Advanced Scene Study

SOME ALUMNI NEWS:

JIMMY O. YANG  series regular on STAR FORCE, HBO’s SILICON VALLEY,   leads in CRAZY RICH ASIANS, and LIFE OF THE PARTY with Melissa McCarthy and PATRIOT’S DAY with Mark Wahlberg

ERIC LADEN  Apple TV’s For All Mankind, History’s Navy Seal drama SIX As New Regular. (Previously on the first two seasons of The Killing and most recently as Glenn Taylor on HBO’s The Brink . He’s also had a number of key recurring roles on series including Bosch, Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire.)

NECAR ZADEGAN (still a client )  stars opposite Jeremy Renner in Mayor of Kingston , a regular on NCIS: Nola, recurred on Alan Ball’s HBO  HERE AND NOW, was a regular GIRLFRIENDS GUIDE TO DIVORCE, was also a regular on Fox’s RAKE with Greg Kinnear, EMILY OWENS MD,  and “24”

FANSHEN COX GIOVANNI’s solo show ONE DROP OF LOVE  produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, is now a film! and she is still toured the play around the country with this ground breaking play and soon to be a movie.

CARYN WEST  Acting Coach/Actress/Director   the only teacher selected only in both LA and NYC as one of  “THE BEST AUDITION COACHES” Backstage West & East polls

All actors will work on

1 PLAY scene the first 4 weeks, present memorized to the stage director for feedback/adjustments

then,

1 Screenplay scene for 4 weeks with a partner, to the film director for feedback/adjustments

Week One:

Intro 1 minute Monologues by all

Vocal /physical warmups, Improv exercises

Script Analysis Lecture and  Handout, How to Rehearse Handout, Partners assigned

Weeks 2-3:

all assigned partners work on text, table read, memorized by week 4 of a scene

Week 4  Final Scene footing with a *Guest Director joining with feedback

Week 5 New scenes

Screenplay Assignments, warm-ups, vocal, Caryn’s Dramaturgy Lecture

Week 6

Assigned Screenplay scenes with a partner

(Screenplays: ie Michael Clayton by Tony Gilroy, Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach)

Week 7

Off script Screenplay scene with Partner you have rehearsed with the last 2 weeks on your own.

Week 8 Final Scene footing with a *Guest Director joining with feedback

* Tentative Guest directors:

Jessica Kubzansky the amazing, gifted 

Artistic Dir. Boston Court Pasadena

 joins us to give feedback she most recently directed Alfred Molina in the critically acclaimed THE FATHER at Pasadena Playhouse

TOM DOLBY Film Director Guest

who directed 2 Oscar nominees Lena Olin & Bruce Dern in

the soon to be released THE ARTIST’S WIFE, LAST WEEKEND with Patricia Clarkson

and who does a lot of producing (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME)

Developed over 10 years,  our class is philosophically designed to allow you the time and space to really delve into a script,  explore a character for a few weeks without expectation of a “performance”; to venture into choices that might not be sure bets, to risk and fail in new modalities and really stretch: Strengthening your work ethic and reevaluating preparation, but also encouraging your spontaneity and freedom.  Risk, fail, and grow with roles that stretch you out of your comfort zone. Real working standards.

Tools you can use in any medium to be a better storyteller and actor: A script analysis guide informs your choices, makes you stand out,  create high stake choices, and find deeper insights into character. Did you know you get to work on your scene every week?

REGISTRATION

STUDIO Class Agenda   4-6 scenes per class,  limited to 12! Expect to work nearly every week, this is not an observation class where you watch more than work.    REQUEST AN INTERVIEW FOR CLASS HERE ( attach pix/resume or URL to)

• Warmups: Meditation, Body/Vocal and Improv warmups
• Dramaturgy – what is the event of the scene, function of the character in the storytelling
• Script Analysis- really breaking it down, the clues
• Rituals, Secrets, and Lies of a Character
• Pursuing Actions
• Character Private Moments- finding behavior not dependant on text
• Comedy Dynamics
• Physicality
• Genre/ Style Work
• Your “Mojo”- Truth, Memory, Substitution, Experience, Intuition
• Risk Taking- acquiring a new creative skill
• Class exercises: Yatitudes/breaking habitual patterns, trying scary new skills, being present
• Character & Intentions in Physicality, Yatitudes, Energy and Focus
• Etiquette and Rules of the World your character is in
• An Invitation to fail without recrimination in the pursuit of new paths and freedom
• Working Director critique: Every 4th week with your scene

(Incoming students need to attend a one-hour orientation about Script analysis and Preparation tools- usually held  one hour before a regular class)

1. SCENE STUDY POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS HANDOUT
2. CSFA COVID POLICY For Safety of All

Tuition LA Live Class : $80 , or what you willing to pay,  8 committed weeks

REGISTRATION PAGE

8 week commitment, Interview/audition and industry referral required

Currently accepting appts:  818.693.465 or Email Us! with pix/resume URL  ( IMDb or actors access)

Caryn, I’m so thrilled to tell you that after taking your auditioning class years ago, working and returning to your scene study class this past fall, I am back to work on a great recurring arc on NCIS!!  I actually get to use some of my “funny” we worked on in class, and I’m playing a smart, confident, “kick-ass and take names” woman!  I also booked a great role in a USA pilot called “Common Law”…Working with you and Jessica definitely helped me get my confidence back and think about ways to be “in action” and add layers and color to my work.  Thank you and I hope to be back in class soon.” – SARAH JANE MORRIS ( NCIS, Brothers and Sisters)