Acting Class Blog Posts

Acting professionally for over 40 years has given Michael Laskin many insights into the entertainment industry, especially about the importance of authenticity. After all, he asserts, “It’s not show business; it’s human business.” Acting alongside Hollywood greats like Geena Davis,… Read More

Recently we came across an article in Science of the Mind magazine written by actor Glenn Morshower, where he said, “Choose to express at the highest level.” Both Peter and I feel that this phrase captures so much of how… Read More

In the newly released Romantic-Comedy (Rom-Com) hit, Crazy Rich Asians, there’s a scene (no plot spoilers here) where the characters gather around a Dragon Fruit Flower at a garden party to watch it bloom. Apparently, these flowers only bloom at… Read More

I was on a panel recently and one of the questions we were asked was: “what do you think the most important thing an actor needs to achieve success?” Someone said “passion,” another panelist said “determination.” When it came to… Read More

Training is one of the most important decisions an actor ever faces. You have to pick the right type of class, the best teacher for you and then it helps to do it in the right order. And most of… Read More

Acting is one art form that is challenging to practice on your own. Artists can paint or create alone; musicians can play instruments solo, hone skills or write songs unaided; and writers most definitely can create in the solitude of… Read More

One of the first things any actor does when he get a script is to look at the lines. What do I have to say? How will I memorize all this? The attention is all on the words and not… Read More

SCRIPT ANALYSIS: Part 2 Life & Death Importance of Understanding the Story of your Scene! By Coach Clay Banks In Part 1 of this two-part Script Analysis article we discussed how crucial it is to understand and respect the ‘Writers… Read More

Last week, I saw a former student of mine on a morning talk show. He studied and coached with me for a few years. I got him an agent and he began to audition. After many auditions, he booked a… Read More

Over the years, there’s been much debate about acting workshops. Are they worth your time and money? What makes one school of acting better than another?  Why should I listen to an acting coach who isn’t a celebrity? More than… Read More

People are drawn to storytelling. Of course, the device has been used in entertainment for thousands of years. But a recent Harvard Business Review study found the neurological reasons why we enjoy hearing stories. The investigation exposed a group of… Read More

Two Questions: If you were given the instruction manual for a new product but the manual was meant for a completely different product, do you think you’d have much success properly operating that product? If you landed in a foreign… Read More

I learned this equation as a kid, and it is still the most valuable math lesson I have ever been taught. Success is not a fluke. It is the result of countless hours spent in preparation for the opportunity of… Read More

An audition is your time to perform for the purpose of showing how you would do a part in a film, TV show, commercial, etc. It is a chance to show a sample of your creative work. While this is… Read More

When you think of yourself as an actor, do you think of yourself as your “brand?” Or do you think of yourself as an actor who is more interested in expanding your boundaries; someone who is committed to developing the… Read More