"I first met David when I was preparing for a casting for a feature film and had scheduled a two hours 'one on one' session with him, after seeing his ad on Shooting People.
I was very impressed by his 'hands on' approach and direct and honest style which helped me a lot with my preparation for the casting.
I then proceeded to attend his weekly classes which provided me with tools and a solid technique which helped me realize my 'on screen' persona and gave me confidence in other castings.
The thing I most appreciate is David's genuine interest in my progress and the general support he provides.
Tova Leigh www.tovaleigh.com
"What impresses me most about David's teaching is his generosity of spirit and down to earth nature - there are no enormous egos here!
I have done several film/TV classes before, but I've never had anyone give me such practical tools that I can play with at home and then apply to my work, with such good results. I like the fact that he draws from a wide range of acting methods to teach camera technique and is not stuck in one groove. I also like the flexibility of on-going classes, so I can either pay for a group or just do a drop-in class if I want to - oh, and they are affordable!
I am definitely more relaxed in front of the camera and now feel confident enough to do a good audition every time."
Anne Stafford
''I have been regularly attending Acting For Film with David Sandercock since the class was established last year.
Since then I have gone on to get several acting roles and feel that the class has been hugely beneficial in helping me do so.
The structure and teaching of the class is unique and it is an extremely safe environment where one can experiment and not feel pressurised to "get it right".
My confidence and ability in front of the camera has increased greatly. I believe that I am constantly improving.
A focus on breathing techniques is an excellent way of preparing for castings, and home practice is highly encouraged.
David is an excellent tutor who I would recommend to actors of all levels--i.e those starting out or many years into your professional career.
There is an excellent amount of camera time as the classes are never too large and it is extremely reasonably priced. You will improve and learn many many secrets of film acting which turn good performances into amazing ones.''
Genna Foden
''I have been attending 'Acting for Film' classes since early autumn, 2009.
I originally signed up to the classes because, though I had completed a formal BA in Acting training from one of the country's accredited drama schools some years' ago, the course then did not cover any aspect of film or television acting.
Believing myself to be a rather instinctive and natural actor, I reckoned on bargaining with those qualities if ever I faced a screen test, film or commercial casting. I couldn't have been more mistaken.
From the outset, I discovered how little I knew about film acting technique. I genuinely thought that actors just used their innate instinct.
In these classes, David Sandercock introduced me to the fascinating world of the relationship between person and camera. We work a lot with Meisner repetition which brings an amazing truth and simplicity. David introduces objectives, emotions, emotional transition, gesture, dialogue and sustaining emotions. These are worked on as individual components and then layered into scenes, giving me many concepts on which to concentrate within a short time frame.
David also introduced me to screen persona and walk. I have also studied close up, mid-range and long-shots with gestures, emotion, objective and dialogue.
David has also worked with me on using The Method as well as Michael Chekov. I have also covered listening and sight-reading.
I came to David Sandercock's classes last year to attend 5 sessions but have stayed ever since on a regular basis because I have understood that practice makes perfect. The advantage of these classes is that they are very fairly priced compared to a lot of courses with which actors are constantly bombarded. The other nice thing is that numbers are small so that you get good screen time and feedback both from David and the other students.
David himself is a very good teacher. There are certain qualities that I, the actor, appreciate in him. Firstly, he is honest. If you do something well, he will tell you. If not, he will also tell you and give you suggestions for improvement. Secondly, half way through the class, he will play footage from movies to show us great actors using particular aspects that he has just been teaching us. The environment is friendly and positive, with humour, yet the class is all about technique.
For me, this is a clear demonstration that David's instruction is specific and an imperative tool for me to increase my chances of hitting the mark during future castings. In fact, I have already had several castings since attending these classes. My confidence has greatly improved. I am no longer scared of the people sitting at the other side of the table or the camera. I actually look forward to being able to show what I can do. There is also more strength and meaning to what I do.
I would not hesitate in recommending David's teaching to any prospective students or institution. He has a good understanding and knowledge of film and its associated acting techniques. I am a very fussy actor and not an easy customer to please. I am choosy about how I spend my time learning and I have attended many classes over the years.
This screen acting class is a gem and I will continue to attend on a regular basis for the reasons I have set out above.''
Kevin Potton, Actor, www.kevinpotton.co.uk
