The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides a two year acting program, the professional actor training program, for international students who want to train in the U.S. In this interview Juliette Biry discusses why she decided to come from France to train here in New York City.
Q: Why did you decide to come to New York to train at Maggie Flanigan Studio?
I was part of a professional company for four years before coming got New York. We only did classical plays, like Molière or Shakespeare, but in a bad way, or Beaumarchais, all those French writers. It was nice, but I felt like it was stuck in my process and my work. I decided to come to the U.S. because it is the best way of acting in the entire world.
I saw all the information about Maggie on the internet looking at studios, schools in New York and Maggie answered me right away, I sent her an email, and she said: “Come on over, and you can sit down and see what is happening here, watch a class.”
So that is what I did. I felt already very at ease. She was very nice, and I decided to come here because it felt like home as soon as I stepped in the studio.
Q: What was the transition like for you coming to New York City and not knowing anyone?
It was hard at first, especially with the language for a year. The fact that I did not know how to say some things and also the instructions with the different activities I was kind of wondering if it was okay making other people waste their time.
I met some amazing people. Charlie was so patient with me, and he took the time to teach me all those beautiful things. I had an amazing group of people with me that became my family. I can’t thank them enough because they made the transition much easier. I still see them now, and I am very happy to be in touch.
Q: As an international student you are required to take our Professional Actor Training Program. How has that made a difference in your work?
It is so different. It is so much better now. The fact that I had the voice class made my diction and my American accent so much better than what it used to be because it was terrible.
The Movement class is one of the reasons why I wanted to come here. The American way of teaching acting is about the whole process. In France, it is very classical it is about the text and all the other things we have as an instrument.
Coming join to this classes, I learned how to stand up; I learned how to speak and how to be aware of all the things that we have. We can do so many things that I was not aware of before. So, it has changed completely.
Now I know coming at auditions or evening rehearsal, I know what to do, where the work starts and who to get there. I feel more confident.
Q: How has your decision to come to the Maggie Flanigan Studio changed your life professionally and personally?
Personally, I feel like it was the best two years of my life. It changed because I am happier now. I have a family in New York. I have a family in France, so I am very lucky. It changed professionally because now I am more confident, I know how to begin the work, I know what I need to do to get to auditions. I know how to read a script. I know about the artistry and the actions of crafting. We don’t have that in Europe, in France.
It taught me so many different things. Now I am a complete artist. It is very good to feel like this.
Admission to the Two Year Acting Program
For more information about the two year acting program which provides professional actor training for international students, call the studio at (917) 794-3878.
Curious about studying acting in the U.S.? Check out How to Study Acting in America: A Comprehensive Guide.
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