From Where I Stand

The consequences of replacing acting education for access to the industry. There are still lots of actors spending their money on workshops with casting directors, agents, and managers —and they are spending less and less of it on actual acting classes, programs and coaching. We need to talk about what that means. You are replacing acting education with access to the industry. You are paying to sit in front of the people who might hire you instead of paying the people whose p

I've recently been discussing the idea of confidence more and more with the actors and clients I work with. Where confidence comes from, how some people seem to have more of it than others. The inner scripts that we have that are really pulling the strings and causing us to either lead with strength or falter with a shakier version of ourselves. Is it maybe because we had that shut down and everything went online and people stopped communicating in person and sensing each oth

I hear it all the time. Not just on set, but in auditions, in class, in scene work—some version of, “This doesn’t make sense.” Sometimes it’s about a line. Sometimes it’s about a character’s choice. Sometimes an actor simply doesn’t understand why the scene is going in the direction it’s going. And sometimes “This doesn’t make sense” is what we say when the truth is, “I don’t know how to make this work yet.” I see actors get stuck there all the time. They read something that

Whenever an actor is given the choice between an in-person audition and a self-tape, I believe the better choice is almost always: Go in. Not because self-tapes aren't useful. Not because an actor can't give a great performance on camera alone. But because acting is not supposed to be about controlling every variable. It is about responding to what is happening. And you can't fully respond to something you have completely constructed yourself. YOU NEED TO FEEL THE ROOM An aud

Somewhere along the way, we started confusing the business of auditioning with the craft of acting. The industry has changed, and self-tapes are now part of every actor’s reality. But we have to ask ourselves: are we training actors to become better storytellers, or are we training them to become better at auditioning? The rise of self-tapes changed the way actors enter the room. What was once a live exchange — an actor, a reader, a casting director, a moment of discovery — b

Selling Dreams, Cashing In: The Dirty Business of Performer Showcases Here you go! See the pictures of the email I got today and pictures...

Thirty years ago, I opened the doors to my acting school with a vision: to create a safe, rigorous, and creatively empowering space where...

As an acting coach, educator, and lifelong advocate for the transformative power of our craft, I believe deeply in the responsibility we...

Actors should be wary of programs or coaches that: GUARANTEE of fame or access to Hollywood, industry professionals or some kind of...

And the unspoken implication, that access to opportunity can be bought! Let’s talk about the growing trend of actors paying exorbitant ...

It's important to remain informed. Know what to look for.

As an acting coach who’s worked with hundreds of aspiring actors over the years, I’ve seen incredible talent, relentless drive — and,...