’t just sign up to study at The Meisner Technique Studio. You must be interviewed for acceptance with Jim Jarrett. If after that interview you’re accepted, you do not have to commit to the entire training. In fact, even if you wanted to, you can’t commit to the entire training. All you’re committing to is the first session which lasts three months. After that session ends, all students must be invited to return.
#3 What is the criteria for students being invited to return?
It’s simple – you’re passionate about your dream, humble and open to learn and professional in every sense of the word which means you’re never late for class, you never miss class and the work you do outside of class with all of your partners is just as professional and respectful. The bottom line is if you care, you’ll be invited to return.
#4 How often does class meet?
Class meets twice a week, three hours per class.
#5 How much is tuition and how is tuition paid and why is the tuition non-refundable?
Each session is three months and the tuition per month is $325 so $975 per three-month session. Tuition is due at the start of each session and may be paid by cash, check or credit card. Tuition for each session is non-refundable.
The reason we do not issue a refund to a student who quits at any point during a three month session is two-fold – #1, like any professional training, when you’re admitted into The Meisner Technique Studio you’re not signing up for a series of classes. You’re committing to a three-month semester of training so like all “semesters” taught, if you quit at any point you don’t receive a refund for something you’ve committed to. However, the main reason we do not issue a refund is because this is not some acting class, intensive, workshop so common these days. This is world-class training one branch removed from Sanford Meisner which means a great deal is going to be asked of you. You are going to be pushed, pulled, stretched and challenged and for most people when this happens with anything new, they quit. In fact, the easiest and most typical thing in the world to do when we are “uncomfortable” is to quit and WE DON’T WANT YOU TO QUIT during the growing pains of the training so if you know that going in our hope is that may help you through the “uncomfortable” on your way to the comfortable.
#6 Who teaches the class?
All classes are taught by the schools founder and director, Jim Jarrett along with one of his faculty. No classes are ever taught by teaching assistants and/or students.
#7 Is The Meisner Technique Studio an accredited university?
No, it is not. The Meisner Technique Studio is private, professional training for actors, directors, writers and filmmakers and is not affiliated with any other colleges and/or universities.
#8 I’m coming to the United States from abroad to study with you. Since you’re not an accredited university or college, can you help with that?
Unfortunately we can not at this time. Although we have students come from around the world to study with us, unless they have duel citizenship and/or are also studying at an accredited university, they can only study for as long as their visa allows them to be in the United States.
#9 I live in United States but will be moving to San Francisco to study with you. Do you provide housing?
We do not provide housing for students but anytime a student moves from “wherever” to study with us we do everything possible to help with their transition which means we get the word out to our entire school – students, faculty and alumni – to help you find a comfortable place to live as well as a job.
#10 I’ve had previous training in The Meisner Technique. Do I have to start from the beginning as well?
There are many teachers of The Meisner Technique throughout the world. Most are either former students at the Neighborhood Playhouse or students of former students. However, in Sanford Meisner’s sixty-five years of teaching, there were a handful trained by Sandy to teach “his way.” Because Jim Jarrett was personally chosen by Sanford Meisner’s to carry on his teaching legacy – as pure and authentic as possible – rarely do we get students who’ve been trained the way Sandy wanted the information presented because there is an enormous difference between being a student in Sandy’s class and then deciding to teach what you learned verses being trained by Sanford Meisner to teach. That said, once you meet with Jim, he will determine which class is best for you based on your foundation.
