October, 2026 | The Actor's Scene

Get to know TAS Coach Sylvia Galan

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we want to give you a more in-depth look at who they are as people.

This month we are sharing some insights that will help answer the question,

“Who Is Sylvia Galan” Read on to find out!

What Makes You Feel Confident?

What makes me feel confident is arriving fully prepared, looking sharp, and knowing I’ve done everything possible to set myself up for success. It’s about trusting that I will to do my best and am prepared for the outcome, whatever it may be.

How did you first get into acting?

I got the bug when I was in high school and was selected by my English teacher to be a character in the Shakespeare play Macbeth.

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

My biggest struggle has been networking. Networking is super important in this industry, but I hate how fake people come off. I also don’t like to sell myself in social situations.

How have you busted out of your comfort zone to feel better about networkng?

I select events where I know enough of the people who will make it enjoyable.

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests in the entertainment industry?

I tried Hair and Makeup for a short time, but I did not pursue that very long; I was not passionate about it. I am currently coaching and am finding it to be quite rewarding.

Why did you get into coaching?

I want to share all that I have learned through the years. It keeps me connected to creative people.

What is one bit of advice that you always love to share?

Trust in yourself and know that you are special and unique. I guess that’s technically three things but they are all tied into one 🙂

What is an acting moment that makes you feel proud?

There are so many moments of proudness in this industry. From getting an audition, to remaining positive when there are no auditions for a long time, to bookings. I will say that one of the proudest moments was booking a feature and working across from Diane Keaton.

What do you hope that your legacy will be?

I hope to be remembered as a good person who inspired other to achieve their dreams. whether on set, in a film, or in the classroom.

Who is someone that inspires you?

The person who most inspires me is my mother. She was my greatest inspiration. She worked hard and always supported me. She showed me how to be strong and unwavering by the way she lived her life. In this business, those are valuable qualities that helped shape me. They turn challenges into growth.

Finally, do you have any acting resources that you love?

My favorite resource for actors is YouTube. You can find whatever you are looking for and many different versions of it.

Any links you'd like us to share?

Yes, I support many animal rescues. Freedom Acres Rescue is a local one that I have visited and support. Check them out below!

Sylvia Galan Bio:

Sylvia Galan is a seasoned actress with a BA in Theatre from CCNY. Her film credits include Indigo Bridge, Touch, Consider the Rainbow, Uncommon Law, Mad Money, and The Fat Boy Chronicles, among others. She has also brought compelling characters to life in short films such as Cooking with Claudia, Malevolent Mom, and Blossoms for Clara.

On television, Sylvia has worked on Next in Line, Law & Order, The Game, and Evermore the Series, showcasing her versatility across genres. Her stage work ranges from the comedic Aunt Gert in Lost in Yonkers to emotionally rich roles in Barrio Hollywood, Swindlers, and Don Quixote on national tour.

Sylvia continues to seek out roles that challenge and inspire—bringing heart, depth, and authenticity to every performance.

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Get to know TAS Coach Sylvia Galan

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we

Discovering your Halloween Costume

Halloween is the actor’s ultimate holiday! Check this month’s blog to maximize your Halloween character. Fall is in full swing, the temperature is cooling down,

Student Highlight: Luke Speakman

Luke has been taking the industry by storm, and has such notable credits as Matthew in “Weapons”, Josh in “Buddy” (currently in theaters!), as well

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Discovering your Halloween Costume

Halloween is the actor’s ultimate holiday! Check this month’s blog to maximize your Halloween character.

Fall is in full swing, the temperature is cooling down, and Halloween is upon us.

As an acting studio, we can’t help but love the creativity of the Halloween season, specifically the dressing up parts. It’s the one time of year that everyone plays dress-up, not just us actors.

It’s a chance for everyone to find characteristics within themselves that they can play with for one night. Something we as actors are quite familiar with. When deciding a character or costume you may want to ask yourself which:

Characters you feel connected to or look like, who works for you?

Characters are completely different than you and require more play, who contrasts you?

Characters that work better with others as a team, who is your crew?

What Works For You?

So who will you be? What character or monster or creative idea will you come up with?

If you’re not sure yet, never fear! The staff of The Actor’s Scene is here to help you “Discover Your Costume”.

Start with what works for you?

Sometimes it’s just a no-brainer- there are characters out there that, for better or worse, are you.

It could be that your personality matches a character like Jenna Ortega playing Wednesday: “I was always compared to Wednesday because I’m very dry and I don’t think people can tell when I”m being serious or when I’m being sarcastic” -Teen Vogue

Or it could be your look. Most of us have heard some form of “you look like…”, take this and make it work for your costume. Just like when TAS Coach Julianne Vazquez dressed up as “Mirabel from ENCANTO! I dressed up as her for my first year of teaching because my students compared us a lot. Trust, I got that comparison before.”

You could also go with a vibe that works for you. Check out Coach Adam Breazeale’s favorite costumes: “Halloween is probably my favorite holiday. Leah (TAS Office manager and Coach- as well as Adam’s wife) and I always make a huge effort for Halloween. My favorite costume in recent memory was probably Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, I love gothic horror and Victorian era/pseudo fantasy vibes. I would also have to say the Ghost of My Single Life, which is the costume I came up with for the Halloween the weekend before my wedding, also somewhat gothic horror.”

Know Your Character:

“A person should always choose a costume, that is in direct contrast, to her own personality” -Lucy Van Pelt, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Another direction you could go is, what contrasts you?

Coach Linda Meadows, one of our sweetest coaches, took this to heart with her favorite costume: “My most favorite character I have been for Halloween is Jennifer Check from Jennifer’s Body. It’s a fun and comedic cult classic!” Going with a character that contrasts you, gives you a chance to really play!

Halloween is the perfect time to play with characters and costumes! We at TAS know this, especially when two of our coaches picked the same contrasting character as their favorite costume: The Joker.

Coach Nyah Bass said: “During 2020, I dressed up as the Joker. I created the iconic makeup & found the PERFECT vibe that I was going for!”

And Coach Jeanne Morales: “The Joker- Joaquin Phoenix version. I have many more up my sleeve for this year that I will be filming ahead of time.”

Neither of these coaches strike one as a Joker type, BUT they leaned into the fun of playing with something different and it worked!

Where is Your Crew?:

“Sisters! All Hallows Even has become a night of frolic! Where (people) wear costumes and run amok!”-Winifred Sanderson, Hocus Pocus

Now if none of these ideas resonate with you, it’s time to ask where is your crew?

Grab your closest friends or loved ones and come up with a creative idea together.

It could be as simple as just you and one other person. Here’s what Office Manager Leah Merritt’s had to say about her favorite costumes favorite Halloween costumes with husband (and TAS Coach), Adam Breazeale: “It’s a tie between Waffle House (Adam was the cook and I was an “all star”) and Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett (from “Sweeney Todd”)”

Both awesome couple costumes!

Or call on your whole crew like Coach Caryn Achaibar: “Me and my best friends call ourselves the cheetah girls, there’s four of us and four of them so we each picked our favorite character and we always wear the color associated with that cheetah. Two Halloweens ago we all were able to spend Halloween together and we fulfilled our destiny of becoming the cheetah girls. I wish Chanel, and it is the most favorite costume I’ve ever worn and we definitely did a full performance of “Together we Can””

That sounds like the best of times!

TAS Operations Director, Elizabeth Alcaraz, shared her Halloween tradition- “Each year we get together with our friends and go all out! Last year we were Soap Opera stars and created a full storyline- with character backgrounds, subtexts, and objectives. We even filmed a whole video! But my favorite was the year we were The Golden Girls (forever #TeamDorothy), we committed to our characters 100% and even sang “Thank You For Being A Friend” while walking down the street. It was awesome!”

Next Up: Bring it to Life!

Now that you have a character picked out, what’s next?

There is no right or wrong way to do Halloween: Some people just buy a costume- some make them from scratch. Some add makeup and wigs, others choose not to. The important thing is that you have fun and make memories!

For those that are looking to elevate their character, check out these acting tips below (for non-actors!)

Whatever direction you go with your costume, and character, remember to find the joy in it!

If discovering your costume isn’t enough and you find yourself wanting to dive into characters deeper, it sounds like you are in the right place! The Actor’s Scene specializes in helping you find your place in all the playing. Check out one of our many classes that will help you discover your costume, your character, and you!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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About The Author

Kirsten Krehbiel

Kirsten Krehbiel is an Atlanta based actress, director, and writer who enjoys bringing people new truths through the art of storytelling. She has a love of acting both on camera and on stage, having been lucky enough to be a part of incredible productions in both worlds. Kirsten joined the TAS team in 2020 as a coach, a job she loves because it lets her watch first hand as students grow and gain self confidence as actors. When she is not creating or coaching, you can find Kirsten hanging out with her grumpy cat on their back porch.