For more opportunities to work with guest teachers curated by Heidi, check out the Acting Collective.
A workshop with an actor-creator savant on how to wrestle your social media fears to the ground and become an empowered creator of your own work.
How does this social media thing work? Come up with an actionable, low-key, and FUN plan for taking that first step towards becoming an actor-creator on social media.
This workshop will help you clarify who you are and what you can bring to the table. From there, you will get all the top tips for how to take your career into your own hands. (Danielle did it herself! You can ask her anything!)
Danielle will hit all these crucial points:
Actors who want to start or up their social media game!
This workshop helps you conquer your social media fears to become a CREATOR. Did you know you can fearlessly create your own work—with ZERO budget!—without worrying about “likes” and all that? It’s so much easier than expected, and Danielle will guide you in making it fool-proof.
Plus, social media can lead to other entrepreneurial goals!
In this workshop, you get access to an inspiring social media savant with tens of thousands of followers under her belt. You’ll learn how social media launches acting careers and get ideas on how to monetize your creative social media presence.
Have you ever wanted a better understanding of the algorithms of social media? Get an intro to algorithms that is helpful without being overwhelming. The goal is to ease you into becoming an actor-creator in a low-key, easy way.
Learn how to move away from selfies and create art. Lastly, you’ll see how you can have fun with social media while thinking like a filmmaker!
Danielle Pinnock is an actor, writer and content creator based in Los Angeles. For four seasons, Pinnock has recurred on the hit CBS Big Bang Theory prequel, YOUNG SHELDON as Ms. Ingram. She can also be seen going toe-to-toe with Ray Romano and Peter Bogdanovich in EPIX’s GET SHORTY. A chameleon behind the mic, Pinnock lends her voice to multiple recurring animation roles for DreamWorks, Universal, Apple TV, Netflix and Cartoon Network.
As an NBC Bob Curry Fellowship alum from The Second City Chicago, Danielle Pinnock is no stranger to comedy. Pinnock will star in the highly anticipated CBS pilot GHOSTS, playing the role of Alberta, a Prohibition era lounge singer, who is the protective den mother to the “family” of ghosts. Pinnock also shines in the upcoming season of HBO’s A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW created and executive produced by Robin Thede and the incomparable Issa Rae.
As a content creator, Danielle Pinnock has kept us laughing all quarantine. She’s the creative behind the viral Harry & Meghan and Malcolm & Marie sketches and #Bridgerton recaps: Daphne’s Diary. With millions of views and counting, support from Netflix, Strong Black Lead, and Shondaland, Pinnock chronicles the full season of the hit series in 15-second hysterical clips.
In addition to her onscreen work, Pinnock is a classically trained writer and actor with over a decade’s worth of Off-Broadway, international, and regional stage credits from theaters such as the Goodman, Geffen Playhouse and The Kennedy Center. Mentored by Anna Deavere Smith, Pinnock’s documentary show BODY/COURAGE, created from over 300 interviews Pinnock conducted worldwide, is a rich exploration on body acceptance. Pinnock’s powerful work introduces a constellation of characters grappling with diverse body issues including weight, illness, disability, skin color, aging, and gender transition.
Pinnock’s one-woman show BODY/COURAGE is currently being adapted into a half-hour biographical comedy for television called Jersey Gyal. It follows the misadventures of a first-generation Jamaican-American teen, who must balance life in private school as the token black and at home in her grandmother’s religious hellscape.
Raised in Northern New Jersey by her mother and grandmother, Pinnock is a proud first-generation Jamaican-American. She received her BA in Communications and Theatre from Temple University and graduated with First Distinction Honors with an MFA in Acting from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK.
@bodycourage and @hashtagbooked
HEIDI’S ENDORSEMENT
Danielle is a superforce of energy and ideas and creativity! She loves to create work and has discovered the magical opportunities of how social media can launch careers, or move actors to the next level. Her excitement is contagious and her knowledge immense. Have fun learning directly a self-taught, inspired actor-creator!
What was a difficult challenge for you as an actor?
Letting go of what other people thought I should be doing. I’m a plus-size black actress, and for many years people would put me into the “sassy,” “stereotypical” box and it took a lot of unlearning for me to realize I’m more than what this industry sees me as. I had to un-learn a lot of stuff, and it was a learning curve when I started to create my own path. This became challenging when I no longer wanted to audition for projects that were looking for “sassy this” and “funny best friends.” That was literally half of the breakdowns my agents were getting, and I had to start passing on projects that did not fulfill me. When my agents didn’t understand that, I left and found a team that could see me and think outside of the box. Saying no to roles and projects that don’t serve me was a difficult challenge, but also the most fulfilling.
What was a crazy or silly moment on set?
Meeting Viola Davis and Kerry Washington in the crossover episode of SCANDAL was one of the craziest moments of my career. They were so iconic and it was a literal dream to work with them both.
What is the most important quality or skill for an actor in the audition room?
Proper prior planning prevents pitifully poor performance. Regina King’s motto. When you are prepared, then you can truly have the freedom and confidence to play.
What is the main thing you wish you knew then but that you only understand now?
My worth is not wrapped up in how many projects I book or don’t book.
What frustrates you as an actor in the current climate of filmmaking or of the business at large?
I’m annoyed that plus-size black women still aren’t superheroes yet. I want us to be in Marvel movies so badly. The industry for some reason still sees us as comedic caricatures and I hope to change it up one day.
What moment or experience as an artist do you feel most proud of?
Booking my first series regular last week. I’ve been acting professionally for over a decade. When GHOSTS was picked up last week, and I told my mom, she broke down crying and my entire family did as well. They’ve been seeing and supporting my career since I was in high school. This was a huge win for me and them too.
Who do you really look up to in your field and why?
Kimberly Hebert Gregory. She’s my mentor and one of the best actresses I know. She’s the Vice Principal in HBO’s VICE PRINCIPAL, and as a working actor she’s had such an incredible career. She gives back to so many artists, and I think she’s absolutely brilliant.
Why did you choose THIS class to teach?
I choose this class to teach, because social media has changed my life as an actor. I know that sounds utterly cliché. But, more people know me from @HashtagBooked and my viral sketches on my personal page @bodycourage than the actual shows I’ve been recurring on for four years. I’ve recently booked films and TV shows all due to my online presence. I want to demystify the process of social media ’cause I feel sometimes it can feel so labor intensive and scary. I can’t wait to dive in and share all that I’ve learned in the last few years online.
Wow this was such an excellent course. I learned so much and it has really shaped how I view my power. Danielle provides actionable steps to creating your most authentic expression on social media. She teaches how to make the essence of you work for you on your own platform, and then how to use that knowledge to transfer to creating a career in this entertainment industry.
I had no idea what videos to make on tiktok/IG but the exercise at the end helped me realize what stories I wanted to tell (and how). I feel way more inspired and capable and less overwhelmed by social media.
This class was so helpful! Social media is such a scary thing but I feel so inspired and excited now. And Danielle is hilarious and such a joy to be around — there was so much laughter throughout the class 🙂
She made social media feel a lot less scary! I actually have ideas now and the whole idea of being a creator feels far more attainable. She’s so down to earth and encouraging! Highly recommend!
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.