It’s difficult to sum up The First Step a few small paragraphs. On a daily basis, we guide our Artists of various ages to blaze new paths in their journey as actors. We assist people in letting go of the nagging thoughts, expectation and pressures that come with following this dream. We guide Artists to new horizons within themselves; there it doesn’t matter what others see, it matters only what you see.

 Understanding that acting is its own reward is paramount in this incredible process and a fearless love and passion for the work is critical to discovering ones own greatness. It matters not whether you are eight or eighty; life is about growth and experience, exploring and discovering. In acting we must use the same un-jaded curiosity so prevalent in childhood, free of ego and projection but full of wonder and desire. We need to love what we do and love ourselves doing it; only then, can your work be truly powerful.

Acting is about living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. It’s difficult enough to maintain truth in real life let alone in acting class or on screen. And the root of a desire is never the desire itself so this craft isn’t as much about being seen, heard and revered as it is about feeling, unleashing instinct and being truly alive in the moment.

I often ask our students ‘would you still act if there were no opportunities for fame and fortune’ and thankfully, the answer is yes. When I ask them why, they pause, scrunch their brow and search for the right words. In the end, they tell me with a smile on their face and sometimes a tear in their eye, I do it because I love it. That is our mandate. When we accomplish that, the possibilities for our students are endless. That is what we do here at The First Step.

We have had several hundred students work successfully in film, television and theatre. We have handed out truck-loads of awards and certificates of merit. We have long records of accomplishment and impressive resumes compiled. But if you really want to see the work we are most proud of and understand what we do, come by the studio and listen to the voices of characters booming down the halls. They are coming from people who have summoned the courage and commitment to develop their confidence that has revealed their natural charisma.

The First Step is an acting school but it’s so much more than that; if you visit the school and listen to the students work, you’ll understand why.

The First Step: never how, always why. (Because I love it and, I believe in me.)
We take this work and our artists very seriously.

Sincerely,
Russell Porter, Owner & Program Director