Get to know TAS Coach: Kristi Taylor

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Get to know TAS Coach: Kristi Taylor

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 Kristi Taylor?” Read on to find out!

How did you first get into acting?

I decided to stop taking band class in high school and was given two choices for replacement courses-Jazz Band or Drama.  I chose Drama.  As soon as I walked in the door and met the teacher and students, I quickly realized they were my kind of people.  I was bit by the acting/theatre bug.  I simply could not get enough time in the day to perform, learn, sing and so forth.  Each role and production created more opportunities for me to advance and learn.  It has been this way all these years…I don’t see it changing ever. 

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

I have directed numerous productions, as well as produced a few. I’m a professional singer and composer; recording and writing songs for tv/film. Besides acting, directing is my favorite position in the film industry.

Coach Kristi's latest album, Untangled, and her latest single, Strength Be Glorified are now available on Apple Music! You can check them out here: 

KRISTI TAYLOR ON APPLE MUSIC

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

Sometimes this industry has a plethora of castings that can be tempting to jump into because of the love for your craft.  However, not all of those fit into your morals or boundaries.  Meeting peeps in the industry who are like-minded can also be challenging.  But, I’ve found that doing my research before just accepting any ol’ role thrown my way ends up being for the better.

So, what helps you overcome the feeling of negativity in the industry?

You need not compromise your beliefs or morals to do good work.  Stick with what is appropriate and comfortable.  Don’t ever let someone make you do anything which violates these boundaries.  I find that being positive and having great communication is key to success.

"I find that being positive and having great communication is key to success."

-Coach Kristi Taylor

Why did you get into coaching?

My agent Tonya Hensley with TDH Talent referred me to TAS and I couldn’t be more grateful!  I knew that if she thought so highly of TAS, I’d be in great hands and be able to make a difference of some kind.  #thanksTonya #bestagentever

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

Be diligent about your craft. I will always say that I truly believe Improv is the most important skill an actor needs to have.  In all my 30+ years in the industry, there has NEVER been a production in which I have not used improv.  But, I also say to rehearse daily, memorize verbatim, and work in front of a mirror to see that your facial expressions and movements are appropriate to your character. Accept criticism humbly and grow from it. A class mantra of mine is “You can’t do better, or be better, until you know better.”  Where better to achieve these than at TAS?

What is your proudest coaching moment?

Any success that I hear from my students is a proud moment for me.  Especially seeing the excitement they have for auditions they’ve requested tapes for and knowing that they are going to apply the skills learned in my class is such a great feeling.

What do you hope that your legacy will be as an acting coach?

I hope that people will remember me for my loving heart and talent to teach others to be an inspiration. And also that I am a huge advocate for those in the industry.  I truly do encourage my students and fellow industry peeps all the time! 

Coach Krist's beloved cat, Mr Pickles, has his own claim to fame!

Lastly, tell us what makes you feel confident?

All the time I’ve spent building up my skills through classes and workshops throughout the years has constantly helped me gain confidence.  I know going into an audition that if I’ve applied all the knowledge and skills I’ve learned, I have done the best I can and that makes me confident in knowing that if I received an offer for a role, I’ve fully earned it.

Kristi Taylor Bio:

Kristi graduated with high honors from Texas Wesleyan University with a BA in Theatre, Minor in English. Her emphasis were Performance, Directing, Playwriting, and Dialects. 

Throughout the years, she has been a part of over 200 Theatrical productions, including two performances in Off Broadway productions, as well as 85-ish Film/TV productions throughout the country.  

Would you like to take classes or private lessons with Coach Kristi?

Coach Kristi currently teaches Foundations classes, as well as Improv One and Improv Two. For more information on our classes, click HERE.

You can also give our Front Desk a call at 770-904-6646.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach Kristi, including vocal lessons, click HERE. 

Would you like to follow Coach Kristi? Check out her:

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Being Thankful In Every Season

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Being Thankful In Every Season

Take some time this Thanksgiving season to focus on what you’re thankful for…

Let’s be honest with each other, this industry is tough. We face a lot of rejection, hours of hard work that seems to go unnoticed, and expenses that come with necessary things like headshots and classes. Now with the strike continuing on, things can feel even bleaker than ever. 

In these moments it’s often hard to find motivation or joy.  When that happens, what do we do? We know giving up is not the answer. Let’s look at what one of the hardest working people in the industry, Oprah Winfrey, has to say about finding joy:

The key is gratitude. Oprah goes on to say that “When you don’t have anything…go back to your breath”. (Credit: Oprah.com) It’s that simple. If we are here, alive, we have something to be grateful for.  Focusing on what you have amidst moments of bleakness can help stabilize you and remind you of all the joy in your life as it is. 

I realize that’s easier said than done. So I reached out to some of The Actor’s Scene’s awesome staff members and coaches to see what they are grateful for in this wild career we have chosen to follow. Let’s take a look at what they have to say.

In the end, even when things are bleak, there is still so much to be grateful for in this industry. Find that and you will find the hope and drive to keep going. 

We want to feature an article from Backstage.com, “3 Ways To Be a Gracious and Grateful Actor”

“Gratitude. Manners. Generosity. These words matter, though it’s a challenge for each of us, in all aspects of the arts, to try and put them into practice. Daily life is an ongoing “audition” and is usually rushed and fraught with “shoulds.” A steady barrage of commitments, emails and phone calls can leave us feeling overwhelmed and constantly behind schedule. Here are three key suggestions on how to refresh one’s own spirit while reaching out to others in our business in a respectful and generous manner.

1. Thank your mentors and professional colleagues at every opportunity. I believe it is necessary to express gratitude to those who have nurtured us, extended professional courtesies and opportunities to us, and inspired us. A verbal or an e-mailed “thank-you” is always appreciated, but a hand-written note is especially lovely. Younger actors who grew up on computers may view a handwritten note as somewhat antiquated, but for those of us of a certain age (smile), it implies more care and thought. Invest in inexpensive notecards, and if you are so inclined, write a brief thank-you to people you’ve met on a general audition or for whom you have recently auditioned. You don’t need to say “Keep me in mind for future projects”—just thank the person for time spent and wish them well…” Keep reading HERE.

You’ve heard it said, The industry is smaller than you think. Isn’t that the truth? So while things are slow, take some time to check your heart and your head. Start each day with an attitude of gratitude, and be the person who is known for being gracious and grateful. Reach out to check on your acting friends and tell them how thankful you are for your community, reach out to your agent/manager with a heartfelt Thank You this Thanksgiving, reach out to your coach to share how grateful you are for their wisdom and guidance.

Spread some joy and bask in the warm feelings that come from a grateful perspective.

If you’re struggling to find your hope in this industry or even simply figuring out what direction to go, there are plenty of coaches here at TAS that would love to work with you in a private coaching session or a career coaching session. Give our front desk a call, you will be grateful you did!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE
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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. 

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Get to know TAS Coach: Nyah Bass

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Get to know TAS Coach: Nyah Bass

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 Nyah Bass?” Read on to find out!

How did you first get into acting?

In high school, I took a Technical Theatre class, which opened my eyes to the entertainment industry. I loved the production element of theatre, but I always knew that I wanted to try acting as well. Flash forward to watching a popular Netflix show, this was the true catalyst for me. I saw these child actors, the exact same age as me, doing the thing I wanted to do and absolutely loving it. After searching the internet for acting classes, that’s when I found The Actor’s Scene. I still remember my first class and how excited and motivated I was because it honestly felt like the perfect decision for me.

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

When I’m not acting, I love production work. Going to a film school definitely helped me spend time appreciating various areas within the industry. For example, my most memorable moments were in either my Screenwriting or Production Audio class.

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

My biggest struggle within the industry was comparing myself to others. I was constantly comparing others’ success, skills, etc. to my journey. This hit an all-time high during the lockdown in 2020. When everyone was stuck at home, people were still auditioning and training, but in a whole new way. I would go to workshops and industry Q&As, and at times, I would get auditions, but the slower parts were the most challenging for me. I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough for my career and/or I was always doing the wrong thing. This created a lot of self-doubt and “imposter syndrome” within myself.

So, what helps you overcome self doubt and comparison?

A lot of self/ inner work had to be done to combat those emotions of not feeling like I belong, I wasn’t good enough, etc. I had to think all the way to the beginning; before acting classes, the Netflix show, etc. I had to remind myself of why I was doing this. It was for the little girl who would put on plays with my sister in our living room for our family. It was for the little girl who always wanted to be “on the TV”. I also had to re-learn that no one’s timeline is the same, nor should it be. This was the hardest but most important thing that I had to teach myself. This gave me so much of my confidence back and helped me believe in myself and my skills.

"We as actors always should and need to be our biggest advocates"

-Coach Nyah Bass

Why did you get into coaching?

I actually didn’t realize that I would be interested in coaching until after interning with TAS. This gave me a whole new perspective on acting in many ways. After being the student, and being blessed with some really impactful coaches, this inspired me; I wanted to do the same for future actors. When I got into interning, this helped me value the importance of the “student & coach” dynamic. Interning helped me gain skills that I could take into my coaching; for example, effective communication with actors, from an actor. This was very important for me because I believe there are more productive ways to get a stronger performance from actors than just “being really sad or really happy” within a scene.

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

The one thing that I always try to express to my students is the importance of one’s voice. As actors, our voice is one of our superpowers, and we need to be able to use it effectively on and off-set. Whether that is through networking opportunities, collaborations, or even setting certain personal boundaries. 

What is your proudest coaching moment?

One of my proudest moments during my time with TAS was when I was interning various summer camps a few years ago. Seeing the evolution of all the students during those weeks is something that I still think about. I saw students of all ages find their own confidence in many ways; whether it was going through with their creative decisions, effective collaborations, or just using their voices to express their opinions. Knowing that I was a part of that is very rewarding to me.

What do you hope that your legacy will be as an acting coach?

I hope everyone will remember and recognize my passion and dedication to the industry. This field is ever-changing and there are always learning opportunities; I want to become multifaceted within the industry and hope that inspires others to do the same.

Lastly, tell us what makes you feel confident?

Planning and preparation make me confident. Whenever I am uncertain about my decisions or the future, I like to reflect on the work done beforehand that got me to where I am now. I always like to consider that everyone’s journey is different and there’s not one “right” way to go through life and achieve your dreams.

Nyah Bass Bio:

Nyah’s love for the entertainment industry sparked when she was a little girl. That little girl’s confidence and determination lead her to stop at nothing in order to achieve her dreams. Her acting journey started right here at TAS, and she hasn’t looked back since!

From climbing the ladder of student, intern, to coach, Nyah gives The Actor’s Scene immense gratitude for the extraordinary time she has spent here growing not only as a person but as an actress.

Nyah is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television at Savannah College of Art and Design. She is also represented by Carol Shaginaw Talent Agency & The Actor’s Scene Management.

When Nyah is not working, she has a couple of hobbies she always comes back to including movie nights, listening to one of her many playlists, or taking a drive.

Would you like to take classes or private lessons with Coach Nyah?

Coach Nyah currently teaches Foundations classes and Working Actor: Taped Audition JR. For more information on our classes, click HERE.

You can also give our Front Desk a call at 770-904-6646.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach Nyah, click HERE. 

Would you like to follow Coach Nyah? Check out her:

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Actors, It’s Halloween Time!

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Actors, It’s Halloween Time!

Use these acting tips to create the best character ever! 

The weather in Georgia has finally cooled off. All around us shorts give way to pants, sandals to boots, and tank tops to chunky sweaters. Giant skeletons are now seen hovering over yards, and pumpkins can be found as decorations and in coffee alike. That’s right, autumn is here and Halloween is just around the corner. Kids wait in anticipation to collect enough candy to last them a year while adults make plans for haunted houses and themed parties. No matter your age, one thing that everyone who participates in Halloween needs is a good costume. 

Join us this month as we dive into the essentials of building a scarily creative character to impress your friends this Halloween. 

Dressing up for Halloween is a tradition as old as the holiday itself. The earliest beginnings of Halloween came from the Celts dating back over 2,000 years. Back then, it was more of a celebration for the coming New Year on November first and included sacred bonfires, crop sacrifices, and hopes of renewal.  Costumes looked a bit different as well usually consisting of animal heads or skins. Thankfully costumes options grew as the years went on. 

In America Halloween as we know it really gained popularity between the years 1920-1950. Costumes got an upgrade from what the Celtics wore to handmade masks, beings like witches or mummies, and more domesticated animals like cats. Store-bought costumes were also becoming more popular by the 50s so people could go out and just buy their desired outfit instead of hoping their DIY skills would do the trick. 

While some of these classic Halloween costumes are still used or seen in this modern era, most current costume inspirations come from characters of our favorite TV shows and movies.  A quick Google search for popular Halloween costumes this year will show you ideas for characters from “Barbie”, “Wednesday”, and “The Super Mario Bros.” Some sites will give you a list of where you can buy each item, others will show you how to make it yourself. 

 

As I dove into this year’s top Halloween costumes, I couldn’t help but think about the importance of details. Of course someone could don themselves in all black add a pointed hat and call themselves a witch, but to make it really believable you’d need:

Stockings 

Some witchy makeup

Nails to match.

Perhaps even a wand or a broom to really sell the look…

Add in the details of a witch’s cackle and some memorized spells to spout, and now you’ve really become a witch that will scare all who come across you! But what if a scary witch is not your thing? There are so many ways to portray a character, and the way that we bring our vision to life is through the details! 

This is also the same for actors. Since our October theme here at TAS is “Transformative”, this author could think of no better topic than COSTUMES. As actors it is incredibly important that we know the characters we play inside and out. When we are cast in a role it is up to us to discover all the facts about the character found within the script and then make decisions about our character based upon those given truths.

Who is this character?

Where do they come from?

What has lead them to the point where we meet them in the script?

What is their purpose in this script?

Answering questions like this will help us know our character and therefore build details to help us play the character with CONFIDENCE.

This internal work is so incredibly key, but does nothing for an actor if they aren’t able to add the external work: posture, movements, and most importantly… look.

Take Jenna Ortega’s performance as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s “Wednesday”. It is clear she took the time to dig into who the character is and answer all the necessary questions; resulting in a perfect performance as a serious, torture-loving, determined Wednesday. But what if we took away the physical details added to her character: her dark braids, black dress, and serious expression? What if they had put her in something bright, gave her colorful hair, and had her smile constantly? The character would no longer work and Wednesday Addams would cease to exist. 

Costuming also plays a huge part in world building. A great example of this is Effie Trinket, played by Elizabeth Banks, in “The Hunger Games”.  Effie come from The Capital, high society and lots of money. In her very first scene, before she even says a single line, one can already tell that she does not fit into District 12 (a destitute coal-mining community) simply from what she is wearing. Her outfits are brilliantly tailored, dyed in bright colors, and accessorized with embellished jewelry and hats. This against the plain, drab, simplistic style of the people in District 12 shows the complete separation between their world and Effie’s. Through the details on costuming alone, the audience is able to see the divide between those who live in Districts and those who live in the Capital. 

Wednesday Addams
Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games
Oppenheimer

Costuming becomes extra essential when doing a biopic. Oppenheimer came out this year with a bang. With an incredible script, a list of talented A-list actors, and of course Christopher Nolan’s vision, Oppenheimer has had positive reviews since it’s first preview. A huge part of the positive response goes to costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. In an interview with IndieWire she speaks to her work: “Oppenheimer never changed his silhouette from the time he began at Berkeley through the decades. That was a very, very important note to zero in on”. And zero in on it she did! Instead of changing his look drastically as the years when by, she kept him in the same style and the same silhouettes following his real life style choices. Capturing these small, but specific details is what brings the reality of the character to the screen. 

This year as you dress up for Halloween think about how the costume you put on transforms you into your character. What details are you adding to truly portray the character? If you find that you love dressing up and playing a part, check out some of our classes here at TAS. We can guide you to finding how to make your internal character match your external character.

And from all of us at TAS, have a Happy and safe Halloween!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES

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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. 

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20 Questions Coach Feature

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20 Questions Coach Feature

Get to know Coach Kate, Coach John, Coach Kirsten, and Coach Molly

September 2023

What is the best sushi place in Atlanta? Which two coaches hold a negative view about Harry Potter- and which two love Lord of the Rings? Who would you most likely find in space? And how does each coach view the importance of community for actors? Find out the answers to these questions, and more, as you read through:

20 Questions with TAS Coaches.

WATCH THE FEATURE ON YOUTUBE

Who are you? 

Oh, I didn’t even see you there. I’m Kate.

How long have you been in the industry? 

For about 20 years now.

What is your dream acting role? 

My dream role? It wouldn’t happen right now. I’d have to time travel back in time to the original Lord of the Rings filming and play out the role of Legolas’s long lost daughter, of which I wrote the fanfiction for when I was in elementary school. So I’m more than willing to send that over to Peter Jackson if we want to recreate some stuff.

Where are you from? 

I’m from Jersey

What inspired you to start acting? 

Bringing it back to Legolas. I was like obsessed with those movies as a kid. And I loved the world that they lived in. I wanted to be a part of it, and I also had a giant crush on Orlando Bloom, and I really wanted to meet him. So that’s what started it all. But then I started acting for myself and found out that acting was the love I had that was bigger than Orlando Bloom, and that’s a big statement. 

What is your favorite movie? 

My favorite movie is Lord of The–No, I’m just kidding. It’s Dead Poets Society. I love that movie, it makes me cry every time. And it is my goal in life to have a student stand on top of a desk and say, ‘Oh, Captain, My Captain’ to me. (Interviewer: Coach Kate’s students, make it happen! Let us know.) Hint, hint, guys, extra credit.

Who is someone you admire? 

 I very much admire Ilana Glazer. She is from Broad City. She’s an amazing activist, an amazing comedian and amazing mom. And all in all, I just find her to be kind of like my idol.

What is the most fun character you’ve played? 

So I was in a student film at UCLA and I played the character of this girl who had a condition called synesthesia, which is a neurological condition where your senses kind of get crossed over sometimes, to varying degrees and whatnot, but I loved this because I have always loved science and I got to kind of combine the two. I actually had to learn how to play clarinet just a little bit, because her condition was that when she heard music, she saw colors. So she would close her eyes as she played and blue would be C or red would be D, and it was just a really cool role. It was really interesting.There was a lot of research and it was just awesome to kind of represent people with that condition.

What is your favorite part of character creation? 

 I think it challenges me as a person because I don’t like to see the world in black and white, right or wrong, and character creation really like forces you to see the gray in the world and kind of connect with a character that you may have nothing in common with, but you find ways to rationalize and understand them. And I think that using that in character development makes me a better person as well. So I find that to be like the most beautiful part of it.

Who is your favorite fictional character? 

Ok, so I love Dennis Reynolds from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His character is ridiculous and a horrible, horrible person. Obviously the actor is not like that in real life, but I find the intricacies of his character just to be absolutely hilarious. 

Who is your least favorite fictional character? 

It’s not going to go over well with everybody, but I cannot stand George Costanza. That is the type of person that if I met in the real world, I would be like, ‘Get Me Out of this Room!’. Oh my gosh, I find him so infuriating. And I love Seinfeld. I love the show and it wouldn’t be the show without George, but he drives me mad. So George is probably like my biggest button-pusher of character.

What is something you can’t live without? 

Other than practical things like my car, my family, or a sweet answer like that, on a more superficial level, my Dyson vacuum, which recently died. So I guess I’m trying to confront that right now if I can live without it. But yeah, I’m going to be on the phone with them. I want another one. I can’t…I can’t do this for much longer.

Who is someone you can’t live without? 

My son. That’s easy!

What is something that’s helped with your acting journey? 

I think that something that really helped me, I’ve always said acting is recreating life and that’s really hard to do organically. We spend a lot of time dissecting scripts and getting in character and creating this back story, this inner monologue. There’s so many details that we do when we’re being an actor that we don’t do in real life, so it can come across as faux. When we’re being that character, the biggest take away for me is just do all that homework, do all that research, and then let it go. Let it go, let it sit in the back of your mind so that you can be present in the moment and let it be as authentic as possible so that you can accurately portray that life.

How long have you been coaching? 

I’ve  been coaching for 12 years now.

What is your favorite part of coaching? 

So other than the fact that instead of my own successes, I have like 100 to brag about because of all these students… Because I’ve been doing it for so long now, I’ve been able to see students that I started coaching at like ages 9-12, these kids are adults now and they are like living in LA. One was recently in a Steven Spielberg film and another is in a Netflix series. And just being able to go have dinner with them now that they’re adults and see how the things that they struggled with when they were adolescents have been something that’s been a power for them as an adult and as an actor, just that full circle and the growth and journey that I’ve seen in these students over the last decade gives me purpose and it makes me feel really great about what I’ve committed to.

Where is your favorite place to be in Atlanta? 

Hmm. Other than home? I work in the hospital in Atlanta too, and I love it there. I’m doing great work there. I’m helping people. And so as of right now, as of recent, that’s where I spend the majority of my time. But I love it.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at TAS? 

Well, what do I like to do or what do I do? Honestly, I’m a simple person. I find a lot of joy in just being home with my kid. I love building forts with him. I love when he takes his nap and I get to go sit on the back porch, get some sun, read a book, and yeah, we do a lot of, like, arts and crafts stuff. We save all of our boxes for little theaters with things like parchment paper and shadow puppets and I find that stuff to be super fun because I’m really just a grown up kid. I just love being home with him, doing that kind of stuff with him.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do? 

 I want to take an aerial silks dancing class. That’s what I want to do. I want to conquer my fear of heights by doing it. But also, I feel like it would be so cool. Every time I see videos of people doing them, I think, I could do that, right? It’s probably so much harder than it looks, but I really want to do it. It’s on my bucket list.

What is next for you? 

Next for me is, um, well, graduating. Really ready to do that. It’s been a long journey, a LOT of school, but it will be well worth it. And then, you know, I can just start being a normal person who’s not saturated all the time doing something, but having more free time. Take a yoga class, I don’t know. Go on walks! Hopefully we’ll be going to Thailand next year for a family trip, so that’ll be amazing too. So that’s it. Just keep moving and grooving. 

Who are you? 

I’m John Castle.

How long have you been in the industry? 

Well, probably about three to four years now.

What is your dream acting role? 

Dream role? One that I think is revered across the world.

Where are you from? 

From right here in Atlanta, GA, but was raised in Texas.

What inspired you to start acting? 

Oh boy, What inspired me to start acting? The community, the community of people, the people that I’ve met, they’re the ones who really inspired me to start taking it seriously.

What is your favorite movie? 

Dirty Dancing.

Who is someone you admire? 

My mother. I admire her resilience. She just went through a lot and still managed to come out unscathed, so to say, on the other side.

What is the most fun character you’ve played? 

Goodness gracious. The most fun character that I’ve gotten to play is one that I’m working on right now and that’s a Cowboy, So, I’ll let you know in a couple months how fun it actually was.

What is your favorite part of character creation? 

Understanding how somebody would feel about something that I might not necessarily understand or feel that same way.

Who is your favorite fictional character? 

My favorite fictional characters are Venom and Eddie Brock. They’re my favorite fictional characters.

Who is your least favorite fictional character? 

Harry Potter.

What is something you can’t live without? 

Air. Like, something you seriously can’t live without or just like something? Air. Love. Relaxation Water. Probably water and air.

Who is someone you can’t live without? 

God. Oh but someone? Nah, I’m gonna go with God.

What is something that’s helped with your acting journey? 

I hate to go back with ‘community’, but community and having an open mind.

How long have you been coaching? 

This will be my second year.

What is your favorite part of coaching? 

Seeing people learn about themselves naturally.

Where is your favorite place to be in Atlanta? 

Like the greater Atlanta area, Lake Lanier. If I was to say in downtown Atlanta, probably Ru San’s Sushi.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at TAS? 

Kayak on Lake Lanier, be a dad, read, listen to music, and workout. I like a lot of things.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do? 

Become an actor. Raise a family successfully. Fly. Working on that one.

What is next for you? 

I’m probably going to get on my kayak and go over to Lake Lanier and think about the next big role that I’m gonna get.

Who are you? 

I’m Kirsten Krehbiel.

How long have you been in the industry? 

I moved to Atlanta in 2014, so roughly since then.

What is your dream acting role? 

Any sort of recurring role, whether it is a drama where I’m making you cry constantly and hurting your feelings or something like Saturday Night Live. I want it all!

Where are you from? 

I’m originally from Kansas, small town Kansas.

What inspired you to start acting? 

Since I’m from a small town, we were able to do just about any extracurricular activity you wanted. In fact, we kind of had to, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough people for anything.

So I got involved in theater in high school, just like I did with sports. But it turns out I’m not good at sports. So here we are!

What is your favorite movie? 

The Matrix.

Who is someone you admire? 

Right now in the industry, I really admire Zendaya. I think she makes brilliant choices with her acting career, especially as someone who’s come from Disney stardom, that’s a really hard transition to make and I think she did it flawlessly. Any interview or anything I’ve seen of her, she just seems like a genuine person and I think that is something very inspiring.

What is the most fun character you’ve played? 

I’ve gotten to play a lot of fun characters, but I think some of the most fun come with my work with Sketchworks Comedy. I have a character that is recurring. Her name is Susan. She’s a little rough around the edges and really ridiculous. And then we just finished in New York doing Vape the Musical and I get to play Marty Maraschino, so it’s just complete opposites that I love. 

What is your favorite part of character creation? 

My favorite part of acting is character creation. I love pouring over a script to find hints and details into your character’s life. That internal work of figuring out their backstory and why they say/do what’s in the script. Then you get to play with the external: the character’s voice, walk, stance, ticks. Doing this work, finding out who the character is, that’s what I love about the art of acting.

Who is your favorite fictional character? 

My favorite fictional character is probably Samwise Gamgee .Because he is so wonderfully sweet and works so very hard and really, in my opinion, is the true hero of The Lord the Rings.

Who is your least favorite fictional character? 

Probably Professor Umbridge from Harry Potter, because she gives cat ladies a bad name. I mean, I love to hate her, just beautifully acted.

What is something you can’t live without? 

Coffee.

Who is someone you can’t live without? 

My sisters.

What is something that’s helped with your acting journey? 

Definitely having a community. I’ve been blessed to be a part of Sketchworks and now with The Actor’s Scene and just making great connections on set. But no matter how supported you are outside of acting, by your family, by your friends who aren’t in the industry, it’s still really hard for them to understand sometimes. So it’s really helpful to have a community that you can talk to, to discuss certain things with. If you’re having any issues or are excited about something, they’ll actually get it. Or especially when you’re feeling down because it’s an industry of rejection, so it’s nice to have people who support you, love you, and understand. 

How long have you been coaching? 

With The Actor’s Scene, since 2020, I came in during the Pandemic.

What is your favorite part of coaching? 

 I love seeing the progression that the students make, so by the end you’ll be able to see that difference. But even just in every class when you see something click or… you know, I had a student who’s now been at The Actor’s Scene for three years and my first year with her, every time she did her first take, it was awful. She would always fail her first take, and we just did a recording the other night and she nailed her first date. So just to see people click with what’s been hard for them in the past.

Where is your favorite place to be in Atlanta? 

The trees outside in my backyard are really cool. I like to go down the beltline, just anywhere where I can be outside. I come from Kansas where trees are not a-plenty.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at TAS? 

Binge TV. Take naps. Uh, go on adventures. I like to read, I started reading Scott Pilgrim so that’s been exciting! And yeah, just hanging with my cat.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do? 

Go into space. Or the bottom of the ocean but at this point for some reason, that seems more terrifying these days!

What is next for you? 

Next for me is not quite space, as far as I’m aware. But hopefully soon. I am in Act3 Productions’ next show. It’s called Perfect Arrangement, written by Topher Payne. I’m so excited. Uh, Amy Cain is directing it. And it’s a great cast. It’s gonna be an amazing show. I’m so excited about this.

Who are you? 

I’m Coach Molly. I’m also the Media Director for The Actor’s Scene so if you’re seeing this on the internet, you’re welcome!

How long have you been in the industry? 

I have been in the industry since 2007. I signed with my agent, shout out to Houghton Talent in 2009, and I’ve been working in Atlanta ever since. So even before there was stuff here to work on, I was here before it was cool.

What is your dream acting role? 

My dream role is to be on an ensemble procedural drama cast. I would love to be like the quirky tech analyst in a crime drama situation. Like Abby Sciuto in NCIS or Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds. I love working with the same group of people for an extended period of time, and I also love quirky zany characters!

Where are you from? 

I am from right here in Georgia. I have lived here all my life and I was born here. We’ll see what’s next, but so far the greater Atlanta area is my home.

What inspired you to start acting? 

I have wanted to act for as long as I can remember, like as long as I have understood what movies are and the fact that people can be a part of making them both in front of the camera and behind the camera, I’ve always wanted to. So I started classes when I was 7, but I think that was just my mom being very protective of  me and wanting it to be my decision to start taking acting classes which I really do appreciate and admire that she did that. But yeah, the desire has always been there.

What is your favorite movie? 

As somebody who has a film degree and does videography and directing work and is an actor, this is just a super hard question. But a movie that I’m diving into right now in sort of my personal learning that I love that I think is definitely worthy of being a favorite is The Creature from the Black Lagoon. I’m actually reading a book about it right now and I was prepared for this, so I have it with me. It’s called The Lady from the Black Lagoon and it is about Milicent Patrick who designed the creature, but for various reasons in Hollywood at the time, they didn’t credit her. Learning about the lost history of this designer has been cool. So as of right now, my favorite movie is The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

Who is someone you admire? 

I have always admired Elliot Page. You know, I think that I grew up on his work and in my early days people told me I had that dry humor vibe that he’s very famous for in like the 2010s comedies. And then now, you know, seeing the person that he’s become and the projects that he’s a part of. I love The Umbrella Academy and all of the amazing performances there from the entire cast. But I feel like he is always somebody that I have looked up to as far as talent and work ethic.

What is the most fun character you’ve played? 

This is a dual answer I feel like, because the most fun performance that I’ve gotten to do is probably in The Yellow Wallpaper, which is adapted from a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman into a short film. This is my Jodorowsky’s Dune. Like, truly. It has taken so long to make and I don’t know if it’ll ever get finished. But just to truly be able to be, you know, I mean unhinged and kind of behave in a lunatic manner was very unusual and very fun for me. But I also really enjoyed the character creation and working on DanyVlogs with my friend Rae. We did a first-person vlog style sort of horror mystery and it was really cool to work in the new format of like the first-person POV and all the challenges that come with that, but also dual perspective storytelling. And I got to do some really cool stuff, which I won’t tell you about because you should watch it. So I’ll put that in the description below. But either the yellow wallpaper or I played Jane or DanyVlogs where I played Xania.

What is your favorite part of character creation? 

My favorite part of character creation is the humanity of character creation. I think that we learn so much about ourselves and about the world around us from the characters that we look to and the characters that we create and the characters that we perform as. I love finding what I have in common with characters that I’m playing and seeing how I can play up those aspects of myself, especially when there are aspects of myself that I do not like. I think that wrestling with your flaws and wrestling with your actual real vulnerabilities in your art is really powerful. But I also love observation as a character creation tool. I love self observation and kind of learning my tendencies and also learning how to read the people around me and kind of seeing what I can use from my daily life and the people that I know and and the places that I go and all these experiences that I have and seeing how they can help further my performances.

Who is your favorite fictional character? 

I’m going to say two, I’ve decided, from Good Omens, both the book and the show. Aziraphale and Crowley. I feel like they’re both my favorite characters because I really love how we have the duality of man represented in these characters of the angel of the demon. I love how a big part of their relationship is seeing things that they have in common with each other and seeing areas where it is a little bit more gray than black and white. And so I really love that they explored that idea with those characters and I think that both of the actors just do an absolutely phenomenal job with them. I’m excited to watch Season 2, I’m behind!

Who is your least favorite fictional character? 

My least favorite fictional character is Caillou because he’s a little whiny baby and I’m really not about that. I’ll say it because nobody’s brave enough to say it!

What is something you can’t live without? 

Something that I can’t live without is a little bag with all my stuff in it and it’s so impractical. I walked in today with like 4 bags. My computer bag, my purse, a separate bag, and my camera bag. My family always calls me The Bag Lady. I even was in a car accident and I had a bag full of charcuterie stuff because, I don’t know why I decided to carry it in that manner, but it was in a cute, canvas tote bag. And so one of the kind pedestrians that found us put my snack bag with me. They’re like, “Oh, this must be important, that’s her bag.” My actual wallet bag, I think, stayed in the car, so I just had a bag full of cheese and grapes on me. It was so wild. But I always have multiple bags on me, so I guess I’ll say my bags. 

Who is someone you can’t live without? 

I feel like my best friend Madison is probably someone that I can’t live without. We have been friends for so long that we’ve seen each other grow up, and I think it’s really special to have that relationship with somebody, especially that’s not your family. I love my siblings and I love my parents, but you know, I think having that sort of familial relationship with somebody that you built out of nothing is really spectacular. So, Madison, my best friend.

What is something that’s helped with your acting journey? 

You know, I think that there are so many things filming, so many and there are so many things that we can create, but there is really no reason to be comparing ourselves to one another. Because in teaching, I’ve really seen that every single person that I’ve worked with has something unique to offer. And again, like that is our humanness. Like your uniqueness as a person. And I really feel just that lack of need for competition, like I don’t even really need to know what’s going on with other people because their successes don’t take away from mine. So I think just this idea of community within acting and sort of, you know, competing with yourself instead of your neighbor because there’s really no point in that.

How long have you been coaching? 

I’ve been coaching here for three years, I would say I’ve been largely coaching for five years, I was kind of dipping my toes in with private lessons and things like that, but I’ve been teaching at this studio for three years.

What is your favorite part of coaching? 

My favorite part of coaching as a massive extrovert is literally just meeting everybody and getting to know their stories and working individually with people to figure out where they are and where they want to go and what their strengths are. I love, you know, teaching vocal lessons and hearing beautiful music for hours. That’s like one of my favorite things to do. I really just enjoy getting to know the actor as a whole and working with them to achieve their goals.

Where is your favorite place to be in Atlanta? 

I love the little Snack Shack in Piedmont Park. I think it’s called Sean’s Heart of the Park. I could be lying. I’ll hopefully put something in the video  if I am, but it’s just this cute little snack shack in the middle of Piedmont Park. They have pickle mac and cheese and other funky faves. Go check it out.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at TAS? 

I’m rarely not here, but when I’m not here, I love working in a directing and DP capacity. I own a videography company and I really enjoy doing work there. I also like reading, watching spooky movies, and hanging out.You can find me lounging, I guess, if I’m not working, in film or TV in some capacity.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do? 

 I have always wanted to travel outside of the country. I’ve never really been. I’m very intrigued to especially visit, like, where my ancestors came from, because I’m very in touch with the indigenous side of my ancestry and visiting Cherokee, North Carolina. But I would love to visit, you know, places from other lands that I also come from. Hopefully going to Scotland, to Ireland, really the whole UK. My partner has a lot of German ancestry and he still speaks German, so I really would love to visit Berlin and maybe do a little Europe tour one day.

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What is next for you? 

I have a lot of big announcements coming up with my anonymously named videography company. I would love it if you kept up with that on social media, so I’ll leave my information below. But in addition to that, just kind of cooking up some local things and hopefully I’ll be able to announce more about all of them very soon. (Wink, wink, nudge nudge.)

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Happy 20 Year Anniversary to TAS!

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Happy 20 Year Anniversary to TAS!

We want to wish a very Happy 20 Year Anniversary to The Actor’s Scene!
 
The past 20 years are chock-full of memories and accomplishments, but we would not be where we are today without the people of TAS. We invite you to take a trip down memory lane with us as we feature some of our highlights… 

**Be sure to scroll to the end to check out our photo gallery!
TAS coaches and staff 2023

-TAS TIMELINE-

TAS Labadee Cruise 2023

-TAS TRIBUTES-

TAS Staff Christmas Party 2014

-TAS GALLERY-

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Happy 10 Years to TAS Coach Jeanne Morales!

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Happy 10 Years to TAS Coach Jeanne Morales!

We want to wish a very Happy 10 Year Anniversary to Coach Jeanne!
 
 
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 Jeanne Morales?” and below you will find out why Jeanne is such a beloved coach! 
  1. I am certified in Open Water Scuba Diving.
  2. I am an adventure traveler! I have gone swimming with the sharks in Hawaii, gone sky diving in Tennessee, and snorkeled in the Silfra Fissure, which is the only place in the world where you can swim between the Eurasion and North American Continental Plates.
  3. I am an animal lover! I love all animals and wildlife, but bunnies are life! I would love to work in wildlife conservation. Recently I helped save an abandoned domestic duck, and doing so brought me so much joy!
  4. I am super creative with my hands! I love to craft, draw, paint, and make! I also teach crafts on the weekends, and sell some in my Etsy shop.
  5. I have been in this industry for years, but my degree is in Criminal Justice. I almost became a Criminal Investigator!

How did you first get into acting?

I always knew I wanted to be a part of a creative industry growing up, but never settled on what part. As I got older, I started to suppress my creative side, and just focused on academics so that I would follow a “normal” path that was expected of me. Although I did everything I was “supposed” to do, I had a difficult time finding a job in my field of study after graduating. To earn income, I worked as a background actor on several productions. I fell in love with the film industry and made the decision to just go for it! Not long after, I was offered a job at TAS as an administrative assistant, and worked my way up to where I am now.

Coach Jeanne on Wildlife: I always knew that I wanted to someday work with wildlife, even if that meant just going on a volunteer trip to an exotic country. During 2020, when everyone was stuck questioning their whole lives, I thought about the possibility of this as a career! I went through some schooling and educating myself on different aspects to then realize that being a rehabilitator makes more sense for my goals in fulfillment. I put any further steps off hoping the right opportunity would come to me, and in a weird twist of events, this ended up happening! After losing my rabbit best friend, I knew I needed that the time was now. I needed to get my foot in the door in her honor. I have been working really hard learning all aspects, good and ugly, of this career by volunteering at a wildlife rehab center. I even got too go on my first wildlife release, and by grace, I was able to release wild rabbits! 

My goal is to go abroad and work with sea turtles so that I can combine my love for the ocean and wildlife, with the ultimate goal being officially working with the Big 5 in Africa!

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

In the past, I have struggled with feeling like I invest so much time and effort, only to not get anything in return. There have been times where I would stay in the taping room for hours trying to get the perfect audition. There was an audition I received that I felt was perfect for me and was going to change my life. I had played this style of character in class, in showcases, and also just sounded just like the character description! I felt this was me reaping what I have sewn. When I did not hear anything back, I almost quit acting.

That is really hard. So how have you learned to not take rejection personally and overcome discouragement?

I had to come to the realization and remembrance, that taking the leap into entering this career, was not solely based on impressing casting directors. I grew so much in accepting, and being perfectly happy “doing my job” and moving on to enjoy my life day to day. Now I can knock out auditions I am happy with in a short amount of time! I also realized that it is OKAY to decline auditions sometimes, even if it is just for the need of taking a break for myself.

Coach Jeanne on figure skating: I used to love watching figure skaters as a child and always dreamed of getting out there. My dad would take us for fun, but I never took lessons. As an adult, I would always try and do the things I never got to do as a kid, but this would always be limited to activities or experiences, rather than remaining consistent in fully learning new skills. I consider myself a quick learner and jack of all trades, but I knew this would be difficult. It is literally a sport where one is in constant fear of falling! I started being exposed to more adult skaters who are just starting out as adults. This even included my headshot photographer! I decided that I need to stop putting this off and just go for it! I knew I would be provided for as I am following where I felt my heart most led to go, I started taking lessons in January, and now I am in Adult level 4. Sometimes I feel like a complete beginner, but then look back at how I was when I first started, and wonder how I got this far! My ultimate goal is to have a performance on a frozen lake!

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests from behind the camera?

I love to play with travel photos! When I take trips, I plan what I wear based on how an outfit will look in the specific locations. This bloomed a growth in finding beauty in different scenarios that can produce beautiful pictures and video. With the changes in social media, we are growing to accept short videos as complete videos! Getting behind the camera, directing and shooting, has been a growing passion of mine. When I hear certain songs, I usually create movies in my head. Sometimes I will go ahead and shoot the footage, but then get too shy to release anything! I am going to be working on this. I did try out a passion project after falling in love with a scene from the movie “Joker” (2019). I had a friend, who is a DP, and we worked together to recreate the scene from a woman’s perspective. I directed and edited. You can watch it HERE.

(Not appropriate for younger audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.)

***Filmed by Itzel Fernandez (Website HERE)

I also made a fun ASMR video you can watch HERE:

Why did you get into coaching?

I had to do a lot of self teaching and self growing when it came to my level of confidence growing up. This included putting myself in uncomfortable positions for the purpose of growth. I felt that I could understand someone’s struggle in not taking risks due to the fear of how it looks to others. I would say that I wanted to be some type of guide to teenage girls, and others, on  building confidence and goal chasing. I originally thought this would have to be done by some type of seminars I would have to come up with. Then I started paying attention to how students really connect to their acting coaches at TAS, and build a strong sense of trust. I realized that my goals could be fulfilled through coaching acting as well! There are so many moments where I see instant growth, due to the trust in my knowledge, then say to myself “I love my job!

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

I always tell taped audition students to do their best at their tapings, then to just forget about them! Dwelling on hearing back will not serve them. Then if they do hear back, it will be a pleasant surprise! 

Also, I often remind students to remember their externals in performances. Externals can be defined as surroundings or any other “external” factors that contribute to our movement. Examples of these could be what one wears, the people surrounding us, the weather, etc. So often we forget all of the little habits we build as humans due to our externals. It is important for our characters to have these as well to make them more relatable to the viewers!

What is your proudest coaching moment?

 I had a student who worked privately with me for public speaking. She was an adult woman who was required to speak in front of men in the corporate world for work. Though she was very knowledgeable on her craft, her confidence lacked when speaking to these groups. She often felt they did not take her seriously. On our first day, I explained how she will have to go through some discomfort in order to grow. Our first lesson ended in tears due to trying new vocal exercises that can seem odd to those who have never done them, and have a fear of public speaking. By the third lesson, she grew so much, and we prepped her for another conference where she had to travel to speak to a group of only men! She came back for our next lesson with a huge smile on her face and was so excited to share how well she had done, and all the compliments she received! She was even invited out with the group to get to learn more!

What do you hope that your legacy will be as an acting coach?

I always strive to make an impact on anyone I work with, even if I am just working with them once. From personal experience, I know what it is like to have someone assist with breaking down personal walls. It allows you to feel liberated to perform and feel amazing about yourself. I hope to continue to make this type of impact on students, where they are proud of themselves, and everything else is just secondary.

Lastly, tell us what makes you feel confident?

I feel most confident when I feel my presence is making a positive shift. Whether it be because I am teaching, or just being a friendly face someone can truly speak to. It also doesn’t hurt to throw on a cute outfit to enhance the mood!

Jeanne Morales Bio:

As a child, Jeanne was incredibly shy; however, she always knew that she wanted to be on the big screen one day! As she grew older, she noticed that everyone’s childhood dreams began to diminish – as did hers – from fear of not being successful or having unrealistic expectations. This led her to follow society’s demands to go to college where she received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. Although she loved her major, she realized how much her mind has always been against society’s standards; consequently, she mustered the courage to go against them. Jeanne has artistic passion that sees beauty in all arts: acting, fashion, dance, modeling, etc. Little by little, she started putting herself in situations where she would have to step out of her comfort zone and do things that would force her to get over her shyness.

 

As an acting coach she hopes to inspire her students to come out of their shells, so that they may break down barriers and free themselves to do what they love every day. Using the wisdom gained in her own journey, she hopes that the lessons learned will be stepping stones for those who long to show the world their creative ideas

Would you like to follow Coach Jeanne?

Check out her:

Interview with VoyageATL

Instagram

Animal Rescue Mission

Coach Jeanne is one of our main taping coaches. She can currently be booked to work on:

Audition prep

Public speaking

Personal development

Confidence building,

Photo movement.

To book an appointment, call 770-904-6646.

Or you can register HERE

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Importance Of FUN In Your Craft

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Importance Of FUN In Your Craft

Don’t lose sight of the WHY behind your acting journey. Do you still love what you do?

Right now is a weird time to be in this industry, and you know what… that’s okay! The past three years have been marked by way more ups and downs than usual, and believe me, there are usually a lot of ups and downs anyways. Coming out of a global pandemic to the recent writer’s strike, it can be easy for actors to slip into a negative headspace and wonder ‘what’s the point of being an actor if there aren’t any auditions right now?’. 

Let me remind you that there are tons of benefits to acting other than the monetary gain offered by working gigs! If you’re in this business to make money, I hate to burst your bubble, but it might be time to reprioritize. Being a working actor can seem inconsistent, and if we measure our success by how many bookings we get, we’re going to be disappointed at the end of the day. Why? Because those factors are beyond our control! Yes, of course we love being on-set and being a part of cool projects, but genuinely- if you don’t enjoy acting and using it as a medium to express yourself for the JOY of doing so, you probably shouldn’t continue doing it!

Ask yourself why you got into this. Did you take a class and fall in love with the community and the process of working with others to tell stories? Do you love using your imagination to create characters with complex inner workings? Do you tend to observe yourself and others when it comes to movement and expression and find that acting is a way to articulate what you’ve observed about you and the world around you? What is it about the art of acting that intrigues you, what keeps you coming back for more? Find the JOY. Remember why you started! That’s what’s going to help you keep going. 

When it comes to reigniting our passion when things get hard, I feel there are three steps that anyone can take RIGHT NOW to help you get back into your groove.

Watch Something!

What have you heard people raving about right now? What’s still chilling on your Netflix list that you never got around to watching? We want to be consumers of content, not just creators of content, because media literacy is powerful! Similar to how great writers must first be great readers, great actors must also be avid moviegoers and consumers of content. If you’re curious about what I mean by Media Literacy and want to learn more, check out our blog highlighting the importance of media literacy for actors HERE. Basically, media literacy refers to consuming media with a lens that seeks to understand not just how it was created, but what its greater function is, both for the individual consumer and the greater culture. TAS Coach Sanna Erica said “Becoming educated in film and film history is quite important for actors. Knowing which films shaped our industry can be a great tool in your artistic tool belt, as inspiration from prior works influences tone, style, and inevitably, performance in contemporary work. If you have an opportunity to take a film theory class, do it. If not, start with the AFI (American Film Institute) 100 – you can begin your education by watching the greats right in your living room”. Basically, if you’re looking to become one of the greats, you first have to observe and study the greats.

Learn From Someone Who’s Come Before You -

Whether you look up interviews of your favorite actor, read a memoir or acting technique book, or have a session with a trusted private coach, the value of learning from someone else’s experiences can’t be overstated. Who is an actor whose career you really admire? What can you learn from the stories and advice they’ve already publicly shared? Is there an acting book already on your shelf that you just haven’t picked up yet? If you’d like to chat with an industry professional in real-time and get specific feedback on where you are and where you’d like to be, you can get set up with a TAS coach by checking out our Career Coaching options HERE. A private coach is going to be able to help you set goals, create a plan to get there, and hold you accountable for your next steps! Just like that age-old proverb that you should never be the smartest person in the room, you really shouldn’t be the most experienced person in your acting circle. Mentorship in multiple forms, both in-person and virtually, is so important for your craft. So make sure that you are learning from those around you as well as from professionals in your field. Private coaching, classes, networking events, or even doing free research on the internet is a good way to start!

Put In Some Practice (even if that means practicing by yourself)!

Whether that’s by pulling a scene or monologue from something you’ve previously watched or writing your own, give yourself something to memorize as though you do have an audition! Make an imaginary deadline and issue yourself a challenge: try preparing two completely different takes of the scene or monologue. An added challenge could be: self tape it at home! All you need to self tape at home is a phone or camera, something to set it on like a tripod or book stack, and a clean background in a room without a ton of background noise. Play with your setup at home and see what works best for you! As actors, if we are only practicing once we get auditions, we likely aren’t going to thrive in those auditions. Just like how athletes have to stay in shape by working out, actors need to stay ‘in shape’ by practicing our skills. Memorization, character preparation, performance, and self taping are all things that we can practice at home in-between auditions so that we can stay ready. Keeping these skills fresh in the ‘off’ seasons is going to benefit you once those auditions do come back along. 

Wherever you’re at in your journey, managing expectations, continuing to learn, and keeping it fun are the keys. Acting is an art that helps people communicate, express themselves in a healthy way, and gain confidence both personally and professionally. So no matter what your goals are, make sure that you are still enjoying the process! 

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Improv is for Everyone

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Improv is for Everyone

And it’s full of benefits for YOU

Improvisation is a handy tool for actors and non-actors alike!

But first, what is improv?

Improvisation is simply acting without a script. It requires the performer to make everything up out of thin air; which helps with our quick-thinking and creativity skills! But whether you want to be a performer or you just want to step out of your comfort zone in day-to-day life, improv is a great practice that will help you level up three things: Your CONFIDENCE, Your PRESENCE, and Your FLEXIBILITY!

So let’s get into it! We sat down with TAS Coach Rick Goins, one of our fabulous improv teachers at the studio, to hear some of his thoughts about the value of improv.

CONFIDENCE is what we’re all about at The Actor’s Scene. And improv is a great way for actors and non-actors to learn to trust their instincts. Especially for those who have a hard time in crowds or with public speaking, improv can be a game changer! Confidence is a big part of life, whether you need to be confident to have a tough conversation, to present new ideas to your boss, to interview for a new position, or any other time you’re put on the spot, there are so many times that we use improv throughout our days! 

TAS Coach Rick Goins actually has personal experience with improv improving his confidence:

Coach Rick Goins

“I grew up a shy introvert, and a lot of times you shrink into your shell because you don’t know what to say or how to respond- especially in a group of strangers!  Improvisation gave me the confidence that it’s okay to not know what I’m going to say and being able to focus more on others than myself prevents me from retreating. 

Honestly, a lot of people find it surprising that I much rather sit alone in a restaurant than be the life of the party.  I take that as a compliment.”

We love this! Improv can help you with interactions with strangers, because as you learn how to think quickly on your feet, you become more able to trust yourself not to overthink it! With time and training, you’ll be able to smoothly communicate your ideas and thoughts, no sweat!

PRESENCE:

PRESENCE is a big topic among actors. How can I remain present in this scene? How can I remain present with my scene partner? As the actor, we know everything that is going to happen in the text. This can make it hard for us to have authentic reactions to what’s going on, since there is no real element of surprise for us like there is for our character.

We asked Coach Rick about how Improv helps him with presence in scenework:

“Improv is something that I have incorporated into my acting technique.  I find that to “be present,” you must really, genuinely be listening to the other characters and reacting off of what they do.  These are elements that are necessary to be an improviser.  Film actors sometimes get stuck in our heads and we are waiting for our cue (not actually listening) and doing what we’ve prepared (not genuinely reacting).”

Amazing! It seems like improv is a tool that actors really need to promote authenticity in our performances! For non-actors, or actors who are out of character, presence can actually improve our relationships too! How much nicer is it to talk to someone who is focusing on you rather than focusing on the next thing that they want to say? We want to give our full attention to the people that we’re communicating with, and improv delivers the skills necessary to do that with confidence.

FLEXIBILITY:

FLEXIBILITY is the last factor, and possibly the most important! Whether we’re talking about the experience of doing a self tape, being on set, or just tackling day-to-day life that’s not acting related, flexibility is a skill that we definitely need to cultivate!

What does it mean to be flexible? Well, I think that means that we aren’t set in our ways! Whether that’s in how we tackle problems at work or school, how we communicate, or the way that we have rehearsed a performance piece, it’s important to be adaptable. 

Coach Rick talks about a previous time when being flexible from his improv training helped him land a big gig:

“When I auditioned for “Prisoners,” the casting agent (this was back when auditions were in person) had seen me earlier for a different role and called me back.  She said ‘I haven’t received the breakdown for this character yet, but I know it’s coming and I think you would be great.  Since I don’t have sides yet, can we improvise a scene on camera?’  I said ‘sure!’  Not only did I book the role but the director liked what I did and the day of filming he had me improvise the scene (with Jake Gyllenhaal).”

How awesome! Rick could have easily felt a little uncomfortable/not super confident and declined the audition, missing out on a really cool opportunity. But instead, he trusted in his abilities and his training, and it all worked out in his favor! I think it’s also important to note that there are times where you’ll even be improvising on set, depending on the project!

“I can think of countless times on set when I’ve been asked by a Director or AD to have alternative options for movements or lines or actions other than what was scripted.  

Being able to think quickly on my toes and with the help of Improv, I was able to offer those alternatives and therefore give better performances.”

-Coach Kristi Taylor

“So now that I know how important improvisation is to learn and get comfortable with, how can I get started?”

We’ve got you! For all ages, 4 to 104, we offer year-long improv classes! This 32-week course starts in August and ends in May, which is the perfect amount of time to learn the fundamentals and apply them weekly with an instructor and classmates that you’ll grow to love.

So what are you waiting for? Click the links below to find out how you can get started with improv training at The Actor’s Scene.

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES

Share This Article

About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Get to know TAS Coach: Molly Pass

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Get to know TAS Coach: Molly Pass

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 Molly Pass?” Read on to find out!

How did you first get into acting?

I have always loved movies, and remember watching the same ones over and over again until I was able to memorize and perform my favorite parts for our family members. So when we heard an ad on the radio for TAS, it was a no-brainer to sign up for classes!

You have been with TAS for a long time. Tell us about your journey.

I’ve been at TAS since I was seven years old. Really ever since my mom let me start taking acting classes! I remember feeling inspired, encouraged, and welcomed- which was super important for me as a very shy kid at that time in my life.

As I got older, I became more confident in myself and my craft, and The Actor’s Scene still felt like a safe place to explore and make new friends! Now, as both a coach and our Media Director (which still doesn’t feel real!), I feel like I am challenged by the exercises and concepts that we teach, both in acting and beyond!

On top of helping me stretch my acting muscles, I feel that the studio is an awesome and safe place to learn and grow amongst other amazing actors!

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

I think, like most actors, my biggest struggles in the industry tend to involve comparison and self-doubt. It’s easy to get into the habit of comparing my success to the success of others my age, or even younger, that I see on social media. In addition to that, sometimes there are seasons where I’m either not booking or not being asked to audition as frequently, and although that’s completely normal in this business, I can find myself taking it personally.

So, what helps you overcome self doubt and comparison?

I have to remember that I bring something unique to every performance that I do (and so do you)! We are all so different in the best way, and comparing myself to others simply isn’t fair to me or the people I’m comparing to! I think the main ways to combat comparison and self-doubt are to surround yourself with positive people who understand what you’re going through, catch yourself when comparing your work/success/whatever to someone else, and focus on YOU and your process when it comes to preparation and performance. Because at the end of the day, I can’t control how often I book or how many people follow me on Instagram, but I can control the amount of effort and grace that I put into my work and into myself.

"And a shift in perspective can change a life. Hope can create possibility. Options are always available to us if we stand back and look at things differently."

-Brian Cranston, "A Life in Parts"

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

I’m definitely a multi-passionate person. I love creating, whether it’s in front of or behind the camera. Something I’d like to do more of is to create more narrative content like short films, web series, or even try my hand at a feature film.

Why did you get into coaching?

I got into coaching because I feel that my life has been overwhelmingly impacted by the love, encouragement, and tangible advice I’ve received from my TAS coaches throughout the years since starting this acting journey. I just want to help students gain confidence in themselves and know that they are valuable, loved, and welcomed in my classroom and beyond!

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

Something that I try to remind students of is not to take casting decisions personally.

We rarely ever know why we didn’t get a role, so it’s important that no matter what happens in the casting process (which is out of our control), we make sure that we’re proud of the work that we put into the audition process. At the end of the day, this job is hard enough- and only gets harder when we beat ourselves up!

The best advice I can give is for actors to take care of themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

What is your proudest coaching moment?

It always feels super-fulfilling when students walk out of a class and say, “Thank you. I really enjoyed what we did today and it’s very helpful for where I’m at in my journey right now!”

It warms my heart when I know that the lessons I’m giving and the exercises I’m leading are tangibly helping my students; that they’re enjoying the process of learning and trying new things!

What do you hope that your legacy will be as an acting coach?

I want actors of any age to feel seen and empowered to chase after (and work for) their dreams!

I want people to feel welcomed into my classroom and leave feeling ignited for their futures; passionate about the work that they’re putting into themselves right now. Overall, I just want people to know that there is space for them- that people want to hear what they have to say because nobody is exactly the same as they are.

Every student brings uniqueness and personality to the class they’re in and to the whole world!

Lastly, tell us what makes you feel confident?

Preparation, community, and leaning on my faith make me feel confident. 

Molly Pass Bio:

Molly Pass started training at TAS 16 years ago. It’s where she got her start taking professional classes, but prior to that, she had been doing performances on the fireplace hearth for her family since the age of 2! Taking classes allowed Molly to develop a sense of confidence and self-value, skills that transcend the professional realm and help with all aspects of life. She aspires to transfer what she’s learned from others to help her students thrive in the film industry and beyond.

Would you like to take classes or private lessons with Coach Molly?

Coach Leah is getting ready to coach our most popular camp, Camp Film. To find out more about our camps, check HERE.  For more information on our classes starting this fall, click HERE. You can also give our Front Desk a call at 770-904-6646.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach Molly, click HERE. 

Would you like to follow Coach Molly? Check out her:

Website at MollyPassVideo.com

Instagram

 

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