About
I have been acting in fillm and on the stage for 30 years. I love working with new actors. I like to inspire new actors. I love to help with an an actor's choices, an actor's confidence, and an actor's professionism.
I like seeing growth. I enjoy the process of making a good performance. I love to be a great source of encouragement to actors! Acting is not easy. I love for students to do well. I love making a safe and growth orientated environment!
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John H.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Ask student about their level of experience. Ask about their goals- stage or film or both. Ask a student what they think acting is and what they think good acting is like. Evaluate a student with a cold reading exercise. Work some with movement and with voice. Work on building a character. Work on what the character wants in the scene and how they are going to try and get what they want. Work on reacting and on listening to others in a scene. Work on stagecraft on being on stage to sell their performance with positioning and voice/movement on stage in relation to others in the scene and in relation to the audience. Work on selling emotions and when to take beats. Work on relationships in the scene. Work on raising the stakes to have a more interesting performance.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been trained in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Peoria, and Chicago. I was an acting intern in Los Angeles at a Regional Profession Theater. I have taken classes at the Groundlings in LA. I have had studied film acting for 2 years in St. Louis from a casting director. I have taken dozens of workshops to sharpen my acting skills. I have taken standup comedy classes in Los Angeles. I have about 10 years of training from many different professional teachers. I continue to take acting classes to learn new things and to keep myself sharp as an actor. I also work as a professional actor.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$30 and hour for individual. Class would be less depending on the class size.
How did you get started teaching?
I started helping with drama clubs.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked mostly with adults. I directed 3 plays at a Grammer school to help out with a school in Los Angeles.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I love to see theater on a weekly basis. I love to see actors act. I recently went to a great show at the Good Theater in Portland.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Your focus should be on growth and improvement. Find a safe environment for you to learn and grow in acting. I feel confidence and fun is the key to growth. You have to feel good about your performance. Acting is a gift you share. Acting is helping and healing to our society. It teaches the audience to be human and to feel. It is a noble activity. There is great dignity in being a good actor. The best advice is to do acting and start. Classes are a must to grow and learn if you are new. Good acting takes work! Get cast and grow. Training is helpful. Acting is a craft, similiar to wood carving. You start from words on a page and you create something alive and emotional. You remove things and polish things and you make something out of nothing with your movement, voice, and emotions.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I think it is a good idea to think of goals. I also think if you want to learn about what is it like to be an actor, you should take a class to see if you like the process and if you would like performing. Acting is something you have to do to decide if it is for you. If you want to grow and you like acting, then the class can be geared for what you want to learn-cold reading, scene study, character development, voice, etc.