Trust the Work
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Do the Work
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Then
Let it Go
"The ideas, they just come all the time," he (Jeff Bridges) says. A case in point: Being shown photos of men from the time when the film is set. "I see somebody's face looking at the camera. I go, "Whoa!" That face would talk to me. I jot it down. I'll see little clues and little tips that will trigger things. You prep, you prep, you prep. And on the day that you film, you let all of that go. I try to achieve emptiness as much as possible- the Zen thing -- let the deal come out of that nothing.
Jeff Bridges in The Hollywood Reporter
Sound Familiar?
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Photos
The Cherry Orchard
January Master Classes
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Ryan Kessler
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Lauren Meley
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Tony Ruggieri
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Jason Betancourt & Katherine Black
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Paula Alvear
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Marisa Costa
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Mary Ashley& Elizabeth Steen
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OUT IN NEW YORK
To many of us get caught up in the chaos of the business and forget to stop and smell the roses. Penny and I are no exception. I thought I would add a column in each newsletter sharing some of the unique places and things to do that good old NYC has to offer, that might give you something different to do the next time you want to try something different.
Last night Penny and I had a rare night in NYC off together, no coaching, no classes. I wanted to do something a little more exciting than see another movie. We returned to one of the haunts of my youth. The ICE RINK at Rockafeller Center, but with a twist. This is one of those places where we jaded New Yorkers just stand around and watch while everyone else has all the fun. But when you screw up your courage and forget about looking like a fool to the tourists, as you stumble you way around the rink the first time, you discover you are really having fun. Fun in the way fun was when you were a kid and weren't afraid of new, exciting and sometimes scary experiences.
The twist was, I had heard on the radio, that the Rock Center Cafe and the rink were offering a special package for the rest of the season. They are offering DINNER and SKATE for $85 a couple, yes per couple! (Tax-Tip & drinks extra). I filed that away for just such an occasion; A a rare night off with my wife. I am glad I did! It was a fabulous night and a fabulous value. We had good food, a great view, and lots of laughs -- on the rink as we tried to remember how to skate.
They will be offering this package through April 24th. If you want get out for something fun, different, and totally NY try the Dinner and Skate at Rockafeller Center. The jaded NY actor will be lifted from your shoulders. You might even find yourself smiling at strangers on the street.
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THE VIEW FROM OUR TABLE
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Mary Ashley
on her Audition
&
the Makeup
Well as far as the audition process goes, I actually wasn't in town for the first round of auditions but I asked the director if I could do a video submission (which he wasn't too keen on because he has had video submissions in the past and it felt like the actor was just reading the script). I told him that I wasn't worried about my video being like that and if he could still let me try. So I skyped with Penny and then put myself on tape and sent it in. I got my first call back as a result, just goes to show that believing in yourself and having a great process will always yield results.
The make-up itself was a very long process-about 4 hours. The latex make-up felt like a mask, and at first I was very aware of it and then it became a part of me. It definitely helped me get into character even further.
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REMEMBER THESE ?
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Penny and the Big Screen
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The Wall
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Private Ryan
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 SPRING IS HERE
A NOTE FROM PENNY & HANK
It as been a very busy spring for all of us. When we came back from the holiday break there was a new row of seats in the main studio and the control booth had been moved out of Hank's "tree house" into Hank's office. To make make room for the new risers and seating in the studio some walls were moved and Hank now has the closet he always wanted for his office.
The other great news is, so many of you are working. This has caused our coaching to go through the roof as you work on your new projects and auditions. Penny has been coaching you where ever you are; NY, Atlanta, LA, Miami, San Juan, Toronto, Philadelphia, Chicago, and even Bangkok. SKYPE is really starting to catch on as the newest tool in the actor's arsenal. And speaking of teaching all over, the PA class it East Stroudsburg University is really starting to take off, filling our weekends. Hank gave himself a powerful new computer for Christmas that lets him edit and send out your auditions straight from the studio in less than half the time. He's working on learning Green Screen so we can add special classes to get you ready for working with those robots and alien scene partners that are cropping up in more & more films. By popular demand we are also bringing back the Summer Intensive in July. Five weeks 8 Actors 30 hrs a week. The class is already half full! Enough about us. We hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter. Penny & Hank
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2011 Spring Calendar
March 7 - April 25 .............. Advanced On-Camera
March 9 .............................Free Sample Class
March 16 - April 20 ............Script Analysis
March 30 ............................Free Sample Class
April 20 .............................Free Sample Class
May 2 - June 27..................Advanced On-Camera
May 4 - June 8 ...................Script Analysis
May 11................................Free Sample Class
June 1 ................................Free Sample Class
June 22 .............................Free Sample Class
Beginning Acting Technique - Ongoing
Master Classes - Ongoing
Coming Up
July 11 - August 12 The Summer Intensive
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THE BOOK
ACTING UNDER FIRE
Creating Acting Lions
Mastering the Art of Acting
IN THEATRE, FILM & TELEVISION
After 3 years Penny's long awaited book on the craft of acting is getting closer to the presses. Penny and assistants have been working feverishly all winter; editing, proofing, rewrites, obtaining rights to photos. Coming in at almost 400 pages, it has been quite a winter. The actual writing is just about completed. Next come the layout and test prints. It has been an amazing if exhausting learning experience. Realistically the book should be out late spring/early summer. We will be adding an E-Commerce page in the spring, so you will be able to order advance first edition copies of the book & DVD.
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 an alternative 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. Several actors asked if we do bigger packages so we created a 15 session card.
Other Discounts:
- 5 Coaching Sessions* ............................................$425
- 5 Coaching Sessions (In a class).........................$375
- 15 Coaching Sessions (Must be in a lass)..........$1050
- 6 Master Classes (6 months) 10% discount * *Session = 1 hour
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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. 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 3rd Wednesday 7-10pm. If you have a friend who is curious about how Penny teaches please have them contact the studio to reserve space.Next Classes March 9 March 30 April 20 |
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Our Working Actors
Ramon Rodriguez BATTLE LOS ANGELES starring with Aaron Eckhart post production (March 11, 2011),
Amanda Barron Lead Annie in Tom Stoppard's THE REAL THING at Northern Stage in VA April Hernandez Castillo Nominated for a SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD for her work on DEXTER Mary Ashely Starring as Mary in the Short Film JONATHAN and MARY
Raphael Christian Featured in KIDNAP and RESCUE on the Discovery Channel
Lauren Meley Starring as Katie in the independent feature FLOWERS
Bryan Kaplan SPEAKING IN TONGUES Off Broadway, VARIATIONS OF A THEME at The New Group
Rochelle Aytes Recurring as Amber on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVE Recurring on DETROIT 1-8-7,
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
Cara Castranouva Starring on THE BIGGEST LOSER -as The Trainer
Jessalyn Wanlim Guest star as Penny Ling THE CHICAGO CODE FOX TV Series 2001 co-star SCOUNDRELS ABC with Virginia Madsen
Rita Rehn Lead in 22 CALIBER MOUTH Workshop,
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
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, and Sundance. Please share your experiences --- good and bad with your fellow actors. What you are doing, and how you are doing it, and 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
When you are auditioning, don't worry about what "they" are looking for. Do your audition your way. Show them who you are and what you have to offer.
When I am doing the Introductory Coaching Session I tell the actors to decide how they would like to play the character, and then really go for it without worrying about what "they" are looking for. Study the script or sides, and character descriptions, etc carefully. Figure out the purpose of the scene, your job, and then create. If you had the part how would you like to really play it?
No Actor ever "got" a job at an audition and no actor ever will. All you can do as an actor is show them who you are and what you have to offer as an actor; What makes you unique, and that you know and love your craft. As soon as you water down your choices by worrying about what "they" want you disappear.
When you bring your strong choices and interpretation to the character you enter the room with strength. Even if your choices are not what they are looking for you have shown them something very important; Who you are and what you have to offer. You have shown them an actor, and that's how you build a career. They will remember you, talk about you and recommend you. The casting director will bring you back for more auditions and your career will be built.
More often than you would think, you will end up with the role even when you are not "what" they are looking for. They will even adapt and rewrite the project to fit what you brought into that room.
In one case, on a major star driven feature film, the actor thought character description was too stereotypical "evil drug lord". He coached with Penny to bring in a much more complex character. At the audition, the casting director stopped him after a couple of line's and told him, "it's all wrong do it again evil". The director cut off the CD and told our actor to do the whole scene as he had planned. Not only did he get the role but the part was completely rewritten to reflect the character the actor bravely brought into the audition.
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Mary Ashley with
Makeup by Lisa Ladarola
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I have seen it happen time after time. It is not a rare occurance. Most recently Mary Ashley, who many of you know from the Wednesday master class
Auditioned for a role in THE LAST INTERVIEW, that called for a much older actress. She coached and worked hard to create something special for that audition. The role ended up going to an older actress who fit the part. But, the director couldn't get Mary Ashley's audition out of his mind. After the film got into rehearsals he discovered that what was missing was the character and craft that the "too young" actress brought into the audition room. They budgeted a very talented makeup artist, Lisa Ladarola, and "Your too young for the part," Mary Ashley is now filming the role.
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SUMMER INTENSIVE
Set to Go
5 Weeks That Will Change Your Life
July 11 - August 12
5 weeks - 8 Actors
Article Subtitle
 Aftertaking a year off to get the studio ready we will be doing the popular Summer Intensive. This Conservatory style program covers all the bases. Monday - Friday 4-7 hours a day. Penny and I really love teaching this 5 week intensive. Student Comments: What is your overall impression of the program? "This is the best possible program for what I wanted. My expectations were exceeded. What I did not expect was the way that all of the courses would feed into each other and result in an increase in understanding that was greater than the sum of the parts" B.R.. Click Here for Applications and all the Details |
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