Excellent place to take writing classes. I have been taking classes since 2009. I have taken both…read moregroup and private lessons from Elana. She is an amazing teacher with a wealth of experience in both teaching and writing. The other students are also very supportive. My writing has improved so much that now I'm now not afraid to write anything. My coworkers and boss will defer to me as the resident expert in writing. I start my day with writing because I learned that I love to write through Elana's classes. I highly recommend for anyone who is interesting in writing. Even if you just have an idea, go ahead and try it. I'm now working on a memoir and I had no idea I would do that when I started the classes. Classes are affordable and good for all levels of writing. Enjoy!

"I have worked with Elana in her Writing Studio for several years. My writing skills have…read moreflourished under Elana's gentle, encouraging and inspired tutelage. She is a truly talented writer, editor, mentor and writing coach. Going to one of her writing classes or spending a day in a private session is like going away to a spiritual retreat. I cannot recommend her highly enough and would give her ten stars if that was available!" Nikole Severance, teacher, writer Thank you so much! Love, Elana

What can I say about Nicole Criona that hasn't already been said by her many clients? She's a gem…read more She's super knowledgeable, motivating, detailed in her suggestions (and broader too when you need that)... and best of all, a deeply compassionate human being. Whatever parts of your story you think are not working, she helps you sort out and get to the bottom of. She's helped me to develop my main character's voice, pretty tricky to do given that it's a white older male (very different from me), and shepherded me from writing my first five chapters over and over again to my latest chapter, thirty-four. I'm almost done with my first draft, and I'm looking forward to my second. I've told her many times: I couldn't have made it so far without her. She gets it. All of it. The prose, the mental trap doors, how to build suspense and empathy within the readers, the whole process, from the first word on the page to getting it out there. If you're thinking about writing a book, by all means, enlist her help from the get-go. My only regret in working with Nicole is that I didn't find her SOONER. It would've cut months out of my process! I've only done private sessions with her, no classes, so I can't speak about those, but holy-moly, is she an expert as a one-on-one coach. She's my creative fairy godmother!!! Thank you, Nicole!

SHORT VERSION: Reach out to Nicole if you're ready to finally write that novel you've always…read moredreamed of. You will have your life changed for the better by the kindest, most passionate and genuine person you'll ever meet. LONG VERSION: I have been working with Nicole for a few years now and I can say with 10000% confidence that I would not have been able to write my novel without her. I initially signed up for her one-on-one coaching because I needed accountability to actually get writing done, but through our work together I've gained SO much more. Her feedback is invaluable. Not only have I learned so much about the craft of writing from her (the quality of my writing has improved tenfold, no lie), but she has this amazing gift of tapping into my brain and helping me realize that I already know all the answers to the questions I have about my novel. She's given me a confidence in my writing that I never knew I could have. My favorite thing about Nicole, though, is her ability to encourage me. She knows when I need a gentle push, and when I need a bit of fire lit under my ass. But even when she lights a fire, she manages to do it in such a loving way! I know that she genuinely cares about me and my novel, and I never doubt that she's rooting for me. I'm also a member of the First Draft Incubator workshop which is just as wonderful as private coaching. Each meeting leaves me in such a great mood. Whether we go over craft topics or just spend the meeting with everyone updating each other on our progress and discussing writing, I get so much from each session. Writing is such a solitary act and it's so nice to feel connected to other writers. I wouldn't be the writer I am today if it wasn't for Nicole, and I am forever grateful to her. I look forward to working with her on my second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) novel!

Dave is the most-what he doesn't know about script writing isn't worth knowing. A terrific…read morecommunicator with exemplary skills. I would recommend his classes in a heartbeat even to those with experience.

I reached out to Dave to help me to write my first script and he was incredibly helpful and showed…read moreme the right way to do it .He is so easy to communicate with and tell your ideas to and explain your vision .Not only he helped me to get the structure right but also boosted my creativity and imagination.Looking forward to meet him again and go over my writing , I would recommend him to anyone who is experienced writer or just starting.Dave absolutely knows what he is doing, very professional and knowledgeable, 5 stars all the way !!

I'm an east coast voice actor, and was tipped off about the Kalmenson method by my old online…read moreimprov coach. When I contacted K&K about remote class offerings, I found the Working Pros class was upcoming, and space was available. The class is taught in weekly sessions over Zoom, with some homework assignments and class recordings shared after each session for review. This class helped me restructure my auditioning approach, embrace The Method, and, has helped me improve my audition quality, with renewed confidence tackling new challenges as they arise. I feel refreshed and focused heading into this last chunk of 2023. My recommendation is an enthusiastic "Yes" - if you're a voice talent, look over their offerings & select a class to help your career improve. If you put the work in, I'm sure you'll see the results come out!

I was so disappointed by how remedial this class was. Like most working actors in LA, because I'm…read morenot in the top 1% of the industry I have to work long, hard hours at my day job to make ends meet. As such, I want a class that has good bang for my buck, wows me and frankly blows me away. For example, the first time I went to Lesly Kahn & Co or The Groundlings, I had that exact experience...It took me all of 5 minutes to realize how much more I had to learn and where I needed to get to in order to be competitive in my industry. I've worked HARD on my craft and I book several prime time TV shows per year. Co-star, guest star, recurring... I'm always in class, hungry, humble and honing my craft or looking to challenge myself. That being said, I felt like this school is a complete waste of time for anyone who's ever taken a basic acting 101 class. Keep in mind, I attended the class for "working actors"....I can't even begin to imagine how remedial the beginners class for "non-working actors" is. I knew this was a bad and costly decision as soon as I saw the very outdated class materials and older copy. I was appalled to see a page of "feelings faces" with faces describing attitudes from A-Z like: Angry, Arrogant, Happy, Lovestruck, Sad etc (basically, the kind of chart non-verbal children use to express themselves). I digress, our class started with a cheesy, pre-taped video intro that made me feel like I was doing an online orientation for jury duty. The first 2 classes were like pulling teeth...we had to take turns reading instructions/rules, also a very bad sign (basically killing time to prolong and stretch out the material so that you take the NEXT level). In addition to being snail-paced the actual MEAT of the acting instruction was ridiculously basic in terms of applicable knowledge. Something incoherent to the effect of truth = attitude...attitude = truth blah blah. Huh? How is that applicable to text analysis?? what about operative words? antitheticals? builds? It didn't resonate with me at all and I really kept trying to keep an open mind and just go with the flow. We had NO time to practice our copy week to week. Our class met once a week, so one would think...ok, we'll get our homework copy in advance so that we can practice all week in prep for the next class and try to apply some of the famous Kalmenson method we were learning. NOPE. We got our copy 5 minutes before we had to perform it for our classmates. So we had NO TIME to sit with the copy, think about it, or try to re-read instructions from our Ebinder and apply it to the copy so that there was some kind of eureka moment where we could say...oh gee, I guess that technique can help after all. It took soooo long (I think it was 5 classes in) before we started getting re-direction on copy. My feeling is that a good acting class you start doing re-direction on Day 1. Instead of waiting till the next to the last class and promise: "more to come in the NEXT LEVEL!!" Yeah, I did not buy into that "join our next round of classes!" spiel. K&K wants you to really INVEST and take all their classes, which honestly I would have NO problem doing if I felt like I actually learned something or had measurable results. More than anything, I wanted to take a good Animation Class, an area where I have booked acting jobs on studio sets before....but instead I had to start with the Level 1 class where I felt unchallenged and uninspired, then take Level 2 and THEN I could take the animation class. Level 1 was abysmal, so there was no point in continuing with level 2. Oh and our last class we were told we would get a "special guest speaker"...which made me think we were getting a VO Casting Director or VO Agent or somebody.. but NOPE...Our guest speaker was just another K&K teacher. Huge letdown, but at this point I couldn't help but laugh given how bad the class was. I reamed my manager out for suggesting this class. I was literally going to fire my rep, but we talked it out and he was very apologetic. He made some phone calls, confirmed everything I reported with others in the VO industry and took K&K off their recommended class list. What we were told by another CD was that while K&K may have been good at one time, they really have not kept up with the times and they also cast very infrequently. Before my class ended, I called their office to express my concerns... so this review should not be a surprise and is not coming out of left field. In short, this was just a big waste of time and nowhere near worth $700.

You get high quality work at Hot Shots!…read more I've taken Jon's workshop, self taped with him, and also filmed a demo reel with him. I've learned so much about the industry, and I feel confident in the work I produce because of his guidance and feedback. Jon has always been kind, professional, and respectful, and I'm grateful for all of his insight and support. Thanks, Jon!

Stop thinking about it and work with Jon. There are no words to describe how incredible he is as…read moreboth a teacher and an actor. I recently took his Self Tape Mastery 3-Day Intensive and WOW. I truly cannot recommend it enough. I've been acting for a few years now (mainly commercials and short films) and I had always wanted to train with Jon. But to be honest, I was pretty intimidated because I know many of his clients are booking major projects. I went into the class so nervous I wouldn't measure up, but I felt at ease immediately and couldn't stop thinking, "Why didn't I do this sooner?!?" Jon is INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about the industry and the amount of insight he shares is invaluable. My mind seriously was racing trying to absorb everything. Plus, he creates such a welcoming and supportive environment. He tells it like it is (something I've been searching for in an acting teacher for years), but in a way that makes you feel empowered and capable. I genuinely didn't want the class to end. And yes, by the end of the three days, I walked out as a stronger actor and I promise you will too. Jon is also one of the most supportive people you'll meet. He'll be your biggest cheerleader and is the kind of coach who simply wants to see his students succeed. In fact, I went back to tape an audition with him just a few days later, which was another fantastic experience. He really is a one-in-a-million coach and LA is lucky to have him. I'm already looking forward to getting back into his studio again soon. So if you're considering working with Jon, take the leap and invest in yourself. You'll walk away with priceless knowledge and guidance from one of the best.

Wordsmith Writing Coaches Nic Nelson and Laura Fox really made my writing shine. Their grasp of…read moreplot, character, tone and language was first rate, and they were able to provide detailed feedback at all of those levels. Laura Fox, in particular, understood how to bring out the best in my writing, helping to bring my characters, scenes, and dialogue to life in a way I hadn't envisioned before. Both she and Nic went above and beyond in their effort to give me the best possible service and moral support in the writing process, even meeting with me for a video chat to discuss their ideas in greater detail. I would highly recommend their services to anyone interested in breathing new life into their writing, and I would put a special shout out to Laura for her skill and going that extra mile. Many thanks, guys!

I'm very happy with Alycia and her editing skills. She is detail-oriented and always gives me…read morehelpful feedback, including constructive criticism, on how to effectively improve my manuscript. She is also understanding and encouraging. I'm very comfortable to work with her. She is very professional and always on time. I highly recommend her!

These people keep sending me auditions that never start on time. The one time I actually stayed it…read moreended up being a very long process where you need to go to a bunch of 'training' sessions before you can do a show. I don't know why they are on LA Casting. I think this place is good if you never had any acting experience.

This is the studio dedicated to serious actors. For those that are called to the acting profession…read moreby there soul. William and Elaina truly know how to coach and support the actor so that it brings out the best of what each one has to offer from the inside out.

I've studied at numerous studios around the country and this place is where it's at. Their…read morecurriculum and teaching style pushes you to be a better actor and person. With an emphasize on acting as a process, The Screen Acting Studio teaches you how to consistently get out of your head and into the scene. Also, it's uncanny how quickly they can pinpoint exactly what YOU need to work on to be a better actor. Thank you Kay and Aaron! IF THERE WAS A WAY TO GIVE BONUS STARS I WOULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have studied at a multitude of Acting studios around Los Angeles, and the Screen Actors Studio is…read moreby far the best! Aaron and Kay are masters at the craft of acting and have helped me take my acting to whole new level. They help you relax, get out of your head, and give you a clear process to help create the best characters. Not only are they amazing teachers and mentors, but they are genuinely passionate about what they do and want their students to succeed. I am so grateful I have found them and would recommend to any and everyone!