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 HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM PENNY & HANK
We want to take a moment in this Holiday Season to thank you for the many gifts you have given us. The gifts of energy, talent, enthusiasm, friendship, sharing and the love of the craft. You all light up the studio by your very presence. After almost 20 years of teaching and working we still can't wait to get to the studio each day. You are not students, you are not clients, you are not customers; You are the lifeblood of the Penny Templeton Studio. You are our Acting Family. We delight in watching your progress, in your talent, your careers and most importantly as human beings.
May you have a
Blessed and Happy Holiday Season
and
A Fruitful and Successful New Year
Penny & Hank
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2011 What's Coming
Our Holiday Schedule and January Classes
Last 2010 Class : Thursday December 16th
2011
January 4 Tuesday 11AM Studio reopens
6-10PM Beginning Acting
January 5 Wednesday 12-4PM Master Class
6:30-8 Monologue Class starts
7-10PM Free Sample Class
January 6 Thursday 6-10PM Master Class
January 10 Monday 6-10PM Advanced On Camera Class Starts
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 One Year and Counting
Just about one year ago we sent you our first newsletter announcing our big move to our brand new studio on 38th Street. It has been an eventful and successful year. One year ago with the economy in the dumps we weren't sure what direction Penny Templeton Studio should take. In a matter of weeks we found our new space, renovated it and with your help made the move from 35th Street to 38th Street. The bad economy was effecting everybody. Our move saved us over 50% in our overhead costs and it only seemed right that our actors should share in our new good fortune. When we reopened in January we passed much of that savings on to our actors with lower class prices, that varied from 10% to 40% depending on the class. We intended to reinstate the 2009 prices beginning in January 2011, but we have decided that the right thing to do is to continue to pass on the savings for the foreseeable future. See you in class in January.
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Penny's Book Due Soon
ACTING UNDER FIRE
Become An Acting Lion
IN THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION
After 3 years Penny's long awaited book on the craft of acting is getting closer to the presses. The first test print goes to press this week. ACTING UNDER FIRE is one of the most comprehensive books on the craft of acting to be published in the last 30 years. This is a true "How To" book.on the structure and craft of the acting technique. Also Penny covers the history of the craft to help actors better understand where we come from. The DVD is also in the final stages of editing. If everything keeps going well the book should hit the shelves this winter. Keep an eye on our website for up-dates on the release date. We will be adding an E-Commerce page in January, so you will be able to order advance first edition copies of the book & DVD for $29.95.
For more imformation on how to order your copy keep checking our website.
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Coaching Packages
The Surprise Hit of 2010
Last January as we settled into the new space Penny came to me about coming up with some sort of "Coaching Card" that offered a discount. We quickly came up with the 5 session coaching packages, and our student Lauren Meley designed the new card. As it turned out, we couldn't print the cards fast enough. With actors able to buy a card for 5 sessions at a discount they found they could afford to coach for auditions or in some cases use coaching as way of taking private classes. At least half of every week's coaching sessions are being filled with the coaching cards. For those of you who aren't familiar with the program If you are in a class, a card for 5 one hour sessions is $375. If you are not enrolled in an on-going class the rate for the card is $425. In both cases a savings off of the $95 per hour regular coaching rate. Actors frequently ask me about discount packages. If you have an idea, come see me. I'll try to make it work. One actor asked if we would give a bigger discount for a 15 session card. We did.
Other Discounts:
10 Coaching Sessions $700
4 Master Classes (months) 10% discount
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ONLINE COACHING
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Back in 1997 when we built and moved into our first studio space we had a vision of where Penny Templeton Studio would be going. Just like Penny keeps current with her acting techniques in the studio she knew that coaching had to keep up with technology. We had a designer write a program to compress sound waves to make it viable to coach actors on line using MSN and AOL. We were then able to work with our actors in LA and on location all over the world.
It is now 2010 and the world is finally catching up up to Penny's Vision. Skype arrived on the scene and now everyone can coach on line. We have a lot of Penny Templeton Studio alums in LA and Penny has coached many of them on their work in films or TV and auditions. We used to have an ad that read: Take Penny With You to the Set. Now the ad can read Take Penny With You on Location - Anywhere In the World from Brooklyn to Bombay..
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Free Sample Classes
Going Strong
 It turns out that Penny's idea to offer a Free Sample class has succeeded beyond our dreams. The original concept was for it to take the place of actors auditing a working class. Many teachers including us feel that auditing is not fair to the actors in the class. We decided to offer this Free Class as an option to actors who wanted to find out more about our classes . Penny wanted it to be a strong acting class that first, offered actors new to the studio a real workout, teaching real acting and camera technique. Penny is offering these Free classes almost every other week. If you have a friend who is curious about how Penny Teaches please have them contact the studio to reserve space.Next Classes January 6 January 20th |
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Our Working Actors
Ramon Rodriguez BATTLE LOS ANGELES starring with Aaron Eckhart post production (March 2011),
Lauren Meley Starring as Katie in the independent feature FLOWERS
Bryan Kaplan SPEAKING IN TONGUES Off Broadway, VARIATIONS OF A THEME The New Group
Jody Litman MONSTER IN MY BRAIN One Woman Show at The White Space
Bern Cohen Starring as Abbie Hoffman in ABBIE Off BroadwayFeatured in HOLY ROLLERS
Ben Robertson Lead PROJECT 6 - ANYWHERE BUT HERE Indy Short
April Lee Hernandez Starring on DEXTER SHO - 11 episodes in the fall 2010 season
Dana Cuomo Guest starred as Heather on RULES OF ENGAGEMENT CBS
Johnny Ostensoe Screen Writer and Lead in the Short Film THE LAST GAFFE
Jessalyn Wanlim co-star SCOUNDRELS ABC with Virginia Madsen
Karina Casiano Lead in ORPHANS at La Mama
Cssandra Espita Lead in the Short film LILA'S RING
Jim Lynch Lead in THE LAST GAFFE
Marisa Costa THE CHRISTMAS CAROL Cassio in the TAI Company production of OTHELLO
Ryan Kessler Director of THE LAST GAFFE Star of PINKVILLE Bushwick Film Festival
Rita Rehn Lead in 22 CALIBER MOUTH Workshop, THE DEEP THROAT SEX SCANDAL Off Broadway - Bleeker Street Theatre
Danielle Vetro Lead in the Short Film THE LAST GAFFE
Tom Tomovitch Featured in RECONSTRUCTION at the WOW International Theatre Company
Brandon Williams Star of STAY AT HOME DAD, just started a new season. The 1st 7 episodes got 1,000,000 hits in the first month of release. Please check the new episode out
Diane Henderson Featured in STAY AT HOME DAD
Rachel Bloom comedy music video called Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury
YaYa DaCosta Lead role in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT , and on TV (in an episode of ARMY WIVES, On stage Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT
Tricia Helfer Starring in the TNT series DARK BLUE
Rochelle Aytes Recurring on DETROIT 1-8-7, Guest star DARK BLUE
Freddy Bosch Carter in the hit Video Game HALO REACH
Lee Wilson Creative Team Halo Reach
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What do You Have To Say
We Need Your Articles
Previous editions of the Newslettter have featured really great articles by our actors, from the set of FRAY, to Sundance. Please share your experiences --- good and bad with your fellow actors. What you are doing, and how you are doing it, are what is most interesting. So, please keep us posted and send us emails from the set we can use in our next Nrewsletter.
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Lessons From The Set
You never know who you're talking to. Be nice to EVERYONE!! By Charlene DelFico
I worked as one of the court secretaries with Al Pacino onset for 14hrs on "You Don't Know Jack". It was amazing to watch him work! Kinda quiet which surprised me, but very polite and gracious. And I just loved his winks....LOL I really didn't get to talk to him onset but a few short words. I SO wanted to pick his brain. Anyway, when we wrapped for the night I was a little down because I didn't get that time with him:( So close yet so far away....LOL There was a guy I had been talking to onset most of the day and he was giving me a ride home. When I was leaving with this guy to go. Al Pacino came out of his trailer & that's when I found out the guy that was taking me home was one of Al Pacino's good friends! That's when I got my 15mins of personal time with the great Al Pacino:) Love him! Love him!!
I also got to spend 2 days on the set of Wall Street 2 w/Oliver Stone. I met an older man on set. He was a retired investor. His son was involved in editing or something with the movie. So they hired him to be an advisor onset. He was walking around talking with the other actors and no one really gave him the time of day. The second day we started talking a lot. He wanted to know why I was doing this. It was 14hr days,etc I said naturally doing background work is not where I want to be, but until then I will be a sponge, learn what I can & enjoy the ride. I also said I love being a part of & watching creative people working to put a great piece of work together it's amazing.
Anyway, we broke for lunch and afterward he walked by me. I said "hello" you just walk by don't say "hi"...LOL He came and sat down next to me. I came to find out some VERY personal things he was going through and we bonded because well I work at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He has a DEEP love for them they saved his life.
While I was talking with him another gentleman came up and started talking to him. I asked, is this another investor friend. I sorta recognized this man? It was Edward Pressman....Producer of Wall Street 2! We talked football...luckily I know my football. I decided not to over stay my welcome & made a graceful departure. Well, a half hour later......the PA came to get me and I was upgraded onset to a major featured part and got directed by Oliver Stone and later got to hang out with him. We had some very funny moments.
One of the things they decided to use me for was to do a banana shot. Which I learned at PTS. So, they gave me my direction. I had to banana into the camera and turn my back to the camera to look up at a big screen TV. On that mark was another actor I had to meet. Anyway, it was a funny moment because the other actor was like 6 feet tall compared to me....I hear Oliver Stone & some of the crew laughing. I turned around with my hands on my hips & said did someone make a short joke....LOL .....much fun. And to watch Mr Stone do his stuff VERY cool.
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You Can Go Home Again
Amy Evans returned to her home town of Reading, PA to shoot a role in the short film LOCATION LOCATION with fellow Readingite, Michael Constantine star of the film MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING.
The city of Reading is ready for her close-up.
At least that was the consensus Sunday afternoon when "Location! Location!," a production of the Greater Reading Film Commission, premiered at the R/C Reading Movies 11 at Second and Washington streets.
"Location! Location!" attempts to capture all the qualities that make Reading and its surroundings marketable as a film site: the range of architectural styles, the history, the indigenous culture and the pastoral beauty. The area also features large empty warehouses suitable for use as sound studios, arts centers, sports facilities and a diverse population.Coming in at less than 20 minutes, the show was directed by Philadelphia filmmaker Kevin Hackenberg and produced by Tracy Schott of Bern Township. It features performances by local actors.
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An Excerpt From
Cutting Edge Acting
Technique is working on your craft every day. Artistry is loving it.
BY PENNY TEMPLETON
Published in The Soul of the American Actor 2001
Speaking; at a seminar after a matinee performance of he play The Iceman Cometh, Kevin Spacey was asked by one of my students how he turned his career around so successfully after a long harsh period of unemployment and financial hardship. Mr. Spacey said he made a decision to concentrate on perfecting his craft in order to be the best possible actor he could be, even if that meant spending the rest of his life in poverty. He also decided nor to worry about getting the part when he .auditioned, but to enjoy the opportunity to act. He believes this turned his career around. He spoke about striving to reach an artistic goal with each character he portrays, even working with an outside coach to obtain that goal. in my experience as an acting teacher, his words reinforced a truth: The way of the artist is a clear path. Many trained actors seem to feel "I've studied and I know what I'm doing. Now I'll just go out and work." Many get the acting job and then don't follow through with the training they've had. They work so hard to get a role and then, under the stress that exists on set or stage, they will sometimes throw away all the wonderful work habits that got them there to begin with. Some of these actors do indeed have fantastic, short-lived careers. Stanislavsky said, "The greater the actor, the more he is interested in the technique of his art". It is the rare actor who labors at his artistry the way a dancer shapes and strengthens her body every day at the bar, or the pianist sharpens and keeps his skills with daily fingering exercises. Actors need that same work ethic if they are going to realize their full potential and live their dreams.
Denzel Washington was questioned about studying boxing for a year to portray the character of Hurricane Carter. In shock, the interviewer asked, "One year? Wasn't that hard?" "Yes", he replied, "Very hard. Isn't that wonderful?" Technique is working on your craft every day. Artistry is loving it.
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