3/14/10More awards news – One of my directing students, Sue Corcoran, was a producer on "Humpday," which won the John Cassavetes Award at the Spirit Awards Friday night.
And – belated Sundance news. Besides all the news of my students who directed Sundance selections which I posted on 1/5/10 (scroll down) I’ve recently learned of these Sundance selections!
Johan Grimonprez, writer-director of “Double Take,” which screened at 2010 Sundance in New Frontier Films. Johan took Acting for Directors and Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques with me in Amsterdam in 2005.
Antonio Macia, writer of “Holy Rollers,” in 2010 Sundance Dramatic Competition. Antonio has taken several sessions of the Actor-Director Lab with me.
Andrew Jarecki, producer of “Catfish,” 2010 Sundance Documentary Spotlight. Andrew took Acting for Directors and Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques with me in New York City.
Congratulations!!
John and I are on our way today to Amsterdam, where I’ll teach three workshops, and meet up with old friends from previous workshops. We’ll be back in LA on April 3, and at all times fully reachable by email, voicemail, and skype.
Tot Ziens!
Judith
info@judithweston.com
facebook: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/judithweston
Amazon’s Judith Weston Page
3/4/10
Today is March 4th, 2010. Twenty-five years ago, on March 4, 1985, I taught my first acting class. The experience of teaching my first class was so intense and exhilarating that the date stuck in my mind - as the day I marched forth into a life of being allowed to do every day what I was put on the earth to do. I've loved every minute of it - thank you to all my students and readers over the years, who have made it possible.
Be sure to browse through the pages on this website, for information on classes and resources and special events. (For instance, there’s a free screening of short films happening tonight at our Two Lights Cinema). And please have a look at my latest videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/judithweston - and my books on Amazon.com – and my Facebook page (Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors).
An email I received recently from a director said that in my studio she had “felt like part of the same species of people who like to tell stories.” I’m very happy to be able to provide spaces, both in my Studio, and on the Internet, where people can find and work with their species of people who like to tell stories.
Love, Judith
2/6/10
Awards news!
An Academy Award nomination for "Milk of Sorrow," in the category Best Foreign Language Film (Peru). “Milk of Sorrow” was directed by one of my directing students - Claudia Llosa. Academy members, take note! Here’s the link to the trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdOlD4s4Zb4
And last week another of my directing students, Mathew Cullen, won a Grammy for Best Music Video Award – for directing Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" – the video is on YouTube at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUEXT6Pva9o
Congratulations, Claudia! And Mathew! And all my students! You are all pushing forward bravely to entertain and enlighten us. Telling stories is necessary to life. Keep faith in yourselves and the power of storytelling.
Love, Judith
facebook: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/judithweston
1/5/10
UPDATE ON SUNDANCE NEWS!
In my last post I announced that four of my directing students had been selected to screen in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival this January. Since then I learned of more Sundance news (and Slamdance too) involving students of mine! So here’s all the updated info up to now...
Ryan Piers Williams, writer-director of "The Dry Land," in Dramatic Competition (starring America Ferrera and Melissa Leo). Ryan has taken a number of acting classes with me, and has also taken the Actor-Director Lab as a director, where he workshopped scenes from “The Dry Land.”
Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, writer-directors of "Howl," in Dramatic Competition (starring James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels). Rob and Jeff took my Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques workshop. They also met with me for a Private Consultation as preparation for “Howl.”
Taika Waititi, writer-director of "Boy," in World Cinema Dramatic Competition. Taika took Acting for Directors and Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques with me in Auckland, New Zealand.
Vance Malone, director of "The Poodle Trainer," which will screen in the category of U.S. Documentary Shorts at 2010 Sundance. Vance took an Acting for Directors course I taught in Portland Oregon in 1997, and more recently several sessions of the Actor-Director Lab in LA.
Allie Smith is featured in the cast of “Sympathy for Delicious,” which was directed by Mark Ruffalo, and is screening in U.S. Dramatic Competition at 2010 Sundance. Allie has taken a number of acting classes with me, including the Actor-Director Lab.
Conor Horgan, writer-director of "One Hundred Mornings," which will screen in Dramatic Competition at Slamdance. Conor took Acting for Directors and Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques with me in Dublin, Ireland – and he and I also had a Private Consultation (by skype) as part of his preparation for “One Hundred Mornings.”
Congratulations to all these artists! Have a wonderful time at the Festival!
Judith
facebook: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors
YouTube: Judith Weston
12/3/09
SUNDANCE!!
The films of FOUR of my directing students have been selected to screen in competition at Sundance Film Festival this January!
Ryan Piers Williams, writer-director of "The Dry Land," in Dramatic Competition (starring America Ferrera and Melissa Leo).
Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, writer-directors of "Howl," in Dramatic Competition (starring James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels).
Taika Waititi, writer-director of "Boy," in World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Happy Holidays!
Warmest greetings,
Judith
facebook: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors
YouTube: Judith Weston
9/26/09
Welcome!
We’ve just completed some substantial renovations to this website. The biggest thing we’ve done is to add two new pages – Special Events at Two Lights Studio and Resources.
Special Events at Two Lights Studio. We’ve been having so many cool and energizing Special Events at the Studio, that we realized we needed a new page for it. Two amazing events this summer – Q&A with writer-director Doug Atchison (Akeelah and the Bee) in August, and in June a unique Audition Demonstration with writer-director Billy Ray (Shattered Glass, Breach). With a whole bunch more coming up. The Q&A Series is something new at the Studio, and it came about very organically, and everyone involved has been very gracious, and everything about it has been very rewarding. And – last week we had a splendid evening re-launching the Two Lights Cinema Randomly Scheduled, More-or-Less Ongoing Festival of Shorts with a great program of six short films directed by people who have taken class with me. Another Shorts Night is planned soon!
All these events are free, and are a big jolt of energy, excitement, and inspiration for everyone. Certain events may be reserved for current students and guests. (If you’ve taken class with me but live outside of LA, let me know if you’re in LA, so I can tell you if an event is going on!)
Resources. This new page includes an invitation for Judith’s students to use the Studio for readings of their scripts, with no charge for using the space, subject of course to class scheduling. Plus a Links page, and a few more goodies…
Besides the new pages, the Actor-Director Lab page has been revised with more details about this unique class, and more links. The Kudos link has been updated. The next Lab sessions start in a few weeks, and there are spaces available for male actors in both the Tuesday session (starting October 20) and the Monday session (starting October 26). If you think this class might be right for you, or someone you know, contact John info@judithweston.com to set up an appointment for an interview with me.
The Workshop Schedule is constantly updated as new sessions of Acting for Directors, Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques, the Actor-Director Lab, and the Scene Study/Masters Class are scheduled. And I’ve updated my bio a bit.
And we’ve done a bunch of other tinkering, to try to make sure this website is easy to read and navigate, and chock-full of stuff that we hope is informative and helpful. But in an informal poll, a few students insisted that the “look” of the website was already “branded,” and should not be changed. So the distinctive orange headings survive!
Let us know if you have other suggestions!
My continuing heartfelt thanks to all of you for your referrals!
And my warmest greetings always,
Judith
facebook: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors
YouTube: Judith Weston
8/19/09
VIDEOS! I’ve posted some short videos about issues that actors and directors tell me are important for them. The YouTube links for the two new ones, posted a week ago, are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNXgLTbju0U (“Acting Classes”) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqb14acaA2Q (“Emotional Event”). They are also posted to my Facebook page. An earlier video, posted eight months ago by my publisher Michael Wiese Productions, is also on YouTube.
Please let me know your comments! And feel free to link to them if you wish! People have been wonderfully supportive of this idea for a long time, and I feel very happy to have this project launched. John Beck Hofmann was the director and guiding light for the two new videos.
There will be more videos to come!!
Thank you immeasurably for all the kind and loving wishes in response to the Facebook page. It means a great deal to me.
With warm affection,
Judith
7/14/09
FACEBOOK! We’ve just launched a Facebook page – Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors. If you're signed in on FB, you can type in the name on Facebook SEARCH: Judith Weston Studio for Actors & Directors.
I want the Facebook page to be a way that people who have read my books and taken my classes can contact each other. You can post castings, you can make announcements, post links, ask questions, you can upload photos and videos. We’ll try to keep discussion topics going of interest to directors, actors, screenwriters, and other film professionals. I’ll be relying on you to let us know what we can do to make this a great Facebook resource for the Judith Weston community.
The Facebook page will be a fan site – so I won’t be able to acknowledge each individual post, but I’ll read it every day and respond as best I can to suggestions – and, as ever, I’ll always reply to email. So please check it out, become a fan and let us know what you think! If you post the link on your own profile walls, you'll also help us spread the word.
On Thursday June 25th, we had a special event at my Los Angeles (Two Lights) Studio! Writer/director Billy Ray ("Shattered Glass," "Breach") conducted mock auditions for his upcoming project "Conjure Wife." The event was free and open to all current students at the studio. It was a wonderful experience – Billy so generously shared his abundant talent, skills, knowledge, insight, time, energy, loving attention, and his beautiful script – it was educational and inspiring for both the actors who participated and the directors who observed.
Thanks!
Judith
2/18/09
Welcome –
I get to brag a little during Oscar week. Four of my students are nominated for Academy Awards – Steph Green (writer-director, “New Boy,” live-action short); Vivianne Nacif (co-producer, “The Garden,” documentary feature); John Stevenson (director, “Kung Fu Panda,” animated feature); and Andrew Stanton (writer-director, “Wall-E,” original screenplay and animated feature). On February 19th I’ll be on a panel for the Pre-Oscar Bash and Discussion at The Writers Store on Westwood Blvd, West LA. (I’ll guess I’ll have to disqualify myself from discussing those categories…) Good luck to everyone!
Love, Judith