Get to know TAS Coach: John Castle

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 John Castle?” Read on to find out!

How did you first get into acting?

So I was into acting as a kid and on stage a lot. Going into 9th grade I was really good, but always at a new school; so there was no consistency. There was no growing with a set group of people. Then my parents got divorced and my world completely changed. Acting was a lost thought- a glimmer that I wouldn’t rediscover for the next 24 years. I stumbled upon community theater while I was running my landscape company. The players guild needed help moving into the new 400 seat theater the city had just built for them. I had a truck and trailer so I offered to help. That started off a chain of events that- in the span of one year- would have me sell my landscape business, land me in acting classes, and on a Marvel Studio set painted as Vision while standing in and doubling Paul Bettany in WandaVision for six months. Then Covid….. This story is still developing.

Your story is so interesting because you came to TAS as a student in our adult classes before you began coaching. Tell us what that was like.

Joining acting classes as an adult student was exciting and scary. I had been a successful business owner for a long time. I was comfortable. This was going to be uncomfortable and I was putting myself out there to be judged. I wasn’t sure how I would handle that. What if I wasn’t any good? What if I couldn’t remember my lines? I despised the thought of being embarrassed like that. But I knew that there were things that I needed to learn- techniques and tricks and such. I was thirsty for the knowledge that would help me be successful. So I took the leap. What I found was a group of people that encouraged me to mess up! I even played some improv games that encouraged the group to celebrate failure. What a concept right?? I stay in class now. There’s always someone to learn from. An approach that I haven’t thought of. A new trick to a technique, or maybe even a new technique all together! I’ve done 35 commercials/industrials, 2 movies and 6 television shows in the past three years. I’ve only had that success because I stay in class. I exercise my acting muscles. I consider classes the best investment you can make as an artist. It’s easy to do your job when you’re educated!

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

My biggest struggle has been Covid but that was uncontrollable. I guess that my biggest controllable struggle would be finding that fine line between being “boring” and being “intriguing” without “acting”.

How have you worked to tackle that 'fine line'?

I’m still tackling it. I think that’s the “secret ingredient” that we, as performers, search for anytime we get our minds on a new character. How can I make this a dynamic character within the limits of the written words? Because I have to “fit” the story.

Preparation + Mindset = Confidence

-Coach John Castle

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

I love Standing-In on different productions. I still do it when an intriguing gig pops up. I’ve worked with and learned from some pretty incredible people while “Standing-In”. I view it more as getting paid to go to film school. I get to watch how every single department works from the perspective of the principal actor. I credit “Standing-In” with creating a confident mindset and a level of extreme comfort on set. I’ve learned so much about movement in frame and how different people approach the craft while the cameras are rolling. It’s an experience that I recommend to everyone interested in the craft.

Why did you get into coaching?

I was led here. I had no expectations or particular goals. I knew I would have fun. Fundamentals is an early level career building class and I’m early in my career and somewhat successful so far. I felt that I could help others walking my same path right now. Acting is a study of self and of human behavior. I had no idea the wealth of knowledge accessible from observing and redirecting so many different people from different walks of life in different circumstances. It’s life changing for me and I hope to find more balance in the future to coach a few more classes. I’d love to coach a weekly scene study class.

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

One piece of advice. Submit your best work and forget. The job is auditioning. Have fun. Two takes. One for the grownups and one for you!

What is your proudest coaching moment?

Watching real people emerge from the representative that came to the first few classes. Watching walls fall. Confidence and abandon creep into the minds. The freer the spirit the more fulfilling.

What do you hope that your artistic legacy will be?

What do I hope my legacy will be? Wow. Deep. Um. Dag. Um. I hope that a lesson learned from me plays a part in changing the life of someone for the better. Even if they don’t realize it. I hope they do though and they are like, “Man! That lesson that John taught me on that Wednesday night has made my life so much better!! I really am grateful that that dude was in my life. He’s super cool.” That’s what I hope my legacy is. Life changing.

John Castle Bio:

Born at the baby factory in Atlanta, GA. Northside Hospital in 1981. I was a water baby. Shoeless and shirtless running the banks of Lake Lanier. I had white hair, crystal blue eyes and the tannest skin of any under six year old caucasian kid out there!! My first 5 years of life were perfect. Then my family started moving. A lot. I went to 13 different schools throughout my public school career. That’s a new school for every year of public education. I learned a lot about people during this time but never really learned about myself. I became a different person at every school because the people were different. I had to be like them. I learned how to fit in and make friends quickly because I knew I only had a short time in my new place. Little did I know about how much this experience was preparing me for a career choice that I would make 20 years later. I spent my teenage years in trouble. Lots of trouble. Bad trouble. I knew people, but myself? I was lost. Acting out. Struggling to find out which of the persona’s that I had created to cope was actually me. Who am I???? Why can I fit in everywhere, with anyone but I never feel like I belong. I’ll tell you more in class. Because I’m a storyteller. Not a writer. See you in class!!

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

Coach John teaches Foundations classes for ages 9+. To sign up for classes, click HERE. You can also call our Front Desk and request John’s current roster at 770-904-6646.

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

Want to keep up with Coach John? You can follow him on Instagram,

Get to know TAS Coach: John Castle