Classes

When I was a singer, my voice teacher’s goal was to make me NOT need him. He wanted me to own my technique and be able to use it independently of him. Now that’s my goal for you. I teach by doing, I teach by observing, and I teach by viewing. In my classes you do specially designed exercises (you’ve seen some of them in my books!), and those same exercises are repeated by your classmates so that you can see them challenge themselves. Finally, I play specially selected clips so you can see how the pros do it. That’s it: Do (nothing like it); Watch

(and dissect or imitate if appropriate); View (and learn from the masters).

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  The Sitcom Basics

  This short but interactive intro to my sitcom technique, is fast paced, just like working on a set. More than half the actors who show up on my sets (even award winners) look at the script and don’t know how to “Find the Joke.” We start with an interactive exercise that helps you pick out the […]

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  Multi-Camera Sitcom Intensive

  You get to table read, rehearse and block, then shoot your scenes being directed by an Emmy award winning sitcom director…Me! Then I playback your “shot” scenes and give you more feedback so that when you book your next gig, you’ll feel like an old pro. Here’s how it works: you get material prior to […]

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  Auditioning in Hollywood

  Find out what it’s like to “be in the room.” Designed for high school and college students, you get to “read for” a real TV show…or at least that’s what it’ll feel like. Audition in front of an Emmy-award-winning Hollywood director, get feedback, and see if you’d get the job! This fun seminar will prepare […]

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  Acting for the Screen

  This is a business of the business class….based on Mary Lou’s 4th book PERFORM: Acting for the Screen. Discuss headshots, reels, websites, choosing an agent or manager as well as discussing the choices needed to sustain a career. WHERE:  Available across the U.S. and Canada. WHEN: I book these around my directing schedule. 60-90 minutes. […]

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  The Actor’s Workout

  This is a class for directors to work with actors and learn the best way to communicate with them on set. Limited to 8-10 directors who direct under Mary Lou’s mentoring eye and work with skilled actors who come prepared to play and explore! NOTE: This class sells out EVERY TIME. And is booked around Mary […]

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  Directors Tell The Story Prep Class

    Prep like a working TV director! This is a 3 hour interactive class where you explore casting, production design, script breakdown,  scene blocking and shot listing.  You then compare your work to an actual episode that has already aired and evaluate how your choices would be another option, or what you might change to […]