Judith Weston has been coaching actors for twenty years. She reconnects actors with their confidence, clarity, and creativity - their joy in acting. Her deep understanding of acting as a laboratory of life has led to her reputation as a miracle worker whose insights go to the heart of a scene, and to the soul of an actor. Actors say that she "opened my eyes," "changed everything for me" - even "saved my life." Her actors work regularly in all media.
Judith offers the following for actors – scroll down for description/information and also click on the links for further details:
- the Actors' Scene Study/Masters Class
- the Actor-Director Laboratory
- Private Coaching
- Stage Productions
In all of Judith's classes, every actor works every week.
A six-week workshop, Wednesdays 7:00 to 11:00 pm, $290
Scene Study/Masters Classes include work on scenes, monologues, exercises, improv, and script analysis in an atmosphere of support and creativity. My goals are to promote – or restore – your freedom and confidence, to expand your range, and to make you “director-proof” – that is, able to respond effectively even to direction that is confusing.Workshop Features:
Click on the link to The Current Scene Study/Masters Class for detailed description of the current six-week workshop.
The Actor-Director Lab is a directing class and an acting class combined. The benefit for actors, besides opportunities to meet and work on an equal footing with working directors, is the chance to put your process into practice - a challenging, safe bridge between scene study class and the "real world" where the only direction you may get is pointing out marks and giving line readings.
The best use of the Actor-Director Lab is to take it more than once. I've seen every single one of the actors who have taken repeated sessions of the Lab grow tremendously in confidence and range. It's invaluable to work with different directors of varying levels of experience, on a wide variety of material. You learn to make every scene and character your very own at the same time as taking direction - and the process of doing that is what makes you truly "director proof."
This class is described more fully on the ACTOR-DIRECTOR LAB page, which I suggest you look at.
PRIVATE COACHING
I am available to coach actors who have studied with me for particular auditions or to prepare for roles they have been cast in.
FOR BEGINNING ACTORS
I don't have formal classes for beginning actors at this time, and usually I suggest that beginning actors find a class elsewhere that offers a curriculum specifically for beginners.
ACTORS' WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES
From time to time I have been invited to conduct Actors' Workshops in other cities, including New York, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Helsinki, Belgrade and Halifax. Whenever such a workshop is planned, it is posted on the WORKSHOP SCHEDULE page.
LOCATION
3402 Motor Ave, Los Angeles, corner of Woodbine, entrance in the back. See DIRECTIONS TO THE LOS ANGELES STUDIO for further information on freeways and parking
JUDITH'S BOOKS ARE FOR ACTORS TOO
Judith's first book - "Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television" - has been hailed as a complete handbook on the craft of acting, and, as such, a perfect book for actors. Her second book - "The Film Director's Intuition: Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques" - is once again designed for actors and writers as well as directors.
It's helpful if actors read one of her books while studying with her. Both "Directing Actors" and "The Film Director's Intuition" are practical, non-polemical and non-jargony - useful and inspiring for actors from all approaches and techniques.
POLICY AND PRICING
Fees for all six-week classes are due at the first class of the session. A deposit may be requested for certain classes. Deposits are not refundable, but may be transferred to a later class or workshop.
Actors enrolled in one class may attend concurrently another class at half price. When the classes are different prices, the higher priced class is the full-price class.
There are no refunds for missed classes; fees are charged by the six-week session, not by the class. Missed classes may be made up, at the discretion of the instructor, in another class, during the same time period as the missed class, although you will be able to work in a make-up class only if time permits.
Attendance is based on a personal interview; no free audits are permitted. Permission to visit or enroll in classes is at the discretion of the instructor; permission may be withdrawn at any time.
"I think Judith Weston is one of the most passionate and sensitive acting instructors. She has the gift of clarity."
KATHLEEN LETTERIE, head of talent, WB Network
"Judith Weston is an extraordinarily gifted teacher."
DAVID CHASE, writer-director-executive producer, THE SOPRANOS
"There is NO ONE else in this town or in the world that I would recommend more highly than Judith; she is unsurpassed as a teacher and mentor. Actors can totally trust whatever she has to give them."
LESLEE DENNIS, casting director, CHARMED, NASH BRIDGES, etc.; Academy Award winning short film, LIEBERMAN IN LOVE (director Christine Lahti)
"I was repeatedly struck by her deep insight into the craft [in DIRECTING ACTORS]. This is the best kind of writing about acting."
BACKSTAGE WEST
"DIRECTING ACTORS is one of the best books I have read on how to communicate with actors. It is also a must-read for any actor. It's a terrific book." ELLIE KANNER, casting director, pilots of SEX AND THE CITY, FRIENDS, DREW CAREY SHOW, SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH, etc.
Contact Judith to arrange an interview,
at 310 392-2444 or info@judithweston.com.
at 310 392-2444 or info@judithweston.com.