JULY 27 & 28, 2024
A 2-day in-person masterclass with Heidi that pushes you to take risks in your auditions and to overhaul the preparation habits that hold you back on camera.
In this class, we work on (re)settling your ease on camera, (re)building your confidence in the audition room, paying attention to details in your audition prep, and owning your unique strengths in roles. Heidi teaches this acting class in NYC, LA, Atlanta, Chicago, and more cities!
*Please come prepared so we can make the most of our time together. There will be a working lunch with partners.
ASSIGNMENTS
You’ll receive scene assignments. They will include 2 assigned scenes and details on how to select and prepare your own scene that fills class parameters. No monologues.
TOOLS FOR YOUR PROCESS
You will get a set of specific tools that I designed for actors to apply to your own process to keep the work fresh, alive, and connected.
WATCH YOURSELF ON CAMERA
We film your scenes and provide you with downloads after each class. It’s an excellent way to study your progress, catch your “tricks,” and see what the producers/directors are seeing on the monitors.
SIMULATE WORKING ON SET
On Day 2, we will simulate working on set. Whether you have a little or a ton of experience of set, the process of deepening your awareness of both the camera’s presence and how to collaborate with creative teams is never ending.
BEYOND CLASS
I encourage you to use select takes from class to generate interest in your talent. Yes, you can post them anywhere if it’s a published film/TV show that’s already aired. Post your scenes on your websites or to share them with reps—it’s a great conversation starter about your process as an actor!
My joy is matchmaking, and I seek those opportunities for my alumni. For this reason, I have created an Alumni Database where you can upload class videos. Whether you took this acting class in NYC, LA, Atlanta, Chicago, or elsewhere, I encourage all my actors to build community!
If you’d love to spend two intensive days revving up your toolbox, having fun, and doing more deep-dive work that addresses where you’re at right now, this masterclass is perfect!
This class is great for:
TIME COMMITMENT
You will need to plan for homework time to research your assignment and prepare your materials. This is a 2-day intensive so please give yourself some space to be able to dive in for our 48 hours together! All studio classes are designed to stretch and support your complete prep process as an actor for self-tapes and in-person auditions. The more you put into the class, the more you get out of it!
OUR WORK TOGETHER
This is a supportive learning environment where you will be challenged to tackle your obstacles! (Quick note about your class clips: there may be extraneous sound captured from surrounding areas. We’ll do our best while filming!)
This is not a networking class with a casting director. This is an acting and auditioning class with a teacher who has over two decades of professional high-level experience and who cares most about the actor’s process. In the end, I believe it is the process that books the job and supports the actor’s need to stay inspired.
ACTING COACH: Heidi’s career has spanned over 25 years and includes time as the lead Casting Director at Telsey+CO for the Broadway musical RENT, as well as for 70+ projects in theater, film, television, commercial, and voiceover. She’s coached countless actors into roles for Film, TV, and Theater. Most recently, she coached and prepped Halle Bailey for her audition and screen test for Disney’s upcoming The Little Mermaid. Heidi’s active filmmaker career informs her director’s eye and influences her aesthetic for working with actors.
For full acting coach bio, click here. For filmmaker portfolio, click here.
I’ve got two crucial questions for you.
Taking risks doesn’t just mean doing something wild and crazy. The real risk is actually investing your full attention into the material – not cutting any corners – so that every choice is rooted in character and excavating the writing’s potential.
When you have done the deep dive prep, you are ready to make choices.
And. You are primed now to think like a filmmaker. What does this story need? What is this filmmaker going for? How can I give the camera what it needs? How can I make visual choices to tell the story? I guarantee that these are the next layer of questions that most actors are missing in the audition process.
There is a noticeable difference between the actor who has been on set tons and the actor who has not been on set. Because the actor who has been on set understands how to feel the presence of the camera, know where the camera is at all times, and to modulate for it’s proximity to the actor.
In this class, we work on your mastery of shaping auditions and working that camera lens.
Sometimes, you just need to immerse yourself in the bubble of an intensive in order to re-examine and (re)inspire your process as an actor.
Pause the audition madness for a moment. Give yourself some breathing room to explore and grow again. Let’s get to the bottom of what may be missing in your process.
x,
Heidi
First, I always experience major inspiration and rejuvenation when I work with talent on camera. You all inspire me as an artist and a teacher. The best part about casting for me was being inside the audition room—and the best part about directing is being on sets with actors and crews making and creating together. So when I’m teaching, I get the best of both worlds.
I eagerly look for windows of opportunity between my own projects and my 4-week classes to teach this masterclass because the process of working together sustains my artistic spirit too!
My classes are small and private, and they operate purely from word-of-mouth by over 3,000 alumni students. I’ve been offering my classes since 2003, and I’m thrilled that word-of-mouth is powerful and that there is such a hunger for deepening the acting and auditioning process.
My classes are not separated by levels of talent. Everyone, including the award winners, starts with me in Part 1 or Nailing the Genre, and we build a process together. I lay in the lessons and techniques very thoughtfully and purposefully over the classes, and I start everyone at the same point in the conversation. Some actors will say it is like developing a philosophy together. My classes will give you more than just techniques because I believe in developing and training actors to be collaborators.
I primarily teach this masterclass in NYC, but I occasionally take it to other cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and more! Join my priority waitlist and tell me what city you’re based in.
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I loved when we got to put new tools up on our feet to see how dramatically it affected other actors (and ourselves) in class.
This masterclass is an excellent opportunity to work with Heidi and other actors in person in a small, supportive class setting. It’s just two days, but it really never felt rushed and it didn’t move too slowly either. Heidi’s classes always seem to move at a naturally steady and engaging pace. It’s also really great to work and observe everyone on camera.
I didn’t realize how bad my audition burn-out was visible on-screen. Heidi’s adjustments completely put me back into a SAFE place of play that encouraged you going further than just reading the sides, making some educated assumptions and moving forward. Heidi’s class was a complete reset button for me. I’m so glad that I took it.
It’s needed, if you want to get out of your head and own your process, and ultimately have fun. Take this class.
Heidi’s masterclass is a safe space to continue polishing the craft.
A reimagining of process filled with creative, playful, actionable tools you can apply to any acting scene.
A must- try. The best master class I’ve ever taken. The most amazing coach ever. It opened up my mind to possibilities and reminded me to have fun and be an artist.
Transformative. I think the class is labeled perfectly. I did leave feeling more at ease! I also would like to say, Heidi herself has such a welcoming , thoughtful, candid approach and it really is such a blessing to be granted that influence as an actor!
It’s really great with immediately usable and memorable tools to take with you to set or to an audition. It’s an amazing chance to practice and learn technical things as well as having the encouragement to be more of an artist.
I’ve received incredible experience with a top acting coach for theater and film. The entire week was very intensive, starting from audition prep to the actual performance.
Wonderful tools that I will be taking with me into auditions and roles; a great weekend of on-camera experience with like-minded peers all wanting to challenge themselves creatively.
The masterclass was invigorating, inspiring, and exactly what I needed after taking some time away from acting. It helped me tap into the exploration, discovery, and play that is necessary to not only perform at a high level but also to have the most fulfilling experience as an actor.
A physically well-organized, psychologically safe and welcoming environment and approach., the chance to work with extremely talented professionals and an ingratiating and generous teacher. This was my second opportunity to work and learn from Heidi and her actors. Both opportunities were life changing. I look forward to using the skills I learned, and to the next chance to work with this gifted genius of an acting coach.
This auditioning Masterclass with the incomparable Heidi Marshall gave me so much freedom. Grasping the audition as a stepping stone in the process (not the end goal, that is making movies!) It helped me lighten the pressure I put on myself. Doing the scene work, and trying different tools a head of time in a more organized analysis opened the delivery of my lines. I learned how to be ok with not being perfect: messy hair, wardrobe malfunctions, careless makeup, wrong timing.. all the self-doubt thingy’s are always going to be there BUT it feels so good to let go of that for the audition! It was like going to the gym for my process, building up these muscles, so I can better flex my confidence. I loved getting to “play” Director, Producer, etc. I thought I was a super smart way to go about filming our scenes!
Oh my! I’m going to use all the tools when working on scene analysis, self-taping, call backs, finding variety in takes and on set. An intensive masterclass which explores on camera acting in a collaborative and supportive group environment where everyone is encouraged and challenged. It is a transformational experience!
Heidi is an absolutely amazing teacher and communicator! (and film maker!) She truly works with you wherever you are . Her approach to the ‘messy actor’ and using the Tools to mix things up (and steer away from trying to do a scene perfectly) is so refreshing – and the Tools are fun and stir the imagination. I found the weekend so so energizing and feel really great about the work that I did. People in the class loosened up quickly and were really supportive of each other – this was definitely a byproduct of how Heidi structures things and of her incredible ability to support and encourage everyone. Don’t hesitate – don’t obsess – just sign up for this class! It’s an amazing opportunity.
A deep-dive to level up your audition self-tapes. It’s energizing and is a safe space to make mistakes and correct them without judgement.
I’m excited to use the ten different tools to make my auditions more dynamic and truthful
Thanks so much for our class yesterday it was so rejuvenating and motivating.
Really great–the kick in the butt I needed.
I loved this class! I always learn a lot from Heidi and enjoy her teaching style— she is great at being both honest and supportive. I also really enjoy the intensive model— it’s great to be able to focus 100% on acting for a few days!
I really enjoyed it–it was a positive and safe environment to try new things 🙂
Thank you, Heidi, for allowing me to be a part of your class despite not having worked with you prior. I left the final class with a new sense of confidence that I did not realize I did not have going in. I am very excited for the future and eager to audition and meet casting directors. I knew I was brave and enjoyed taking risks, but now I can say that I am that ON CAMERA also.
I learned a lot and got some great practice under my belt. I was also challenged; loved this intensive!
Love love love! It was so fun to feel more free in front of the camera and really enjoy the opportunity to just act more than worrying about “doing it right” I adore you Heidi! Such a genius you are.
Epiphany! I am over joyed by the inspiration to keep doing this and validation to keep it going…in a smarter way! When one becomes SAG, or at least in my experience, I forgot it’s still about playing and the fun of excavating a story and character. The business side overwhelms me at times and I begin to question my life as an actor. Thank you for stoking the fire within Heidi!!!!!
It’s gotten me out of my head about the audition process a little. Relying on “natural ability” worked when I was a kid, but it also allowed me to avoid some of the work that might actually help me improve as an actor. Likewise, I’ve literally NEVER done a difficult dramatic scene in a class before, so just DOING it has helped my confidence in that regard.
An extraordinary opportunity to play, create & explore working on camera and also learn and experience new tools to shake you up and find deeper connections to the text, your scene partner and what you bring to the scene and the character all with Heidi’s compassionate and insightful guidance.
It’s digging deeper after part 2 and getting even more Heidi tools! It’s a fun weekend (or 2 weekday) masterclass touching on multiple parts of acting on camera (eyelines, taking direction, script analysis, etc) where you get to meet and get to know other awesome artists.
It was fantastic being with and playing in front of such a loving group of talented artists, and all under Heidi’s direction! Plus, not having to worry about the camera and lighting and everything felt like such a luxury. Life-changing and soul-nourishing!
My top three takeaways: (1) The number 1 thing that I need to focus on is ACTION, (2) I should watch my performances, even if it is uncomfortable, so that I can see more of what is working and what is not to create even more nuance when I am working on camera, and (3) Writing out answers to investigative questions is more grounding that simply thinking about them. It helps me really be the character and bring more truth.
My top three takeaways: (1) there is always further to go, (2) don’t be afraid to film rehearsals to watch back, and (3) go there—go deeper—go there again.
I’m so glad that I took this class! It was wonderful putting all of our fears and self sabotage out there, so we could confront it directly. During the feedback for my final scene, someone said it’s wonderful to see my vulnerability brought to this kind of role. What a wonderful reframe to address my initial fears!
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.
The studio will follow local and CDC health and safety protocols as they arise.