Professional Decorum
All acting classes will be run as a professional working situation. This means:
• Coming to class fully prepared as assigned
• Showing respect for every member of the artistic ensemble.
• A complete commitment and focus to the work each class period.
• Saying YES to coaching and feedback!
• No chewing gum, eating, or drinking in class (except water).
• Wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing suitable for complete freedom and range of movement.
• When working or presenting scenes, wear appropriate rehearsal clothes and shoes for the scene.
Professional Decorum Statement
The exercises you will be asked to complete in class may challenge you to step outside your comfort zone. This means that in class you may be exposed to new, different, and controversial ideas, language, and issues with which you may fundamentally disagree, which may even offend you in some manner. It is fine to respectfully disagree or point out how something might offend you and why. However, the recognition that controversy is at the heart of debate does not encourage or condone gender, sexist, racist, ethnic, or religious slurs, or any form of slander or hate speech. As always in our classes, these forms of speech will not be permitted. However, if you are still offended in any way by ideas and/or language that are different from your own, please contact the instructor.
Every effort will be made to ensure your physical and emotional safety, while also providing and holding a “brave space”. It is important to embrace the idea that acting is not comfortable. Much like the work one does with a trainer at a gym, you will be asked to stretch yourself. You will be asked to go beyond where you expected to go. Within boundaries you will learn to trust the difference between a trigger and something that is unfamiliar and may feel scary.
Phones & Electronics
Phone, laptop, or tablet usage is not permitted during class. All note-taking should be done by hand and on paper or scripts. Once class begins, all electronics should be turned off or set to silent and left in bags/backpacks for the duration of class.
Students continuously checking phones or devices during class time may be asked to leave and marked absent for the day.
Artificial Intelligence
The use of AI in this class is not permitted. If it is found that an assignment has been generated using AI, the assignment will be marked as a zero.
Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following
activities:
- Brainstorming and refining your ideas;
- Fine tuning your research questions;
- Checking grammar and style.
The use of generative AI tools is not permitted in this course for the following activities:
- Impersonating you in classroom contexts.
- Writing a draft or final draft of any writing assignment.
- Writing entire sentences, paragraphs or papers to complete class assignments.
You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). When in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification.
***Remember, unacceptable use of AI undermines your own artistic value.
Canvas
This class will utilize Canvas. Through Canvas you will find information concerning assignments, readings, announcements, grades, etc. It is your responsibility to check Canvas frequently and it is strongly encouraged to check often as information can be added or announcements and reminders made through Canvas. This will be extremely important when you are absent so you can stay on top of your work.