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THE ACTING COLLECTIVE

CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, FORUMS, AND RESOURCES—ALL IN ONE SPACE

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

The Acting Collective welcomes actors seeking a community committed to the journey of being an artist. 

Get what you need to thrive.

  • Learn and practice new approaches to on-camera work
  • Maintain and sharpen your foundational acting skills
  • Drop into classes for flexibility and accountability
  • Develop confidence, exchange support, and scoop up inspiration
  • Collaborate to create your own work
  • Get tips on how to move your artistry and career forward
JOIN THE COMMUNITY

WHY THIS COMMUNITY WAS STARTED

Being an actor is often a lonely path.

Acting is so intimate, yet that creative connection we cherish often ends as soon as a gig is over. The majority of actors spend more time auditioning and honing their craft than they do on set. It's just the reality of the business. The ebb and flow of an actor’s journey is what feels lonely, unpredictable, and erratic.

Burnout is real.

Actors need an incredible amount of perseverance to stay on the journey. Showing up time after time as every opportunity presents itself is no small task. Burnout is incredibly common and those who withstand the challenging moments have a community of support by their side.

Inspiration can fade after stretches of isolation.

Even the most serious artists can feel disconnected from their inspiration if it's not cultivated.  It takes effort to maintain the passion and drive that propel us forward. 

WHY THIS COMMUNITY WAS STARTED

Being an actor is often a lonely path.

Acting is so intimate, yet that creative connection we cherish often ends as soon as a gig is over. The majority of actors spend more time auditioning and honing their craft than they do on set. It's just the reality of the business. The ebb and flow of an actor’s journey is what feels lonely, unpredictable, and erratic.

Burnout is real.

Actors need an incredible amount of perseverance to stay on the journey. Showing up time after time as every opportunity presents itself is no small task. Burnout is incredibly common and those who withstand the challenging moments have a community of support by their side.

Inspiration can fade after stretches of isolation.

Even the most serious artists can feel disconnected from their inspiration if it's not cultivated.  It takes effort to maintain the passion and drive that propel us forward. 

There's a reason that the actors you love are at the top of their game. They work at it.

Those actors are fortunate that they get to be on set making films regularly, developing their skills and bending and strengthening their abilities constantly. Think Denzel. Meryl.

They have a lifetime of experience in front of the camera. And that is what we witness in their performances: actors who have evolved over time and deepened their craft through opportunities to work with so many different genres, scene partners, directors, and writers.

Whether you are working on set regularly or not, you will experience stops and starts as an actor. It's inevitable. You need to find a way to do your work and be active. To grow. To evolve. To (re)discover your self in your art.

In the Acting Collective, you consistently work out your actor muscles in a supportive, flexible, and intimate environment.

This community is a place to nurture the creative connection between gigs, lean on each other to keep going on the journey, and find fresh and diverse inspiration anytime you need it.

Cultivate your unique artistry and growth by immersing yourself amongst other visionaries.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

THE VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY

I want you all to thrive and reap the benefits of community.

  • Trade knowledge, find quality self-tape partners, and be celebrated throughout the creative process.
  • When we work in collaboration, we get IT DONE and we get it done BETTER. 

This online community stays with you wherever you go.

  • Mobile access to join from any location and stay connected as you move around.
  • Tune in for creative inspiration and connection when you need it.
  • All content, resources, workshops, and events are located in one centralized and organized community space.

Lean into your support system & let go of the burden of making every decision on your own.

  • Ask questions, study, grow, and learn from others who get you.
  • Don't spin in circles—get nudges and companionship as you navigate this tricky industry.

THE VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY

I want you all to thrive and reap the benefits of community.

  • Trade knowledge, find quality self-tape partners, and be celebrated throughout the creative process.
  • When we work in collaboration, we get IT DONE and we get it done BETTER. 

This online community stays with you wherever you go.

  • Mobile access to join from any location and stay connected as you move around.
  • Tune in for creative inspiration and connection when you need it.
  • All content, resources, workshops, and events are located in one centralized and organized community space.

Lean into your support system & let go of the burden of making every decision on your own.

  • Ask questions, study, grow, and learn from others who get you.
  • Don't spin in circles—get nudges and companionship as you navigate this tricky industry.

The artists we surround ourselves by help us become the best versions of ourselves.

JOIN ACTING COLLECTIVE

HOW A TRUE COMMUNITY WORKS

Hi actors,

Here’s a story about a life-changing experience of the impact of being in community with artists who are fighting the same fight as you.

Many years ago, I applied to a directing fellowship for women that was way outta my league. I thought, why the heck not try? And, I had no other life plans set up and needed something to put energy and focus towards to escape my frustrations.  

SO. I applied. I got interviewed. And I had to defend my proposed script like I was defending a PhD thesis. And then, miraculously, I got accepted. 

But what to do now??

I had to relocate myself to Los Angeles for a few months with no funds other than piddly savings from a recent gig and no film resources in L.A. And now, I had to make a short film! I was in need of some major support.

Here’s how it got done. 

One friend from NYC said, hey, I wanna learn how to produce films, and I will relocate and jump in. Wow. And then the biggest support ever in the world came from…guess who…the other 7 women in the program!!

Colleagues will give you the most (inspired and useful) support.

We boosted each other. We traded resources. We troubleshooted together. Yes, we cried together too. That’s what filmmakers in the trenches together do! Honestly, I was learning more from my colleagues than I was in the boot camp classes. Truth. 

And, incredibly, I learned very quickly that I could offer to my peers my own accumulated knowledge about casting and working with actors. Duh. How awesome to have something to offer up in exchange for their brilliant minds and unique skills! I am forever inspired and grateful for that cohort of women directors.

I really needed that exchange to make it through one of the more scary transitions of my life…the transition of really truly doing what I had always dreamed of.

When you are down, your colleagues who understand intimately the same turmoil will lift you back up and redirect you forward!

The Acting Collective is my dream space for you, actors, to create this exact synergy together. I am also bringing into this space other inspired artists to add support and drop useful knowledge. The collective is growing constantly.

It is all designed just for you so that you can engage and grow thoughtfully, respectfully, and supportively. Be with your peers on the journey!

You can do it. You can be the artist you want to be. In the community that we create.

You've got options.

We offer two types of memberships: Core Access & Full Access

Core Access Details

✔ Weekly Group Coaching with Heidi

Join Heidi for hot seat acting coaching, Q&As, and timely group discussions that sustain your creative spirit, hone your craft, and realign your mindset. Take turns getting 1:1 scene coaching and watching others work.

✔  Weekly Scene Rehearsal Gyms

Warm up for auditions, review past submissions, practice scenes, connect with peers, and get facilitated support to improve your ongoing self-tape submissions.

✔ Community
Forums

Ongoing chat spaces with diversely experienced actors exchanging resources, tips, and inspiration on the process of being an actor. Find self-tape partners, collaborators, and like-minded artists.

✔  Video Learning
Library

Access select recordings and resources when you need a creative boost from an ever-growing library of inspiring content from Heidi, guest teachers, our studio’s team, and community members.

✔ Actors as Creators
Workshops

Take action in creating your own work—take the leap into artistic empowerment. Learn from and collaborate with mentors and peers creating their own work.

✔ Member-Led
Meetups

You can hold readings, rehearse projects, host guest speakers, or offer free workshops in one of your many talents. Organize and attend virtual or in-person meetups in your area!

✔ "Find a Reader"
Forum

Find a reader quickly for your last-minute auditions! Members in multiple time zones are quick to respond and assist you by being your scene partner.

✔ Weekly Group Coaching Replays

Access replays of all of Heidi's group coaching sessions! Over 37 hours of video replay, and counting...

Full Access Details

✔  Includes ALL Core Access Features

– Weekly Group Coaching with Heidi
– Weekly Scene Rehearsal Gyms
– Community Forums
– Video Learning Library
– Actors as Creators Workshops
– Member-Led Meetups
– "Find a Reader" Forum

– 37+ hours of Heidi's session replays

✔ Industry Guest
Masterclasses

Get into the arena with Heidi’s expansive community of industry professionals working in all areas of storytelling. Masterclasses include individualized coaching, peer exchange, intimate discussions, anecdotes, and personal stories.

✔ Mentorship and Resident Teaching Artist Series

Work and build rapport over recurring intimate sessions with resident teaching artists. Heidi invites working artists culled from her decades of community-building in Film, TV, and Broadway to teach their approach and share stories from the industry front lines so that you can uplevel your confidence and craft.

✔ Script Analysis &
Peer Support Sessions

Your prep is the foundation. Learn and practice skills needed to quickly break down and analyze scenes. Get practical advice on finding specificity and nuances that make your scenes pop. Peer support sessions are supportive spaces to share the ups & downs of your journey.

✔ Curated
Membership

Uplevel together with your fellow actors who are as committed to the craft as you are. Go deeper within an intentional and intimate environment that grows your confidence and reframes your mindset as a collaborator within the industry.

✔ Expansive Library of Full-Length Replays

Recording library of masterclasses and resident teaching artist sessions to watch if you can’t attend live. Over 60 hours of video replay, and counting...

Choose Your Plan

CORE ACCESS

  • Weekly Group Coaching with Heidi
  • Weekly Scene Rehearsal Gyms
  • Community Forums
  • Video Learning Library
  • Actors as Creators Workshops
  • Member-Led Meetups
  • "Find a Reader" Forum
  • 37+ hours of Heidi's session replays

$177 / every 3 months

GET CORE ACCESS

FULL ACCESS

Everything in Core Access, plus:

  • Industry Guest Masterclasses
  • Mentorship and Resident Teaching Artist Series
  • Script Analysis and Peer Support Sessions
  • Small, intimate workshop size
  • Curated membership
  • 60+ hours of full-length replays

$447 / every 3 months

GET FULL ACCESS

Reinforce your strengths.

Develop your instincts.

Build your own process.

See what we're all about:

Reinforce your strengths.

Develop your instincts.

Build your own process.

See what we're all about:

Meet Heidi

Heidi Miami Marshall’s career has spanned over 25 years as an Acting Coach, Film and Theater Director, Casting Director, and Acting Studio Owner. Her entire career informs her director’s eye and influences her aesthetic for working with actors.

Originally, Heidi was the lead Casting Director at Telsey + Co. for the Broadway musical RENT, as well as for 70+ projects in theater, film, TV, commercial, and voiceover. Now, as owner of a top acting studio, she’s coached countless actors into roles for film, TV, and theater. She is frequently hired by directors and production studios to prep actors for auditions, screen tests and performance. Heidi has expert understanding in all the layered needs of casting and what gets actors hired.

Her acting clients have appeared on screens big and small, from network TV to indie film to blockbuster hits. Her clients' range of talent includes new actors to Emmy award-winning.

As a director, Heidi has received awards and fellowships for her directing in theater and film, most notably AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women and The Drama League.

Recent films directed by Heidi include S.P.I.C., MUSCLE, and upcoming feature AMERICAN BUBBLE (written by Johnny Sánchez and Khalil Kain, and starring Jade Pettyjohn, Julianne Nicholson, Dave East, & J. Alphonse Nicholson).

All of Heidi Marshall’s work has led me to see that she’s a director of first rate talent and ability.

— Baz Luhrmann, Director

OUR MEMBERS & TEACHERS ARE WORKING ARTISTS

JOIN THE COLLECTIVE

WHAT OUR ACTORS ARE SAYING

  • After the session I felt so much more in-line with what I need to be doing and confident that I was thinking correctly."
  • What a range of fabulous people you have found. Through the Collective I'm seeing that there are so many aspects of on-camera work to learn about and to explore."
  • Got an audition for Bull this morning [...] imma make use of everything we discovered last week! I’m loving this collective!!!!!"
  • I can't tell you how grateful I am to be a part of your collective right now."
  • HEIDI! You are the Queen of Community, togetherness, joy-making, and heart opening!!!!!!"
  • What an amazing time...meeting amazing actors and artistas from all over!!! Heidi is the BEST!"
  • What a beautiful collective. I grew by leaps and bounds at every class and every interaction.”
  • Athena Colón  basically had us all mesmerized for an hour! "
  • Just wanted you to know that I woke up super inspired this morning, and got a cold open on paper. Thank you so much for your conversation and guidance."
  • Inspired by this community, I am in the process of producing my own work!  
    I wrote a script for a short film and with the support of many amazing Heidians and will be on set soon."

How do I choose?

It depends on what you're looking for out of this community. And, as with any community, the more you participate, the more you get out of it. Let's break down the differences between Core and Full Access a little more:

Core Access:

Members enter our circle of artists to refine their craft and ask the bigger questions about artistry.

Have you wanted to keep working together in an affordable and ongoing way? This is it! Each week, we gather virtually to speak about what I see happening in the industry and in the world of filmmaking. I'll often coach actors in a “hot seat" through scenes of their choice while others learn through observation. I also lead the group through exercises or breakout room chats so that actors can learn from one another.

Actors with Core Access also get support in the business of acting, audition/self-tape practice, and creating your own work.

Full Access:

Members get everything included with Core Access, AND they get to work alongside guest artists who share their approaches, professional insights, and belief in the ownership of being an actor.

Meet and learn from Heidi’s expansive community of industry professionals working in all areas of storytelling.

Actors will spend time with masterful working artists in a small-group setting, and get to know the inner mechanisms of their artistry. There will be opportunities to receive individualized coaching from our guests and to observe your peers as they work. Masterclasses often include intimate discussions and personal stories.

JOIN THE COLLECTIVE

Q: When is the right time to join our community?

A: If you are an actor ready to expand, learn, and exchange key knowledge with other actors pursuing a vision of what they want to achieve, then let's partner up and nudge each other forward!

Our community could be right for you if...

  • You are an actor who likes to give and get support from others.
  • You are energized by the challenge of figuring out how to make your acting career work for you.
  • You like the idea of knowing a group of people who “have your back.”
  • You genuinely care about seeing those around you succeed.
  • You value the rhythm and routine of sharing experiences with other actors.    

JOIN US

FAQs

Since the community is virtual, does my location matter? And when can I start?

Your location does not matter because this online community home can follow you wherever you go!

Start whenever you feel inspired to join! If you start right away, you get to keep your price as long as your membership is continuously active. Future price changes won't affect you.

What days & times will Heidi's sessions and other events/masterclasses be held?

All events and masterclasses are held on various days/times to ensure that folks on different schedules get a chance to tune in live! You can choose which events to attend.

What are the weekly coaching sessions with Heidi?

Weekly coaching will be a mix of "hot-seat coaching" (similar to a masterclass format) and Q&As/discussions. They will resemble a town hall or community gathering to boost inspiration and momentum. Each week, some actors will actively work in the hot seat while everyone gets to observe. We will continue the journey of working and learning together as a community of inspired artists.

How does this compare to other acting communities?

This community is solidly grounded in Heidi’s principles that have served as the foundation of her studio for years. Her valuable experience and insight have inspired countless actors at all stages of their careers. Heidi and her team of teaching artists are highly sought out by top agents, managers, and casting offices, including CAA, Carmen Cuba Casting, Telsey + Co., ICM, Paradigm, Warner Bros, and Disney.  

How much do I have to participate?

It's totally up to you. The more you participate, the more you'll get out of it. We think you'll enjoy the collective if you contribute to the forums, play our #challenge games, attend events, and work "hot seats." If your schedule fluctuates, the event replays are very helpful.

What is this community's commitment to representation?

All actors from all backgrounds are welcome! Diverse life experiences make great art! Our community has always been and continues to be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

How do I RSVP for events once I join?

You'll get emailed about events, and you can also check the schedule on the collective site. You can do one-click RSVP for a one-hour email reminder before the event starts. You can also easily add events to your calendar.

Is this only for film & TV actors?

All the work we do in classes is adaptable to various mediums. Our community members range from new to seasoned, theater to film, musicals to commercials, TV series to indie films, musicians to stand-up comics, and more!