FAQ

After I take your classes, will you be my agent?

The Actor Factory is a training studio. We are not a talent agent and we do not represent actors. We are also not a casting director. Our director and founder is a casting director in his day job, but we do not actively seek and procure work for actors. We can help you find an agent, but we do not represent actors in any way.



Is The Actor Factory an accredited school? Do I get a diploma if I take all the classes?

The Actor Factory is not a school and does not offer diplomas or certificates of completion. No piece of paper will signal to a casting director that you can act. There is not a license required. Rather, The Factory is a studio; a place where actors can continue to flex their muscles in ongoing study, much like in Los Angeles, New York and other cities. We encourage actors to learn at their own pace, focusing on the areas of study they feel needs the most attention. Acting is a process. In the beginning, each individual makes the decision, follows their dream, to act. There is a start date but no end date for acting. The acting muscle, like any muscle, needs to be flexed, toned, and crafted so the muscle grows - which is why many classes at The Factory are ongoing.



Calling it “The Factory” makes it sound like an assembly line!

That’s probably because it is one. And what’s wrong with that? The Actor Factory borrows an idea from Henry Ford, who developed the assembly line for quality construction. Starting from raw materials, a product was skillfully built by hand, with expert craftsmen paying individual attention to a specific area. As the product moved from station to station it became more fortified to face the elements. That’s why we say The Actor Factory is where better actors are built. Class by class.



But no one gets lost in the crowd, right?

Of course not! Classes at The Factory are very small. Most of them no more than a dozen people or less. We’ve sat through weekly classes with 20 or more people and there is no time for individual attention. That doesn’t happen at The Factory. Every students gets plenty of individualized, hands-on attention.



What kind of discounts do you have if I take more than one class?

Check the website for special promotions for taking multiple classes, or enrolling multiple family members.



Do you have scholarships, or work-study programs?

The Actor Factory is not set up to offer either scholarships or work-study discounts in exchange for classes.



Which classes do I start with? Can I just take anything?

The Actor Factory is an a la carte acting studio, meaning you can sign up for any class you want, provided you meet age and eligibility requirements (our advanced classes require previous training). But our program is not built for you to take one class that leads to another. If you feel you need to start with your auditioning skills, start with that class. If you need more basic acting training first, maybe that’s the best place to start. If improv training is your weakness, start there. The program is designed with you in mind. Are you not sure where to start? Give us a call and one of our representatives can help you.



Factory Policies

Enrollments

We realize we may have some pretty strict payment policies, but it is because classes are very small, seating is limited, and the price of the class is as affordable as we can make it. Our profit margin is very tight. Having too many people drop out of classes at the last minute will cause us to shut our doors before long. So think of your class enrollment as a concert ticket. You purchase your seat to an event and that seat is guaranteed. If something comes up and you can’t attend the event, it’s up to you to find a taker for that event. Some concerts offer ticket buyback plans, and we kind of have that option, but like those plans, if you can’t find a taker, the payment responsibility is on you.



Payments

Since classes are very small and seating is limited, full payment is expected in advance to guarantee a slot in the class. The Actor Factory accepts payments by check or any major credit card. There is a $25 service charge on all returned checks. Some classes and workshops require a non-refundable deposit in advance. Those classes and workshops will indicate that requirement on this website where the event is advertised. Acting is a process. In the beginning, each individual makes the decision, follows their dream, to act. There is a start date but no end date for acting. The acting muscle, like any muscle, needs to be flexed, toned, and crafted so the muscle grows - which is why many classes at The Factory are ongoing.



Refunds and Cancellations

Since classes are very small and seating is limited, refunds will not be given for a class once the session has started. Anyone wishing to cancel their registration after it has been processed but before the first class, will receive a refund of all refundable payments of the amount paid, minus a $35 registration fee, as long as the cancellation is made no earlier than 7 days prior to the start of the first class. If the cancellation is made within 7 days of the start of the first class, The Actor Factory reserves the right to OFFER NO REFUND. If you need to cancel your seat in a class and are able to find someone else to fill your slot, or if The Actor Factory is able to fill your seat from a waiting list, you will be refunded the price of the class, minus the $35 cancellation fee as soon as their payment is secured. While The Actor Factory will make every reasonable effort to fill your seat, we cannot guarantee it can be done. If The Actor Factory is unable to offer the class or workshop, you will be refunded 100% of the enrollment fee. This refund and cancellation policy can be superceded by other policies advertised on this website. Some guest instructors have policies that differ from ours and we will honor their wishes. Any different policies will be listed in the description of the advertised class or workshop. CANCELLATIONS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING by email. We cannot accept phone messages as cancellations. If you must cancel a class, send an email to Chris and copy it to Leah@actorfactory.net with the subject heading CANCEL. Make sure to include the name of the class, the instructor and start date, and don't forget to include your name and contact information.



Factory Shutdowns

The Actor Factory sometimes has to close for the day, or classes must be postponed, during certain events, conditions or schedule conflicts. We call that a Factory Shutdown. Before attending any class, students at The Actor Factory should check the website for current class status, updated regularly on any page where the Left Sidebar appears. You can also follow us on Twitter @ActorFactory and on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheActorFactory for immediate updates. Regularly-Scheduled Shutdowns: - Valentine’s Day - Easter Sunday - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Halloween There also will not be classes on the Sunday nights of The SAG Awards and The Academy Awards. The Actor Factory will also shut down production for the week of Spring Break (for Oklahoma Universities) and for the weeks leading up to and including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and the Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week. Inclement Weather: The Actor Factory will shut down classes for certain ice, snow and severe weather conditions on a per-instance basis. In the case of questionable weather, check our Twitter or Facebook feeds for the class status, and be sure to check your email before leaving for the studio. Instructor Professional Conflict: Since instructors at The Actor Factory are all working professionals in their field, there are times when an instructor may be called out of town or onto set with short notice to…well…act. In that event, we will postpone class, notify all students by email and update Twitter and Facebook. Shutdown Make-up Policy Most classes at The Factory are fixed-length sessions, ending in six, eight and twelve weeks. In the event of a Factory Shutdown, an additional class period will be added at the end of the class to make the agreed-upon and promised class total.



Tardiness

There is an old saying for actors: If you can’t be on time, be early. There's nothing worse than an entire film crew waiting for an actor to show up on time. The Actor Factory takes promptness very seriously—it is not only expected to be in class on time, it is mandatory. We feel it is one of the best habits we can instill about the industry. Latecomers disrupt not only the instructors of the class, but also those that have paid for their time to be there. In nearly all cases, latecomers will not be admitted. Of course, there are very rare instances when something just comes up. In that event, students are asked to call The Factory to let the instructor know they are running late. Repeated tardiness, however, will result in the student being asked to either arrive on time from then on, or not at all, and no refund or credit will be given.



Cell Phones & Texting

The classroom is a text-free zone. The use of cellphones and texting are strictly prohibited during class. Please turn off cell phones or put them on vibrate during class.



Student Removal

The Actor Factory is a productive, professional environment for serious actors of any age to study, learn and grow. Instructors at The Actor Factory are empowered to make decisions about students they feel are behaving counter-productive to that environment, or exhibiting conduct unbecoming of a Factory student. Any instructor can have any disruptive student removed from class at their discretion, with or without prior warning. In the case of such removal, no refunds or credits will be given. Any student caught exhibiting violent or threatening behavior toward Factory staff or fellow students will be immediately suspended from all classes and will not be allowed to return. There will be no refund or credits given. Any student caught using, in possession of, or dispensing alcohol or illegal drugs on the premises or leading up to or during class time will be immediately suspended from all classes and will not be allowed to return. There will be no refund or credits given.



Smoking is not permitted within 25 feet of the front door of The Actor Factory or of The Actor Factory Studio 2.