Acting had always been something I wanted to try but never got the chance to. Last year I made the decision to finally try it out and joined First Take. Since joining First Take I've booked multiple projects around the Bay Area and built connections with other actors. Through these classes, I've learned that acting is so much more empowering than what I thought it would be. First Take really helped me learn how to accept myself and develop areas of empathy that I did not have before. These skills are great for acting but I've also found them extremely helpful in personal and career development. Additionally, the entertainment industry can be very competitive with many rejections. In these times, I have found it really encouraging to have a strong support system like the other students and teachers at First Take. In summary, I highly recommend the First Take Acting School to anyone who's ever considered trying it out. You might just learn something about yourself you never knew before. Also, if you are near the San Jose area - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking Susan's class. She is a phenomenal teacher who really looks out for the best interests of her students! read more

First Take Acting Program - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

Update to my previous review. Persistence and training pay off! I just attended my first world premiere of Thirsty at the Newport Beach Film Festival starring Jamie Neuman (The Deuce, Sunday Water), Sung Kang (Fast & the Furious, Obi-Wan Kenobi), Thora Birch (American Beauty, The Walking Dead, Hocus Pocus) & Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer, Phenomenon). I had a short scene with star Jamie Neuman and David Herd. Coincidentally two other First Take actors were cast in the film! Eugene Kremleff (my student) and instructor E. Ambriz Decolosio, a fellow instructor. Attaching pics here read more

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Since day 1, the constant theme for First Take has been "you are enough." There are no words more assuring than these in the realm of acting. The teachers provide a safe and welcoming environment where failure and messiness is ok and even encouraged. Throughout my time here, I have learned to embrace the suck(no nasty reference) with the understanding that there is no better way to act than by being myself. I would highly recommend this institution to all aspiring actors--whether you are a beginner or a recurring actor in the show Beef. If you are in the 408, 669, Man Jose, or even the Monterey Bay 831 baby, I highly recommend taking classes with Susan. She is the biz nit. read more

My name is Allie Marie Rebong. I have been going to Bay Area Acting since July of this year 2024. I have had great experiences and amazing teachers. My first teacher was Cat with her class was Wednesdays and I had the best time I learned a lot from her. My second class was with Jonathan and I also learned a lot from him and his class was just as friendly and amazing as my first class. My third class just finished December 3 was with Susan and she is just as nice helpful awesome and I also learned a lot from her this last session which was my third, I am continuing on my fourth session tomorrow, December 19 and I look forward to continuing and working with First Take the Vibe in the school and everyone in general they're very nice very friendly professional helpful. I've made amazing friends as well through those classes and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me with my continuation at First Take. I also plan to keep surprising the instructors rotating out classes and such until I feel more comfortable towards next January 2026 when I renew with the same instructor to do the agent showcase for next year right now I don't feel that I'm there yet, but I'm slowly working toward it at my own speed read more

Enrolling in an acting school took a lot of will power and I must say I was not disappointed. My instructor, Susan, is awesome and I've taken at least 3 sessions with her already! She's a great teacher in the sense that she effectively communicates important knowledge while also respecting personal boundaries. I love studying under Susan and I've also had a class with Jonathan who I thought was also incredible! Under the guidance of Susan, I now feel a whole lot more confident when going into auditions. Honestly I could go on for hours about all the great things Susan has done for me but I digress. Overall, First Take stresses that "you are enough" which really means a lot because coming into the class I always felt that I had to pretend to be someone else to be "interesting". The whole payment process is really simple since at the beginning of every session they send an invoice via email and I pay via paypal. Also, if you enroll early, you can get a $50 discount off of the price. Outside of regular classes, First Take also offers a bunch of casting director workshops as well as on-camera courses. I've gone to a casting director workshop with Lisa Zambetti and I learned sooo much from just that one workshop. These workshops are for First Take students only so if you're a current student at First Take I highly recommend attending these workshops because you can learn so much! I would definitely recommend First Take for anyone who has even a slight bit of interest. 5/5 read more

First take is a great program for actors of any level/experience. I'd highly recommend for anyone interested in developing their craft and learning about acting as a career. Jonathan is a dedicated teacher who really works with students to help strengthen their emotional connection with scenes and characters. read more

As the parent of my child actor who had a great passion for acting in films and television, but no on-screen experience, and without having any experience in the industry ourselves, I'm extremely satisfied with First Take Acting School and with Instructor Danny Lai for training my daughter for the past 1 and a half year. This school offers both in-person and online classes for their students. Initially we were very nervous because of the nature of the industry, however after talking to instructor Danny Lai, we were at ease and over the past few months he has greatly built up our trust in him and the school. Because of his training my daughter is now already auditioning and booking many roles, including her first feature film. Danny Lai's instruction was the reason all of this was possible, and his caring nature makes new actors feel welcome while still building the healthy competitive skills required to succeed in this industry. He has over 25 years of experience as an actor and has been teaching for 10 years. We cannot thank him enough for all he has done for us. I highly recommend First Take Acting School, which also provides contacts for new actors through casting agent and director workshops. For any aspiring and hardworking actor who dreams to make a make a mark in Hollywood, Danny Lai is our go-to teacher and our daughter's bright future would not have been possible without him or First Take Acting School. read more

First Take Acting Program - Home page of first take website - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been in Susan's class for 3 years now and could not recommend her enough! She is incredibly encouraging and kind. Her class has taught me so much and has made me more confident not only in my acting but also in other aspects of my life. read more

Took me a long time to take the first step towards pursuing my acting dream, but I am so glad to have found this program to lead me. First Take encourages you to tap into yourself and identify life experiences that helps you to "live" your roles and not "perform". The difference is night and day! This is a place where you feel absolutely comfortable being vulnerable, a place with no judgements where you feel yourself improving every session either by doing thoughtfully assigned scenes, or by watching your fellow classmates perform. Apart from classes, you get opportunities to meet big shot casting directors which are again, great learning opportunities. Susan is an awesome teacher who brings out the best in you. She spends time understanding you and your background, and provides in-depth feedback that's very relevant. A great mentor and at the same time, a fun and cheerful human being. There's so much you can learn from her, not just about acting, but about living your life to the fullest. I firmly believe in the two mantras followed here - "You're enough" and "Trust the homework and rest will come through". It does take patience and dedication to realize these, but the results are so rewarding and fulfilling. All in all, a beautiful learning experience! read more

It is my first time taking such classes, and I would have to say Susan is a great teacher. She is very kind and supportive, and makes you believe you can do it as long as you put in the hard work and continue training. At first I felt very nervous and scared doing any of this because I had never done it. Although I do still feel the same, Susan will help you feel more comfortable and relaxed with her support. I am learning a lot from Susan not just about the industry and how to be professional, but things about myself and life. If you are thinking about joining First Take to find a career or as a hobby, I highly recommend. You will participate in extremely fun classes with encouraging classmates. If you have any or no level of experiences, you will get the training and more from Susan. She knows how the industry works and will help you greatly! read more

First Take was the very first acting school I went to.. and I think I've been totally spoiled in that regard. Nancy is an incredible teacher- she really listens, understands, and most of all, she really does care about her students! Her teaching style has helped me grow immensely both as an actor and as a person. I originally thought I'd try one session and "see how it went." That was the tip of the iceberg- I was hooked and learned so much each session that I stuck with it, and now 1.5 years later, I find that I'm still learning by leaps and bounds every week. Nancy is honest with each of her students and tells them exactly what they need to know to move forward with their work. As an aside, my workplace gives me free credit to take classes every year at the University- I've taken two 9-week acting classes there (theater and film acting), and I found them nowhere near as helpful as First Take. I realize that in the grand scheme of things I am still very much a beginner and have lots to learn, but thanks to Nancy's class, I now have a safe place to learn, make mistakes (c'mon we all make them), and enjoy the process of acting. I also have a family of incredibly talented and supportive actors who I regularly see at auditions locally. Her students have accomplished so much in Film/TV yet remain so humble and real. I've also gotten callbacks and booked roles in commercials and independent films that I never did before. This month alone I booked 5 principal roles in commercial jobs and had 2 callbacks for lead roles in feature films that I would've never even auditioned for before First Take! If you're interested in auditioning well, being honest in your acting, knowing how to market yourself, and ultimately booking the job, First Take will help get you there. If not, then why are you reading this? :) read more

I LOVE studying at First Take. I have been taking classes as First Take since 2003, and it has been amazing. Definitely tough, but amazing. Nancy is a wonderful teacher, and cares so much about her students. She goes beyond just being a teacher. She's very honest, and encouraging, and very generous with her students. Not only does her acting method work, you get guidance in other areas of being an actor as well. Advice on headshots, marketing, how to maintain good relationships with casting directors etc..... The class environment is really wonderful too. Everyone is very supportive of one another. There is no sense of cattiness or competition. It's like a family. We support one another and are really rooting for each other's success. This is so valuable, because being an actor is hard and can be really scary and feel really vulnerable sometimes. Being in an environment that is supportive, where you can feel free to be yourself, helps make you a better actor. The method of acting that Nancy teaches really works! If you take this class and stick with it, you will improve as an actor!! It's all about bringing the magic and uniqueness of who you are to every scene and really making situations in the scenes real for you. This may sound simple enough, but it's not. It's hard, and requires training and discipline. After studying with First Take for a little over a year I got signed by a very reputable LA agent. After 2 years I booked a guest starring role on a TV show on NBC. Since then I have booked multiple roles on network television shows, and films. I could not have done this without Nancy, and First Take. read more

I have been taking a classes with Susan and she is an amazing teacher. There is never a dull moment. She makes the class exciting and constantly challenges you to dig deep. It was well worth it. Their is no shortage of homework and tutorials that are at your disposal to help along the way. I initially did not recognize my growth but the producers and other actors that i work with conatantly praise me and could tell immediately i have been working on my craft and taking lessons. read more

I love, love, love First Take! Founder Nancy Berwid and the other teachers are really great. They are very skilled in Nancy's unique methodology, and are dedicated to helping each and every student stretch and grow as actors, preparing them to succeed as professionals in the acting business. I have been a student for over two years, and I plan on continuing indefinitely. I highly recommend First Take to beginners and seasoned actors. read more

My two daughters absolutely loved the First Take Kids class! They had fun, learned about acting and are more confident. My oldest daughter left class one day jumping and saying she could speak in front of the whole world! They both said they were not afraid anymore! Alicia has an amazing way to help the kids feel comfortable to be themselves, be creative and have a lot of fun! She meets each child where they are at their level and really encourages them! We are looking forward to joining the class again! read more

I highly recommend First Take for beginning actors. I was so nervous walking into the first session. I wasn't sure I would stay, but my acting teacher, Susan Chung Beaudry, welcomed me and put me very quickly at ease. It is her caring and cheerful instruction that has kept me coming back each time and even signing up for another series. Susan maintains a safe and caring environment so that you can shine as yourself. I really appreciate the First Take approach of "you are enough" and their teaching of useful skills that can help you get working quickly if that is your goal. If your goal is just to learn and have fun (which is me right now), you are welcome too. read more

I am taking Susan Chung Beaudry's acting class and it's been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about the art of acting and the acting industry. I can't say enough about her skills as an instructor! Except, I look forward to resigning for the next session! read more

This review is no reflection on the the instructor, whom I had the pleasure of studying under for 2 of 8 sessions (Susan is wonderful). This review has everything to do with poor, uncompassionate, company policy. I am the primary point of contact for my 72 year old mothers medical care. Family is spread across the US. We are practically alone. She had a stroke. Left side paralyzed. Directed to have 24hr care. I requested at least a course voucher to take up my learning at another time. I was denied and told to attend make up classes within the remaining 6 weeks. My mother will not recover in 6 weeks. What if you were asked to dedicate yourself to 3 hrs of school, plus homework, while a loved one is experiencing a traumatic event in the hospital or at home? What if your $450 dollars were completely snatched away by an organization and it could have been used for 24 hrs of healthcare for your loved one? It doesn't take that much paperwork to issue at least a voucher for a current student, under distress, who was eager to learn. Yes, your policies are clear and upfront, but you need a hardship clause! Make a change and work on this small step towards more compassionate humanitarian efforts in your organization! read more

First take is a wonderful acting class for beginners and more advanced actors alike. Nancy has an eagle eye for even tiny moments when the actor gets distracted or hasn't completely thought out the reasoning for their line. She pushes students to be their absolute best, but is gentle and creates a safe space to try things you may not be 100% confident in. I tried the hardest scene I've ever come across in class, it scared the heck out of me, but Nancy encouraged me to try it. And when I did, she showed me where I had succeeded and where I needed a little tweak. She didn't let me off just because it was an incredibly hard scene, she helped push me to do something I had no idea I could. Nancy's unique style prepares actors for auditioning for film and television in the real world. She breaks bad habits, teaches you what to prepare for such as social etiquette in auditions, and of course hammers out a lot of scene work. Plus, she sets up weekend workshops almost every month that students can sign up for to learn more about auditioning, casting directors and the business of acting. I was so glad when I audited her class and realized I'd found a great class in the Bay Area. read more

This place is a joke! All they care about selling their products. I took the beginners class at the Pleasant Hill location, which happened to be a pre-school class with no stage. The first 30 minute of each class is always about trying to sell their products. At the beginning of the session I requested to transfer the fees to the next session I was refused. Got ripped off! Be careful. read more