Gillian Jacobs: "Juilliard Took Away My Love of Acting"

Gillian Jacobs talks to Sam Jones about her experience on academic probation at Juilliard.
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[@taylorallen45]

I really hate when people tell you you're poor at something yet not giving you any direction on how to improve

[@craigresnianky6909]

I'd bet that they did tell her how she can improve.

[@R0ndras]

Dont be so sure, Craig.

[@puurrrr]

*..Because some of them don't want you to succeed ;)*

[@eps3154]

Right. You have the best young talent in the WORLD and they're failing *you* as a teacher? More like you're failing them.. literally.

[@aidanlam5336]

You don’t produce top grade students without constructive criticism. Sounds like she was just salty that she wasn’t able to cope with the pressure and compete with her cohort.

[@doktarr]

I don't think this is going in Juliard's promotional materials

[@laluenbaires]

but everyone should watch it before applying

[@footprintx]

Pretty sure they'll still include her name in their list of successes.

[@AnaVerona_]

Is cool that she speaks about it.

[@kellyj817]

😂😂😂 I'm living for this roast of the school

[@kylebreedlove1360]

@@footprintx I guess it did kinda work though... lol

[@qwertydvorak585]

going to an arts school in general is terrifying cos you audition and you get it thinking wow im one of the best im so good then you get there and you realise that youre just average and everyone is better than you

[@annapavfan4680]

Sadly, but yes.

[@aleshaalexcee1674]

Exactly

[@asterismos5451]

I've found that in my physics program, too.

[@dangshnizzle6929]

That's everything in life so long as you're around others that do what you do.

[@fabietg2464]

yess, you're right!

[@yangzheng6814]

Let's just appreciate how amazing Sam Jones is as an interviewer and empathizer.

[@harrysvensson2610]

And once he gets home he goes full men in black memory wipe mode

[@Bigshooter86]

And let’s also all appreciate that to be a diamond you must go through the fire. And yes Sam is the greatest soul bearing interviewer on tape.

[@1810verdeXVIII]

For reals. As a guy,I strive to be like this when listening to others

[@zoe-janesutherland4359]

@@Bigshooter86 I'm going to have to agree to disagree with you on this one. I've been through lots of fire and pressure in my life, and it's left me with PTSD, depression and anxiety which I'm stuck with for life. We need to stop this "breaking people down to build them back up" pseudo-psychology and actually try to encourage people, not demonise them and make them feel like shite. Yes, you can argue that the real world is cruel, but then again it's only cruel because society continues to perpetuate this ideal. We can become nicer and kinder to each other, make the world less cruel, but society doesn't want to.

[@caylalily6872]

Jesus loves you

[@ShoehatProductions]

I was in a cut program. She’s so spot on. Killed my love of acting as well.

[@richardburt3366]

How we doing?

[@tromboneman4517]

You were never really in love with acting if a cut program was all it took to get you to lose your love of acting. What do you think auditions are? They are basically cut-offs to see who gets the part and who doesn’t. It’s a part of life. You just have to practice and refine your technique to the point where you aren’t at risk of getting cut.

[@Porkarific]

@@tromboneman4517 stfu telling people what they love and what they don't. I agree with some of the stuff you said but telling her she never loved acting was stupid and wrong. So 'holier than thou'

[@tromboneman4517]

Miloshy, how strong is a person’s love for something if they run away from that thing on the first sign of trouble? In any career, there is never a definite guarantee of success. We all fail sometimes, even at things that we love. The possibility (and often the occurence) of failure should not scare us away.

[@ShoehatProductions]

Music Lover It’s really bold of you to assume this was “the first sign of trouble”. I’d already been acting for over ten years before I’d even entered the program and I had experienced plenty of criticism and rejection. There’s a big difference between a cut program and an audition. When you go into an audition (at least the ones I’ve been to) you go in, do the audition, then leave. You either get it or you don’t. They don’t tell you every little thing that’s wrong with you, including personal things you can’t really control, often without guidance on how to fix them. Another important difference, you don’t pay to go to an audition. The school I was in was toxic. Everyone I’ve spoken to from my year, many of whom are working actors now, has agreed with me on this. The school was sued shortly after I left. I experienced sexism and sexual harassment at this school. I had teacher who made racist remarks toward other students. I agree that rejection and criticism are important parts of this business, but we really have to hold ourselves to a higher standard as an industry. There’s criticism and there’s abuse and manipulation. The gate keeping in artistic communities doesn’t help anyone. it only makes people feel better about themselves by putting others down.

[@lPyrokinetic]

She said they got rid of that 'cut program" but I wonder if it's still like that at Juilliard. Sitting in a room full of people who are telling you you're awful at this and that sounds really soul crushing and counterproductive to a person's educational experience. That really wouldn't be a great fit for me.

[@CruuushaL]

David P it really doesn't make sense to me, look at all the successful actors that didn't need to go through this but still made it, it's almost like why even bother putting yourself through the torture

[@judithd4540]

David P l

[@xww6849]

Yeah, it's still bad. One of my best friends is a music educator, and I keep hearing horror stories from Juliard. The worst one I can remember was someone putting spikes between piano keys to slice up someone's fingers during a piano recital. Fucking unbelievable.

[@batteryacidyouslime5197]

I am an acting student in a non cut program. I can't imagine putting in the work that I do with the plausibility that it could all be for nothing. Acting education programs should do just that - educate. Save the rejection for work auditions.

[@CosmicTeapot]

You don't need to go to acting school to learn acting. Ask Morgan Freeman or Jack Nicholson if clowning and mask class are useful to learn how to act the way they do. I'm sure it can be to a certain degree but it's not essential. I think life in itself is a better acting school. And as the saying goes: ''Good actors work, bad actors teach.''

[@johnjoneill]

Her description of how she felt being near Juilliard after graduating is a textbook example PTSD. Sounds like the staff are a bunch of sociopaths.

[@realpoetics]

I work there as part of their production staff (so I work on the technical aspects of their shows) and while I don't directly teach/work with students very often I can tell they are taught extremely rigid and strict. The school has their one and only way of doing things and I can see how it can come off pretentious and narrow-minded. Stuck in their ways would be a good way to put it.

[@user-le8xi9xi2i]

I was in a cut program for Medical School. We started with 80 people and ended with 35. It really took away my love of Medicine. I don't think I breathed properly for 6 years.

[@Sam-0827]

Ugh that sucks, I hope you’re ok now 🥺

[@mmmwatchasay3014]

that sounds horrible :/

[@imagineaworldlikethat4081]

I hope you breathe easy now❤️you deserve better

[@ania5038]

Did you go to a different school or just quit?

[@user-le8xi9xi2i]

@@ania5038 no I qualified from there thankfully 😮‍💨

[@henriquedeamorim]

I find Gilian Jacobs super chilled and cool. She is really sincere in this interview and that's neat.

[@justinorel6592]

Sincere with that new nose 😏

[@michelmoutinho]

I feel like any art related school carries that toxic mentality. I studied architecture and studio classes were the most brutal experiences my ego ever had to endure.

[@magda_khu]

I am very sorry for your experience, I hope that you are doing well. But what exactly happened at the studio classes?

[@dilaraguney]

@@magda_khu I am also studying architecture, and our studio classes are quite brutal, especially in the freshman year. The worst part of the design studios is that you spend days/weeks trying to design something and you basically put a piece of you in it and in the studio, the instructor bashes your ideas in a minute and leaves. I am not even going into the jury process at the end of each semesters where they bring real architects as guest jury members and allow them to rip us apart lol

[@kylebreedlove1360]

@@dilaraguney The real architects in later studio reviews were generally way more polite and knowledgeable in my experience.

[@dilaraguney]

@@kylebreedlove1360 they are more knowledgeable, but the polite ones I have seen so far were quite rare! I am unlucky I guess lol

[@iammichaelaj]

I feel the same way with my design studio classes at interior design school. Junior year I completely lost my interest in it but already felt so close to graduating to shift/drop-out. After grad, I tried to work in the field hoping I’ll gain back my love for it but I was just so uninspired and demotivated at all times. It sucked. I felt like I wasted 4 years of my life.

[@jstohler]

This is the biggest FU to an alma mater of all time.

[@jasmynjohnson4346]

That’s one thing I hate about big conservatories, cut programs. Like imagine paying 60k to go to TRAIN and LEARN TO BE BETTER and then being told “Yeah nah, you’re not good enough.” As an artist IN conservatory, those kinds of program are just NOT helpful to young students who are trying to learn

[@elizahildenbrand2934]

homestly it’s like the entire point of this program is lost to those higher ups and teachers like it’s a SCHOOL for EDUCATION the point isn’t to take children’s money and then rip them apart and bully them into hating themselves and what they do

[@George-pf8zb]

Maybe this relates to why some creative geniuses drop out of college: they didn't care to suppress their creative instincts to conform to the program.

[@Bacontats]

Right. Programs are a structure. Which is fine. But we stifle creativity and destroy confidence. It’s a weird conundrum for sure.

[@NJGuy1973]

"Knock knock." "Who's there?" "Cancer." "Oh, good, come on in. I thought it was a Julliard teacher."

[@duyguozkann]

hahahahaha #sixseasonsandamovie

[@emretrpan5990]

Lol,hi where are you from,I want to make foreign friends

[@ilaydaerdoqan]

@@emretrpan5990 her yerde karşılaşıyorum seninle her yerde

[@ReachingHigher001]

😆

[@Noir0rioN]

You totally Britta'd that comment broh

[@Inadace]

You just don't have to go to a fancy school in order to become an actor. You can work hard and find teachers you love, mentors that believe in you and friends to push you forward. It doesn't have to be like that. Be the change! Don't let fear control your decisions

[@lucamolta]

Im not an actor but these words are really important for people to read whatever their field of interest is. So thank you.

[@eleo_b]

Hannah --It's so much eaiser to get jobs with a prestigious school on your resume though. Unless you know people in the industry of course.

[@sexyhomeowner9345]

It is not just the school that counts but the type of training. Ones like that of Meisner or Stella Adler are very highly regarded in the acting world.

[@CruuushaL]

Eleonore Bon that's the case for some jobs but not for acting, nobody cares what school you went to

[@abixD101]

can you elaborate more on this? So are you saying having Juilliard on your resume actually hurt your chances of booking jobs? Who exactly would get jealous?

[@jordynelliott6712]

Tension is the enemy of the actor. How can you be your best self or give your best performance if you aren’t comfortable? Some people say that they are trying to treat you as if you’re a professional - but that’s the thing! You’re not! You’re an amateur who is good at what you do and you’re going to school so you can become GREAT. What’s the point of going to school if you can’t learn from your failures? There shouldn’t be this constant eminent threat of your life being ruined with failure and debt because you aren’t breathing right. That’s INSANE. The best acting teachers communicated with their students and didn’t ostracize or victims them. They TAUGHT them.

[@basehead617]

She also didn't leave, she graduated from Juilliard.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

That might be the innate pressure of wanting to have a degree.

[@ramonapiercesalvatore5917]

Yeah, it has a status ans that can be helpfull, usefull.

[@duyguozkann]

on paper, being kicked out of Juilliard is objectively worse than not going there

[@Clowncentral101]

Lmao wooooooooow

[@JKiler1]

She did explain in the video the pressure she felt to tough it out. Fail to graduate - start completely over. Push through and get the degree, give them the finger on your way out. They can't take the degree away once given, and she gets to decide what she carries with her.

[@swgroove]

I know exactly what she's talking about. I went to the university of Toronto for Jazz studies in the 90's. It was so strict and over the top that to this day, I still have trouble listening to traditional jazz. Even her bit about having to go back to Juilliard...the first time I went back to UofT, I felt sick to my stomach. This brings back some horrible memories listening to this...I feel for her....

[@ReachingHigher001]

[@lucyk.5163]

She just described what's wrong with the entire world's schooling system in any subject, be it arts or maths or whatever. They focus on what you do wrong and they eh judge you harshly for not reaching some arbitrary standard of perfection, and if you do well, it's just your obligation. And then there's competition from everyone instead of cooperation. This is why many people don't like to go to school. It really is soul-crushing and passion-killing, leaving everyone unmotivated and acting like robots, disposable cogs in a wheel that benefits only the ones on top.

[@BrittKatSlat]

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WENT THROUGH IN AN ACTING CONSERVATORY IN CHICAGO. Now, that stupid school went out of business. Funny, because they charged us all an arm and a leg for 2 years of learning. They put me on probation. I argued it but eventually left because I felt so "trashed". I have ADD, that doesn't make me a bad artist. I'm fucking great! Now, I'm in LA, doing acting with people around me that love and support me. DON'T BUY INTO THESE "schools". Sure, find a teacher you like and take a class every once in a while to sharpen your skills. But the hell with everything else. You can be an artist and a student and LEARN on your own time.

[@ReachingHigher001]

Absolutely right.

[@bunnyblurrz]

Please upload the full version please. This is one of the best and frankly, most personal interviews with Gillian.

[@thath09]

bunnyblurrz the full interview is on his website

[@delusionsofgrandeur1330]

Netflix

[@Yertle_Turtle]

I love it when celebrities attack iconic power structures! Rare, simply because most people don't wanna burn the bridge that got them to power.

[@privcraft_]

I went to Juilliard as well, but I went as a musician so perhaps our experiences were different, but my teachers were really kind people. It's truly sad to know that when she went, it was such a strict place (and it still is pretty rigid), but the people there never made me feel like I didn't deserve to be there.

[@lela7436]

that's so comforting to hear. i am very happy for you

[@kimijuliaaa]

Well said, Juiliard College of Music is Putri Ariani's dream school. She is 17 years old blind singer who just got "golden buzzer" from Simon Cowell because her amazing performance in America's Got Talent audition. I really hope that she can accepted in Juilliard. ❤

[@dduem13]

This is the EXACT same situation I was in at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Same thing. Left and looking forward.

[@vanessaajohn]

dduem13 oh my god I just got accepted there. What should I except?

[@lizzie3670]

dduem13 that's not a good school :/

[@vanessaajohn]

Wanda Maximoff in what way

[@lizzie3670]

Van Film I have read that the school is full of drugs (?) and it's not worth it, Jessica Chastain went there for a while before she went to Juilliard and she said that she wouldn't recommend it. But I would go and see what it's like and make your own decision first, if you like it there then stay. Congratulations on getting in btw :)

[@vanessaajohn]

Wanda Maximoff where can I find Jessica saying that? I looked and nothing came up

[@SyddElisabeth]

I appreciate her honesty.

[@al-nisa2927]

I appreciate her being so candid about this. Very few people admit that their experience in top BFA/MFA Acting programs was horrible and killed their joy for the craft. It definitely took me almost 5yrs post-grad to find my own footing after also being on probation in a cut-program.

[@thatoneguy9399]

I’m so grateful I went to an art school that pushed hard for every student and never told us we were bad, but fought for us to get better everyday.

[@Unqualifiedmedicalperson]

High School theatre took away my love of acting. Which was kind of a good thing i guess, because otherwise I never would've realized how much better I was at writing.

[@kyliee8586]

Same here. I went to an arts high school for acting that had a very low acceptance rate for that program. I became miserable with the constant drama, lies, favoritism, and bullying from other students. I had a dire family emergency and could not attend one rehearsal because of it. I told the director, who proceeded to scoff at me and say that I’m not a real actor if I’m going to miss one rehearsal, even if it was for an extreme emergency like that. The other students there were such bullies too, and would “seek revenge” if you got a role that they wanted. This included people spitting in other people’s water bottles, ruining a person’s costume, or starting rumors to get you in trouble and lose your role. I hated every second of being there and left before my final year. I guess it worked in the end because I am now going to a good college for a voice and opera degree, plus I was able to have more time for dance since I was a competitive ballet dancer too. I’m much better off without them.

[@paulanthonyhoeflich8988]

@@kyliee8586 I had a similar experience.

[@rica3947]

i really appreciate her speaking so openly about it being a bad experience. thank you for your honesty, gillian!

[@woodyfentress]

Congratulations to Gillian for still finding success in her career despite these seemingly terrible teachers and mentors.

[@RollingOrmond]

Same I felt about my college. Took the love of reading away from me for awhile.

[@shukis17]

I didn't go to Julliard, wanted to couldn't afford it. But I went to a Suny School in upstate NY, studied Animation and Film and I was in this exact scenario. I had a student evaluation where I had six teachers sit around and look at my online portfolio and basically tell me I was shit everything I did was shit and I should give up. Like the worst hour of my life, remember going home and a friend telling me "They're only telling you you're shit because you're so good it intimidates them and they want to put you down." No idea if that's true but it made me feel better, College Teachers can be weird.

[@davidturner4987]

Julliard sounds pretty toxic to me. How could anyone feel safe under those circumstances?

[@jenniferg.9017]

I always come back to this video when I feel like I am not 'cut out" for something. I am in Law School and every second of time here I feel so out of place, feeling like I am being judged and the bottom of the barrel. But Gillian proved through her career that the academic validation didn't really mean too much in the long run and you can have people not believe in you, or tell you all the things you are doing wrong and you can still come out on the other side.

[@rachmaninovwasemo2313]

One thing I've learned majoring in the arts is that you have to have thick skin. A lot of professors are trying to weed out the people who think because it's an art that it requires no technicality (which is far from the truth), and in some ways this is good BUT there is the creative and freeing element of the arts that is what made us fall in love with it in the first place. And there needs to be a balance. Once you weed out the slackers, don't push people to the point of losing the thing that made them drawn to the art to begin with. And yes there some AMAZING teachers. But more of the other kind then I've seen in any major.

[@comdrive3865]

"the other kind" we have to use this soft language for horriffic teaching institutions, instead of calling it what it is. This perpetuates the problem of people having no clue what they're signing up for

[@ChristieChang]

I’m so happy she shared this. I thought I was alone when I felt like I was failing drama school too. Still ended up graduating, but definitely didnt have the best time doing so.

[@charmaine8261]

My experience with art school is this.

[@meebecornflakes]

About to go into art school and it's definitely a concern...

[@elizahildenbrand2934]

@@meebecornflakes how is it going..

[@meebecornflakes]

@@elizahildenbrand2934 i had to drop out bc COVID but I’d say I REALLY struggled with my relationship with making art during my year at uni. It’s easy to lose that initial feeling of love. I think one thing I have learned is that before being a skill, making art is a behavior. Idk why this small idea has helped take off some of the pressure for me

[@meebecornflakes]

@@elizahildenbrand2934 sorry my reply was really unclear I just have way too many thoughts on this it’s hard to be concise

[@elizahildenbrand2934]

@@meebecornflakes oh no it’s unfortunate that you had to drop out but it’s very interesting that it gave you like a new clarity ig abt art

[@TheBirdieView]

Your passion is your passion... who gives a fuck about anyone else - follow it and live it -

[@apple491]

TheBirdieView i love you

[@victoriap.3394]

wow...Juliard has ben my dream school for years now but now I don't know how I feel about it anymore....

[@aidanbehrens6518]

Her responses make her seem like she took it harder than what the teachers meant it to be. If it is your dream school, go for it.

[@scottm8579]

She says in the interview that they don't cut you from the program anymore.

[@ariana_m10]

You will never be satisfied.

[@eduardoleroy3660]

No one can be less talented for acting than this woman, not even you. Apply for Julliard, prepare for the audition, and if you get in, don't act like a sensitive snowflake every time someone tells you the truth about what you're doing.

[@rosiegiesler4705]

Well it can’t be your dream school if you’re having doubts about it after one interview. Maybe look at a school we’re you don’t have doubts after one bad review about Juliard

[@dauphinuk]

This is exactly my experience of Drama School. I started a three year degree as a hopeful actor and by the time I left, I felt lost, shit at what I wanted to do and with very little self confidence. I used to go to auditions knowing I wouldn't get the part, but telling myself that I was a great actor, but never really believing it. Creative freedom, in my mind, is stifled in these environments, but it does work for some people. I don't act anymore, which is sad in a way, but I look back with some fond memories, but it did mark me pretty badly and something that I'm only realising 10 years after the fact.

[@ReachingHigher001]

You're not the only one. Stay blessed.

[@joshliam1967]

I studied acting in college and had a very similar experience, haven't acted since...not yet, at least.

[@sovietninja6865]

Josh Liam then it wasn’t for you to begin with. You have to have a tough skin. People will tell you, you suck all the time. If you just throw in the towel because you can’t handle it. Then it wasn’t for you, period.

[@mysticfellow9843]

​@@sovietninja6865 It's all about persistence and luck it seems.

[@sovietninja6865]

MysticFellow work ethic.

[@leilymohammadi7062]

I wanna study theater in college, can u rlaborate more on your experience if it's okay?

[@cameronbennett8151]

The thing about that environment is that for some people it works and for a lot of other's it doesn't. Sure, some people may say that it prepares them for the "real world" of acting, but I disagree. Like she said, they're saying it's a safe space, but then putting them on the spot, telling them everything that's wrong with them and for a lot of people it stifles their creativity before they can get a chance to figure out what types of acting they love and what types they don't. There's plenty of actors who suck and get big parts and plenty of actors that are fantastic but don't. The actual reasons someone rejects them from a part are often not technical reasons, but opinions of producers and the vision they want to create. I can understand if this was grad school, but I think undergrad is supposed to foster a sense of wonderment and love for learning, especially in the first few years. Some people can take that criticism and use it to bring about a better performance, but for someone that's 17-19 years old, it can be really crushing.

[@lenorejones8339]

Thank you for your honesty I had the same experience at my Acting school not prestige s like Julliard but this kind of BS is totally prevalent kudos to your bravery and honesty and for persevering and becoming the artist you were meant to be

[@Labroidas]

I hate all forms of elitism. It leads nowhere. It destroys any form of creativity and replaces it with stress, robbing the artist of any joy for the craft. I have experienced the exact same thing studying classical piano and opera singing.

[@Kaleidalee]

This, right here. Elitism is the opposite of creativity.

[@anniechenartjourney9553]

i have the same experience, i went to art school. they judge you, told you to pursue your dream and then criticize you dream. i started to have panic attack everyday i woke up cause i have to go to class. the school is expensive and i felt shame, guilt toward my family. after i graduated ppl judge me because my degree in art .

[@Swaddle_Brow83]

You are an amazing actor!!! Thankyou for being so open about your experience.. Love you! 💚🔥💜🤘

[@cleanslate2004]

Great interview, so candid, 100 %. The emotional trauma you endure as being part of the weeding out process is almost comical years later, but while it's happening, it's like Russion Roulette, each critic being the next bullet chamber and with each click that doesn't end it , what's going thru your mind is:" I volunteered for this" ? It seems crazy, but when it comes to love & passion that's the sacrifice you make.

[@avapatino6058]

I went to the Professional Preforming Arts Highschschool in New York and it was a really similar experience. I mean there were parts that I really loved about it, and it was without a doubt an incredible arts education, but there really is that sense of scrutiny and judgment. When she talked about being locked in to an experience, I felt that. I came out of my school not wanting to be an actor, but feeling really unprepared for anything else.

[@josetamariz9388]

What did you do after high school, then?

[@avapatino6058]

@@josetamariz9388 I'm actually going to the American University of Paris now. I have a strong interest in dramaturgy, and hope to become a librarian.

[@serenitybeats1677]

Was it LaGuardia

[@avapatino6058]

@@serenitybeats1677 no it was the better preforming arts school in nyc

[@ArtGirl82]

I think James Marsters said something similar about Juilliard, like how the "acting" program is more of a speech program and the professors there made him want to jump off the roof.

[@JessicabelliciMa1]

Olyshit james from btvs???

[@hakansonmez2178]

Oh, Britta's in this

[@matthewcortez3033]

Hakan Sonmez i searched the comments for this

[@maejee8189]

Can't tell if Britta's high or not.

[@holcombrocker]

Huh...she really DID live in New York!

[@ThatOneRandomSteve]

Yeah...Britta's the best.

[@EladLavyUzan]

I think it's advisable to stay away from a place who ruins your own style&confidence by calling it subjectively "fail" Don't ever sell your soul in order to succeed you are amazing as you are, and don't need the approval of no one. Find a path of joy in order to succeed. Hard work doesn't pay off and can ruin your mental health,work wisely and as happily as possible

[@rahootietoot]

I felt this way about Pratt and the art department at the magazine I went on to work at. I'm a carpenter now.

[@vejovim]

This sounds identical to my medical school experience. $600k in debt and I still don't know if I want to go back and practice medicine. Doctors are assholes and 80% of them truly do not care about their patients. Gillian, you are beautiful and talented and I would start a relash with you tomorrow on no other basis than that you have the goodness of heart to recognize and not accept the mistreatment of anyone by anyone. Respect.

[@RK-dc2es]

yeah my grandmother went to Julliard for piano, to become a concert pianist. Not only did she not become one after graduating, she just stopped playing piano entirely for the rest of her life.

[@Lara-wr9he]

That’s so sad :(

[@johnbrooke6867]

This makes me think of "The Black Swan" for obvious reasons. Too much pressure, period. I went to an animation school in my 30's and found that I often disagreed with the teachers who had only slightly more experience in the field than I did. I mean...my mother owned a business that hired graphic designers, I had six months of graphic design training, and had roughly ten years of watching the same animation documentaries my teachers did. I didn't need a teacher so much as the tools, a project, and an opportunity. I didn't finish that program because it cost too much money to have teachers telling me what I already knew. I had a lot of fun despite not completing my degree. I only regret the financial aspect of it. I will say, though, that some actors seemed to make it big with very little struggle. I'm not saying they didn't audition or jump through various hoops but I've heard enough interviews to know that there seems to be infinite paths to what we call success. There is a unquantifiable and mercurial formula to "making it" as an artist of any kind and I prefer the artists that are smart enough to know just how much luck was involved. I can, also, say that beautiful people and even unattractive people who have a certain look just have to show up and opportunities appear. You can be gorgeous but just not suited for a part, as well. You might be lucky enough to have chemistry with the lead but that has very little to do with a person's ambition or even talent. Sometimes all you have to do is show up. What a crazy world we live in...

[@rockboi91]

This spoke to me. I studied Music in University and to be honest it nearly destroyed my love of music.

[@musicdude92]

Getting a music degree from University took away my love for music and I decided that I couldn't go on...especially since what I wanted to do didn't necessarily require a degree but experience and getting out there and all that. Did not regret my decision to leave one bit!

[@musicdude92]

@betty lynch I agree!

[@b00i00d]

Good to have some real, honest background on such institutions and have them demystified

[@quisqueya6898]

My senior friends told me how bad Juilliard is today. So I searched up the truth about Juilliard and just seeing this really does make me think twice if I really want to go to college here. I'm a dancer, I have been dancing since I was 4 years old and Juilliard is my dream college, but I don't know now. Plus I go to performing arts high school too and auditioning was terrifying, but after I got in I felt very great and proud of myself. But after being here for 2 years now, my mental health and emotional health went down the drain and I feel like I'm not really myself anymore and it has made me not really like dance as much as I used to, but I still push myself every day even if I do feel like crap sometimes.

[@janecampbell5264]

This is so interesting to me. I’m finishing up school for something and there was definitely a time where the school made me hate it. I think some schools pressure students to go down certain paths. Let people be who they are. Don’t try to mold them into something. That’s why school sucks. People are trying to force you to only follow one way and that way just doesn’t work for everyone. and people also feel societal pressures of what is “right” or what they “should” do or what is “honorable.” Damn just let it go and do what makes you happy.

[@NoliMeTangere1163]

Let's be real though, if you are in the classical music world and grew up with Juilliard, as I did, this IS your college experience. Even Big 10 schools who happen to have conservatory quality programs are truly brutal. You are constantly reminded that there are 10 people for your spot and any slip up could be the end. You know that the likelihood of professional success is very low and many classical musicians become quite nimble self-medicators from stress. These worlds are designed to weed out those who can't handle it. Yes, my four years of undergrad were the hardest four years of my life but even though I didn't make it to a performing career, they gave me the stamina to succeed in my career in a way that wouldn't have been possible without that level of pressure.

[@drrd4127]

This is how I felt when I went to nursing school. We used to have our teacher freaking out because we missed a spot when we were washing our hands, we were told everyday that "you can kill someone if you fucked up", they never told us that in real nursing you have a senior nurse that you can talk to if you are not sure about something and they will help you get it right, you aren't on your own, it's a team effort. Science school was the best for me, those teachers were so open minded.

[@blazehaze233]

I love her so much, she's so talented and pretty

[@DevonPadley]

as someone who also graduated from a high intensity acting program in nyc, this is hella relatable

[@sampacker6547]

You don't just have to go to Juiliard to have people be mean and criticize you, that happens to me all the time.

[@notforsale9488]

😂😂😂😂

[@eviekenyon574]

If you want to be criticised but don’t have the budget for Juilliard then just go talk to some family members for a while, it has the same effect

[@Johnwilkinsonofficial]

ill just say this: almost no artist of the highest order was ever produced by one of these oh so eminent places. great art thrives from love and play, not cramming your body into the procrustean bed that these judges make for you.

[@dylan3017]

Brilliant..truly...but if I might add to that...great art comes from those who are at the edge of society and somewhat mental and emotional stability. Actors who truly dissappear into a role are the ones that do not believe that they had a real life. Method actors, and I dont mean "oh let me just go to a prison to know how to act like a prisoner" types that you get nowadays. Method actors who had to survive in life by crawling on the dirt. Poorest of the poor and oddest of the odd. Brando, Dean, Pacino, S De Niro to name a few..heck even Stallone even if all he does is action. They didnt one day were in a school play and said "wow im good i want to be an actor", this group had no other options in life..."i wouldve been a good con man" said Brando. They made what they did true and thats what makes the art pure. You dont see that nowadays..probably never will again.

[@kevinsheahan9347]

That’s simply not true, just look at their notable alumni

[@MrFtge]

@@dylan3017 All of those guys studied at the Actors Studio, where they were taught method acting

[@dylan3017]

@@MrFtge not everyone can come out of the Actor's Studio like a Brando...you can learn and practice all you want but..unless you live the type of life that he lived EVEN into his early theatre days..you wont have that raw animalistic talent..the man came from a tattered home, with his mind and heart filled with anger and rage towards his wife beating father and sadness towards his weak mother...coming from a dirt and dusty place called Omaha. You cannot reach that level of brilliance without having lived the life of the suffering man you are portraying..

[@charlesreed3327]

@@dylan3017 When Dustin Hoffman stayed awake for three days to get into character for "Marathon Man," his costar Laurence Olivier observed, "Why don't you just try acting?"

[@erinmsullivan]

I. One THOUSAND. Percent. Agree. With this video. I get sick to my stomach when I know I might run into my college professors in any place I know they hold classes. Like visceral PTSD anxiety takes over any rationale and I need to leave and remind myself I’m not at that point in my life anymore. So cheers to BFA acting programs for scarring your students 👍🏼

[@robertrowan9893]

I'm gladdened she said, 'for a while', instead of almost permanently, when it came to her love of acting that is. For if the latter was indeed true, then all this would likely be incidental and we wouldn't be party to their conversation. Our collective loss.

[@aingeav497]

conservatory training is terrifying if it’s like this. i’m auditioning for schools right now, and i’m going for schools that encourage their students. i have no idea what tisch does, but my friends are happy there. same with pace, and syracuse. there’s a bunch of schools that are really good that don’t pressure you like this. just be cautious and do your research.

[@tromboneman4517]

Go to Indiana University.

[@MeSoyCapitan]

Negative criticism has a detrimental effect, it doesn't help people improve, it makes them afraid to fail which just snuffs out any creativity or passion.

[@reginaspanties]

this is such an awesome interview, but i dont know why is so edited, i wish we could see the whole (or at leat longer part) interview

[@alfie9718]

This actually sums up all art schools/colleges

[@lewashcliffe]

Julliard destroys singing voices as well, as do most modern conservatories. They are one of the major reasons why opera has become so bad. Full of teachers who know little about voice technique and understanding the science of vocal production. Julliard's reputation as a vocal music mecca is totally undeserved.

[@LauraisLoading]

Are there any modern conservatories you do recommend?

[@emretrpan5990]

What do you think about Juilliard Drama?

[@avad1631]

Do you know any modern conservatories that are good?

[@someoneelse361]

I highly doubt that the voice teachers at Julliard aren't educated in voice.....

[@SusanTrishelMonson]

SAME protocol first quarter @Circle In The Square at me, tearful Christmas 93 !

[@ImagineFreedom]

I liked how she played Britta in Community series. She was great in there :)

[@chrisridenhour]

Theres was a lot of snobbery in my conservatory. Every department looked down on the other and the teachers were rivals, pitting their best students against each other in competitions. But I did have an awesome piano and composition teacher at least.

[@victorias.6270]

My high school theater director is very harsh like this.

[@civilizedsatyr]

I went to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under former Julliard teacher Gerald Freedman and it was EXACTLY like this. They almost seemed to take a delight in tearing you down, chalking it all up to the "We have to break you down so that you can be filled with technique". That, of course, translated into nothing but negative reinforcement. At least when you graduate Julliard you have the ooh and aah factor of the Julliard brand on your name, at NCSA you just left the school completely unsure of yourself with your name attached to a school that peaked in the 80s.

[@ToddPritch]

It's the same with music education. I was told by multiple teachers to reconsider my career. They just didn't see my vision!

[@shashareid3132]

Wow and that’s exactly why I didn’t want to pursue a degree in theatre. This right here. I didn’t want something I loved to become something I hated.

[@MsVorpalBlade]

I had this at music school. Creative schools suck.

[@serenitybeats1677]

Really

[@garykuovideos]

The value of attending a conservatory like Juilliard, which I did as a violinist, comes from being in a creative environment with some of the most remarkable artists in the world. It’s an opportunity to interact with gifted dancers, musicians, and actors in the heart of Lincoln Center and your experience will help point you in a direction, including one that may differ from your original.

[@nickyroseroshini]

Aaaaaand this is why I haven't gone to drama school and am making it work literally any other way

[@anoukdc]

I go to an arts conservatoire for acting and it's really... Hard. You learn so much, but you learn through criticism and a lot of people will tell you that you'll never be good enough. A lot of people either fail or drop out because they can't handle the pressure. You start with around ten and end with five or less people. It's crazy but... What else can I do, you know?

[@marleneg7794]

You had me at credits won't transfer

[@bucketspree4952]

oh my gosh, I had no idea the credits issue went all the way to the top turns out I wasn't the only one screwed over

[@musiclolli7280]

Sounds like music school/ballet school but for acting.. it can work, but its tough

[@jacobs3671]

Happened to me to, went to the Hartt school theater conservatory for musical theater and I lost my passion for it because they were a training ground not a place that actually fostered creativity...

[@sofiae8123]

The music program could even be described as worse because they tell you how great you are and then you get to an international competition and hear people play from other parts of the world and they are so much better than the students at Juilliard.

[@green7apocalyptica]

I went trough somthing similar in music academy and I didnt finish it I had to quit couse I would get crazy🤦 and I'm waiting for my love for singing classical to come back...

[@SPAPBrocker]

It's the same in the top music schools!

[@christophelabady7121]

Julliard have music also.

[@jennifer695]

Nursing school is the same way, started with 70 ended with 23. Took away my love for medicine.

[@crm9363]

You go girl. ❤️

[@lordfarquaad8267]

I felt the same way about med school.

[@c0ronariu5]

jakeismyhero really? I definitely felt like that in pre Med, but as soon as Med started, our lecturers specifically told us to help each other out, and we felt like they were always happy to help students too. But maybe it’s just nicer outside the states.

[@user-qf4tp2ix5v]

That was literally my entire childhood.

[@mayalucia5915]

I hope someone from Juilliard has seen this

[@mayalucia5915]

@mozak plesa there s no reason she would lie really. Plus, there have been many similar stories to this one, just look up julliard stories on Google. Prestigious schools are often quite cold so I'm not surprised.

[@cynthiagoldstein1133]

I just discovered this channel and it is quite interesting. When I saw this clip, my first thought was that the audition sphere is definitely different than the school sphere, where she is paying tens of thousand of dollars where they say that it is a supportive place to learn and a safe place to fail, so she probably felt truly sucker punched because she didn't expect the harsh treatment without the support she was told she'd get. However, in an audition, you are already expecting harsh treatment without care, so your guard is up.

[@AC-ql5gb]

I graduated from Juilliard. My class was the last class to have cuts so this was some time ago. I loved the training. The biggest drawback for me was that i went at 18 and then was spit out into the business at 22. Juilliard made me a very fine actor.. but my peripheral skills i.e building professional relationships like ur career depends on it, sucked. I am now 38, hard lessons learned, trying to go to grad school.

[@jimmyneutron4329]

I had a somewhat related bad experience in college at the end of this semester. Obviously it was online because of the pandemic. But anyway, did not only the professor mentally harassed me and my group (to the point of getting whatsapp notes at any time at any moment), but also, she actually refused to review our work twice because according to her it was that bad; so, we were like, you tell us everything we've done is awful and yet you refused to review it, so how the hell would we know what are our specific mistakes so we can correct them... hahahaha but that's all in the past, thankfully I passed

[@kefinkamed]

When I hear this and then picture Adam Driver’s acting skills, I wonder how qualified these people actually are to tell anyone they have/have not what it takes…