A legitimate acting school is clear about who teaches, what is taught, what the class costs, what policies apply, and what students can realistically expect. It does not need guaranteed bookings, secret industry access, or pressure tactics to make the training sound valuable.
Research the instructors’ current experience. Read the refund, attendance, recording, consent, and conduct policies before paying. Ask how much you will work and what kind of feedback you will receive. Be cautious if representation is promised, expensive extras appear after enrollment, or criticism is used to make students dependent.
Strict industry standards and classroom respect can coexist. A teacher can hold you accountable for arriving unprepared, ignoring direction, or treating a scene partner carelessly. They should never haze, demean, humiliate, or attack your value as a person. “We break actors down to build them back up” is not a teaching credential. You have value, period. The work can always be examined and improved without putting that value on trial.