For more opportunities to work with guest teachers curated by Heidi, check out the Acting Collective.
Create your own space as an actor—in your choices, in the world you create for your character, in the audition, and on set.
Cultivating your craft takes constant work. Raúl inspires the class to explore how to keep striving for deeper resonance in every audition and every role.
TO PREPARE:
If you are curious to dig deeper into the work, this is the perfect class for you.
All acting philosophers are invited.
An actor at home in film, television, and theater, Raúl Castillo is most recognized for his portrayal of the charming Richie on the acclaimed HBO series Looking. Raúl was recently included in Variety’s coveted “10 Latinos to Watch” list.
Films include We the Animals, directed by Jeremiah Zagar; Sweets, directed by R.E. Rodgers; Permission, with Rebecca Hall for director Brian Crano; and iGilbert, with Dascha Polanco for director Adrian Martinez; Special Correspondents, a comedy written and directed by Ricky Gervais and playing opposite America Ferrera; other credits include Cold Weather, Don’t Let Me Drown, My Best Day, The Girl, and Bless Me, Ultima. TV roles include Veena Sud’s series Seven Seconds; Robia Rashid’s dark comedy series Atypical with Jennifer Jason Leigh; a recurring role on the CW’s Riverdale, and Joe Swanberg’s Netflix anthology drama series Easy. TV guest appearances include Nurse Jackie, Blue Bloods, Law and Order, and Gotham as DC’s comic villain Eduardo Flamingo.
Raúl, also a playwright, is a proud member of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City.
HEIDI’S ENDORSEMENT
Raul is truly a philosopher of the craft—he is always in pursuit of the big questions about acting. I have known Raul for many years and can always easily get caught up in a stimulating philosophical and hugely insightful conversation with him. He is like a sponge and will openly share what he has learned and guide you to doing the work you know you can do.
A few years ago, Raul’s agent suggested he look back at a pile of his self-tapes.
When Raul watched the past auditions, he immediately clicked with a major insight about himself: “I was acting with the goal of wanting to be liked,” said Raul.
He said this desire to be liked was pouring out of all of his work.
In fact, it was actually taking over the work itself. The nuances of the work were basically being lost by this sheen of “wanting to be liked.”
Now, years after his insight about his own acting process, Raul is determined to constantly cultivate his craft. He says, there’s a way of working as an actor that one actually has to work towards constantly, in every audition and every role.
Full disclosure — please note that we do not guarantee that actors in these classes or workshops will be hired for any project that we might direct, produce, or cast. We teach and coach because we enjoy supporting and nurturing actors as you develop your personal process for auditioning, working and creating your own work.