"An actor's acting coach. Very knowledgeable about the craft of acting. Great intuition. Clear, thought provoking, and challenging. Consistently able to help you give the performance you really want to give."
--Giancarlo Esposito HOMICIDE, SMOKE, DO THE RIGHT THING
"David's insight has been, and continues to be, inspirational in my work. I still use all of the tools I have gained while taking his class. He is an excellent teacher, and I look forward to learning even more in future classes."
-- Donnamarie Recco, THE SOPRANOS, CSI, LAW AND ORDER, 2 feature films currently in post production.
"I got my first series regulars on MELROSE PLACE and MALIBU SHORES and studying with David Kagen made the difference."
--Katie Wright
" I have studied acting in its various forms over the past 10 years in Australia. On moving to LA I felt such a difference in styles and competencies of teachers. I studied with some very well known schools in LA but found that I did not get the shifts I wanted due to lack of teacher interaction and very large class sizes. On finding David's classes I was immediately struck by how preceptive the teachers were and how quickly I was able to move through blocks in my acting that had been there for years. I would like to thank Tim, Paul and Mark for their honesty, time and persistence in getting me "out of my own way". I will definitely be back as I have had more "epiphanies" from these guys than anyone else"
Thanks
Anthony Wemyss
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you. I've been studying with Dwight and recently had Nick...I love them both. I just wanted to say that I've been in a lot of classes where their teaching method was to sort of tear you down or rip you apart in front of a room full of people. It's never been a beneficial style for me b/c it just puts me on the defensive and I completely shut down. Both Dwight and Nick both work with positive reinforcement and I'm told that comes from you and your teaching style. I feel like I've come farther in these past 2 months at your studio faster than in my other classes and I think that's a testament to your teachers and to you. So, I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to take classes at your studio and for instilling such a positive way of teaching. I look forward to continually progressing in my acting at the studio.
--Amanda Barnett
"David Kagen is by far the best acting coach I've worked with. He instills confidence in you by teaching you to be emotionally sensitive. David teaches you to be yourself, and to bring yourself into your work. He helped me book my first guest starring role in a sitcom (HANG TIME), and has been an invaluable influence in my work so far. I only hope to learn so much more from him."
--Eddie Matos
"I booked my first feature with the help of David Kagen.
You want to get good, get David."
--Scott Kinworthy
"I just wanted to let you know that having Brad on full time is going to be a tremendous asset to your team. Brad is not only great when it comes to cold reading and all of the normal things we do in class, but he is there putting a ton of extras into the 4 hrs. He really goes above and beyond the call of duty with regard to his role as teacher.
In addition, everyone loves to work with him and I think he is going to be a big marketing tool for your classes moving forward.
I just wanted to note a couple things he did for me that really made a big difference.
1. Taking the time to talk about the business of the business (very helpful)
2. He took the time on his own to come up with ideas for monologues for everyone in the Sunday class. A full page of plays and ideas that proved really helpful."
--Bryan Ales
"I came to Los Angeles only a few years ago. I had trained and worked almost exclusively as a Repertory theatre actor. Happily so. But now, in Rome, I had to learn as the Romans. I had little experience with film and TV and when I'd audition, received the usual feedback of "Too big." "Do less." "Too actory." So I proceeded to "Be small," "Do nothing" and ceased to be "actory." Not surprisingly, I also ceased getting called back. Clearly, I needed to do something different in this medium, but not so different that I would throw out all of my existing knowledge and experience.
Working and teaching at David's school, with his emphasis on emotional honesty, working from your core and to use Meisner's phrase,"living truthfully in the imaginary circumstances," was all the difference I needed. It's not only allowed me to bring more of my self and my talent into the film and television work that I do, but has deepened and reinvigorated my stage work. It also helps to work in front of a camera every week. David knows what he's talking about and cares deeply about actors and acting. Take this class. And if you do this, really do this, the world will respond."
Andrew Borba, recurring roles on E-RING, THE SHIELD, ENTERPRISE, among many recent jobs.
"I just want to let you know that I love being in your class. I am
learning so much about myself and life that new levels are added on
to my acting. Thank you so much."
--Kristen Swieconek
"Finally an acting teacher who teaches working on the individual. I love it! I feel like if your not okay with yourself, you will always be self conscious, and when you're self conscious you can never take the focus off of yourself and put it onto the person in front of you. "
--Amy Lewis
"Firstly, I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed my time at your school. It is a wonderful environment to learn in and I have felt both encouraged and challenged at the same time. This balance I believe is a delicate one and not one I have encountered successfully at other classes in LA. It is so refreshing to be taught by working actors with real world experience that is freely shared and enlightens the class as a whole. The progress I have made in the past several months from my perspective has armed me with confidence and skills for the real world industry. If I have learned anything, then it is exactly how much I didn't know about acting; it has left me with an imperative to be open and receptive, avoiding the temptation to pre-judge! My experience has been almost entirely with Brad and Jordan. I cannot sing their praises enough. I would especially like to mention Brad's taking the trouble to come up with monologue suggestions for student's in the class. Truly, above and beyond the call of duty."
--Karl Hunter
"This is great David, thank you!!! I just want you to know that the acting class has been an incredible support through my new ventures in LA. It is more than a class it is a slice of life like it really is and…. I show up like I am. My views on acting have completely shifted and I am happy to just be with what it is in a scene. I have the utmost respect for your school and what you stand for. I have had some very powerful breakthroughs with John Woehrle, I got into some places I haven’t been to since childhood, I was fully present to the bare me. I will never forget that. Initially -as you may recall from the interview- I thought it was all about being clever, strategic about a scene and plow through it… not being present and not listening…now I am rediscovering being through just being and listening. This is a shift that goes beyond the classroom. I look forward to deepening this state."
--Dan Mocanu
" Wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the audition I had tonight that made me late for class paid off. I got the role! This is another interesting one. I play a 1920's old western brothel woman in a paid feature film. I quickly adapted something I've always been scared to death of...an accent. This was huge for me.
Reason why I'm telling you this is because I NEVER would have had the confidence , courage or commitment for this role if it hadn't been for you pushing me to "lose control" and get crazy. I went into this audition just to have fun and meet people. The next thing I knew I found myself sprawled out on the CD's desk with the "sexy" monologue and purged every impulse I had, whether was right or wrong. I allowed all my sex appeal and seduction to come out without censoring anything. That included the sexy languid accent and toying with the CD. HE loved the commitment and risk taking I took and handed me the role just a few hours later."
... I've got myself another three roles in feature films that I'm working
on. Real meaty roles that compensate to boot. Regardless, the
likelihood of distribution is real good"
-- Nancy P
"Just wanted to let you know that that classes are really paying off. I've been attending Tuesday night classes for 3 months now and my confidence and all around knowledge has grown so much.
Some good news:
I just finished playing the lead in an independent feature film where I had a scene with Joe Estevez,Martin Sheen's older brother. A week later I get a phone call from a director of another independent feature asking me to read for his film. Said I was referred to him by Joe Estevez. I read for the director and booked the lead. Also in the film besides Joe Estevez is Dee Wallace Stone, the mother in ET. Just wanted to share the news, thanks to Andrew Borba and the rest of the staff."
--Randy Wayne
" I just wanted to say that since I started taking classes with you a few
months ago, I booked co-starring roles on THE HANDLER and ARRESTED
DEVELOPMENT as well as a principal on a commercial. No doubt, your
classes were key in achieving this. You have helped me tremendously."
--Carlos Albert
"I was fortunate enought to have had three years of instruction at David Kagen's School of Film Acting. Despite the fact that I was a student nearly four years ago, what I learned during that time continues to play a role in my success today. The school truly porvides the kind of teaching that enables actors to compete at a higher level. Also, I have been living "outside" of class in a much bigger way. My friends and family have noticed, too, since week one! Expanding my box
in class has expanded everything else in my life, too.
It's a great place to be. Thank you."
--Matt Cinquanta
" These classes have helped me so much. My confidence has gone up ten
fold. The audition process has actually become fun because I feel I can handle anything they throw at me. Thank you"
--Mike Pratt
"I began studying with David several years ago. After interviewing with several instructors, he was the only one I found to show concrete evidence of my growing and changing in the first visit. I found the classroom atmosphere to be fun and non-competitive. Fellow actors are very supportive and the entire school fosters a safe atmosphere in which to practice and master your craft. David and the school teaches you to bring ou the best
you - your natural instinctive response - and to nurture that to your fullest potential. David helps you pinpoint what exactly your obstacles are that keep you from doing your best work. David posesses an uncanny ability to find each individual's path toward mastering the craft of acting."
--Victoria Prismantas
"This entire class was so awesome its hard to narrow it down to three things I liked the MOST but I'll give it a shot.
1: You get to work at least two times each night
2: Brad is the greatest, he is so genuine and down to earth and he's just a great teacher.
3: The relaxed atmosphere and the lack of pretention that is usually so readily available in this crazy town.Advice from me would be if your passionate about acting this is a great place to learn and grow. Just be your self and let go.
I think y'all are doing a great job and Brad is incrementing so many different aspects of acting.... being aware of the camera, movement, the political aspect, mechanical, wardrobe, lighting , one shot frames I could go on and on...."
--Erika Taylor
Here is a partial list of former clients:
Ted Danson
Alec Baldwin
Robin Wright
Chloe Webb
Tom Wopat
MC Lyte |
Julianne Phillips
Kyle Secour
A. Martinez
Michele Shay
Ally Walker
Marcy Walker |
Joe Bottoms
Dale Midkiff
Katie Wright
Michelle Forbes
SANTA BARBARA
RITUALS |
| Catherine Hardwicke - Writer/Director of "Thirteen" |
