🔴✦✦✦ PRIVATE ACTING COACH ✦✦✦ (Hollywood Hills)

ACTING COACH I'm a private acting teacher who has studied with some of the greatest teaching masters of our time.
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Sanford Meisner and Peggy Feury included.
I teach people how to behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
I have a small, select handful of students whom I coach on a regular basis and I am looking to help a few more.
The first class is free in order to determine if we are a good fit.
I do it because I love the craft and want to share the knowledge I have acquired over the years in order to help others.
Please send resume and a brief paragraph of why you desire to be an actor.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.
I am looking for committed, passionate people serious about their craft.
Testimonials: "I can’t express it enough how grateful and blessed I am to not only have met such a wise and experienced teacher but to have gained an amazing friend and mentor in M.
Taking this class has increased my confidence tremendously, I started this class unsure of how to navigate my acting career, fearful of being completely vulnerable, and wanting to be good as opposed to being REAL! Today, I am a much stronger actor, one who submits to castings, auditions regularly and has landed representation with a commercial agency.
I credit this to hard work, perseverance and M.
M’s approach to sharing his knowledge gained by personal experiences, respect for the craft and expertise in Meisner’s and others techniques, have helped me embrace the journey.
I can honestly say, I’ve grown not only in the work but personally.
Throughout the class, I’ve learned to respond honestly and truthfully to the imaginary circumstances before me.
I’ve learned to tackle the circumstances with the fullness of life experiences and I’ve noticed since the class I’m more aware of how things affect me than ever before.
This class is for anyone willing to commit to the work no matter where they are in the journey.
" -Leslie P.
"I’ve never been one for writing testimonials, but I have to for this guy.
Before I started studying here I wasn’t booking anything.
I mean absolutely nothing! I couldn’t quite figure out wtf was wrong.
Of course I thought it was everything but the real issue: my headshots, my agent, casting director not knowing anything.
Turns out I didn't really have much of a technique when it came to acting.
My own fault though really, I thought I didn’t need to learn one.
Instead of living truthfully I was just ‘acting’ and certainly not listening and reacting.
A friend suggested I try this and low and behold, I saw the light! I've now booked 5 gigs.
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albeit small ones: 2 short films, a commercial, and 2 student films, but still… Now I feel like I'm finally on the proper road at least!" -Billy F.
"When I first started this class, I have to admit I had my reservations.
I had never tried a one-on-one class before.
All of my classes had many other students in them.
I quickly realized that this was going to be about me and my journey- literally hand tailored for me! In large classes you don't really have that opportunity, and so I decided to give this a try.
I had been going out on auditions but never really booking anything.
I was becoming more and more frustrated.
Was it me? Was it something I was doing? Was it something I WASN'T doing!? Literally three weeks in, I started booking work! In fact the first gig I booked was SAG which enabled me to join! And as you know that is SUCH a difficult aspect of this business! Since then I would say my booking rate is about 50 % which is tremendous!! I couldn’t be more pleased and thankful! I would say at any level, this class will positively help you!" -Sharon G.
"When I was looking for an acting coach (on Craigslist nonetheless), I never expected that I would find such a kind, thoughtful, knowledgeable person who not only has plenty of advice to give surrounding acting, but also on life in general.
M helps his students from the inside out, providing very customized and individual attention to particular things you're trying to improve in your work.
He has helped me build my self-esteem for auditions, identify and shed bad habits, understand how to connect with characters, and focus on staying present in scenes to deliver truthful experiences.
While he may not be a therapist, he will dig deep to explore what makes you tick in order to understand how various aspects of your life may be affecting your work.
He has helped me uncover new perspectives of my personality and behavior that have allowed me to better understand myself both as an actor and a human being.
M has undoubtedly left a positive impact on my life by being an incredible teacher, mentor, and supporting my career with his wisdom.
Any actor hoping for genuine growth will be lucky to have M as a coach!" -Maya I.
"When I came to my first class with M, I was anxious, stiff and uncomfortable.
Over the course of several classes, with M’s patient direction, by demonstration, not by preaching, I slowly, incrementally but ineluctably learned to shed that version of myself that was an inferior substitute.
What emerged at the conclusion did not come easy.
It came with work, commitment and the consistent drip of M’s own self-confidence absorbed as if by osmosis.
What emerged was a person comfortable in his own skin.
It does not matter what you do.
There is nothing quite as valuable or rewarding as learning to present yourself to the world as you actually are.
As you see yourself.
It gives you the confidence that you will always find refuge at your internal safe harbor.
When the face you present to the world is the face you see at your moment of most honest self-reflection, you will stand taller, straighter.
The burdens you may carry will not be as heavy.
The challenges you confront, whether in the world or internal, will be more manageable.
When you fail, you will know you can persevere and you will accept that failure as nothing more than a prelude to your success.
Thank you M for helping me realize a dream.
" -Hillel A.
"I was waking up going to a job that felt like groundhog day the same everyday from clock in to clock out, week to week.
When the pandemic hit all I could think about was acting and how for so many years I wanted to do it.
To be one of those actors on a big TV show or in a movie and actually get paid for it! I had taken classes in the past but it felt like I was paying into a popularity cult and I wasn’t getting any better and just throwing my money away.
So I sat, letting day by day pass and anticipating the time when it would be safe to go back into looking for training.
I just happened upon an ad for this class, and it struck a chord.
I had been around long enough to notice if something didn’t look or feel right, so I sent an email.
Within a few hours or less I got a message back saying “Hi, Doug thank you for the interest … etc.
, would it be OK to give you a call and have a conversation? I was happy about the quick reply but still wasn’t sold until the call came in.
11:30am precisely he called and introduced himself.
We talked for a bit and he shared a bit about himself as did I.
Here I was thinking OK until he told me who one of his his teachers was! He had studied under a number of well known Masters of the craft including non other than Sandy Meisner, one of the greatest acting teachers in its history.
.
look him up.
I thought if he’s serious he’s teaching a lost art form from first hand experience and not just someone who’s read the textbook trying to sell the dream, he is or at one point was an actor going through the auditions, the rejection, and the triumphs you have to face as an actor.
Still after the call I couldn’t know, I had to find out for myself face to face firsthand.
Our first class was free not to see if I was a good fit but if we were a good fit to work together.
I admit it's always a little nerve wracking to join a new class because you want everything to go well or the way you think it is.
But with M he creates a safe space to explore, to allow yourself to be vulnerable, to allow yourself to fail, and provide a space to be yourself.
I have learned that so much of acting is learning human nature, human behavior and just learning about yourself and to be in the moment and don’t think too much.
Week to week he gives you an assignment that will not only strengthen your abilities, but I must say, your day to day life: how you see things, listen, and react to them.
I’ve been in the class for about 4 month now and already I can feel the differences in how I act and behave.
And others who have known me for a lifetime can see the effect his teachings have taken on me.
On a recent trip back to my hometown where so much time had passed since I had been back, I saw how my friends and family were all going towards their career paths and moving away to start families.
We all shared our dreams and plans.
When it was time to speak about pursuing MY dream, my acting, emotions poured out.
Something that generally speaking I would have run away from.
I showcased what I had been learning in this class and they finally believed that this is what I was going to do with my life, they got it! But of equal importance, they saw a real change in me they had never experienced before! I was happier, I was able to communicate, listen, and react with real honesty and truthful emotion.
Of course, this is just my experience, yours may be completely different but I can say this: these types of people aren’t teaching much anymore: someone who is passionate about the work and truly interested in helping and sharing the teachings.
" -Doug L.
"I have gained so much more than coaching when I made a decision to study here.
First and foremost, I realized from the get-go, that it wasn't about getting paid to do a particular task.
He has this unusual quality of caring about a person first.
He saw in me what I did not necessarily see in myself.
He gave me the confidence to move forward in a profession that requires continuous transformation, moving beyond one's limitations to create a reality far removed from my own existence.
He found ways to take a mundane situation and make it palatable, to find a way to use correlation to memorize lines, to use collaboration, asking for my input and using his experience to bridge the gap with scenes that were difficult to emotionally prepare for because in many cases, there was more than one way to emotionally prepare.
And all through the months, weeks and days and hours spent together, my work matured beyond anything I could have imagined.
I learned so much whether I was doing a scene, memorizing lines, or just finding the truthful behavior in a character.
And by the way, just enough levity was sprinkled thru the learning process to make the time spent, truly fun and enjoyable! Today, I see myself in a far different light than when I began this journey.
While I still am far from being the consummate actor, he has instilled in me a level of confidence and technique that transcends my fears to pursue with passion, the necessary skill-sets to become a better actor.
There is no question that his insight, coaching and guidance have been the keys to my success in getting the role of Lee Baca in a feature film that is nearing completion and set to be entered into the seven most important film festivals in the world in 2020.
There is no question that he cares for all his students and therefore push us to excel.
There is no question that his acting acumen and his life experiences have been the catalysts in making us more aware of what is required in terms of emotional preparation and character development.
There is no question that I am a better human being because of him.
I have been enriched by him as a person.
He is truly inspirational.
I am so fortunate to have him as my teacher and mentor.
" -Mike R.
"The very first thing I want to say about M is that when you sit with him one on one, you feel like you are the most important person in the world because his attention is so complete.
He truly listens to you.
His presence of mind is so focused and so refreshing that it takes you by surprise.
To be honest, at first I found this somewhat unnerving because when you speak with so many people today they are scattered, unfocused, they hardly look you in the eyes anymore, they glance around at their environment, other people, their phones, anything it seems to avoid eye contact, but not here, here you are immediately taken by the focus, attention, sincerity, and genuine interest along with a desire to help, and I simply was not accustomed to that! I won’t lie, it’s been a long battle.
Old patterns die hard.
I basically had to unlearn what I was taught, and remain open to a new and different approach to the work.
However, after much hard work and determination, I have learned to use these qualities, (amongst other things) in my acting and it has helped me tremendously.
I am much more focused, I pay attention to what the other actors are saying, how they are behaving and then I respond in a genuine and honest and above all else, a more emotionally truthful way.
His ability to get to the core of a scene whether it be an audition or for class or monologue is something special, as is his ability to get to the heart, essence, and behavior of a character.
Bottom line: I have booked more work since studying with him than I have in a very long time.
And not only have I booked, but the compliments I have received have been overwhelmingly positive.
Even casting directors have noticed a huge difference.
The last thing I would like to say is this: Most teachers and coaches seem to be more about their egos, branding themselves, posting on social media, name dropping, patting themselves on the back, I see “humble bragging” used incessantly, this man does none of that.
This is truly all about wanting to help others.
If this resonates with you then by all means do yourself a favor, study with this man.
" - Karen S.
"I've been working with M now for a little over a year, and I have to say, of all the teachers and coaches I have worked with, and there have been quite a few, his approach and technique really resonates with me.
So much so that I have now booked three jobs back to back to back, have had 4 callbacks and my feedback from casting directors has dramatically improved.
He is a no-nonsense teacher with compassion, passion, and a keen eye for truthful behavior.
He has as a natural instinct for character work and behavior.
Above all else, he genuinely has true desire to help people - not only in the work though, because his teaching can also be incorporated into your everyday life as well.
He is a rare breed and by that I mean he doesn't ask or seek any accolades, doesn't pat himself on the back, in fact quite the opposite, he prefers to remain in the shadows and teaches literally to help people behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
He is all about the work.
In a city where ego seems to be the first quality you come across - this man is a true gem.
" -James B.
"I've been studying weekly with M for 2 years.
It's been a great experience.
Our approach is a very complete process in which we move forward at my pace.
I feel very comfortable in class and we relate to each other well.
We cover a wide range of topics including full life, preparation, audience size, an actor's relationship to the world etc.
All of which, I would have never even considered.
His combined experience from multiple teachers is conveyed in a very respectful, friendly and encouraging manner.
I've never felt judged.
I've never felt compared to anyone but my personal best.
" -Robert R.
"M has taught me that to be an actor is the bravest thing you could ever do.
He teaches you how to connect deeply with your inner self and that acting is living truthfully.
The emotions you have must be honest.
If you're not telling the truth, it's bad acting.
M is patient and understanding.
He goes over every line, script or monologue with you slowly to make sure you understand and connect with the content.
He becomes your biggest cheerleader.
I have made so much progress working with him.
He guides you to be the best version of yourself.
I have never been this strong as an actor or as a person.
" -Sydnie M.
"M is a great acting coach.
With his wealth of knowledge he takes his time to get to know and understand his students so he can teach them in a way that benefits them individually.
Not everyone learns the same way or at the same pace so he takes the time to figure out what works best for each student.
I came to him as a beginner with relatively no experience, so what I appreciate the most is his efforts to create a firm foundation to build on.
He doesn't just skim past the fundamentals.
He has a great passion for the work and it shows.
He is going to push you in order to achieve your full potential.
I have learned a lot from him and each week I look forward to him helping me further my career.
" -Eric S.
M.
"I feel very blessed to have found M and to be studying with him.
In a very short time, he has helped me to change some of the limiting beliefs that have held me back, both in my acting career as well as in life.
I feel safe to express my emotions and speak truthfully in my sessions with him and know that he will not judge me.
I know that he cares about me and wants me to succeed.
I look forward to growing further as an actor and as a person under M's direction.
Thank you, M!" -Christine G.
"M is a tremendous mentor who inspires me to work harder to achieve my potential.
He creates a safe and supportive space for nurturing individual growth.
He allows me to be vulnerable, make mistakes and take chances.
Each week has made me a more complete actor!" -Margot M.