If you're new to acting and have no idea where to even begin, start at Graham Shiels Studios. I joined The Lab as a total beginner, and what hit me first was that everyone there is actually working -- not "aspiring," not playing around, but genuinely auditioning and booking. That alone shifted my mindset. The room feels serious in a motivating way, not intimidating. You can tell people show up because they care about getting better. Graham is the real deal. He doesn't waste time, and he doesn't give vague notes. He tells you exactly what you're doing, what's underneath it, and how to adjust so your work actually lands. You walk out of class knowing what to practice instead of feeling confused or overwhelmed. As someone just starting out, I felt like I was finally in the right place. If you're unsure where to begin or who to trust in this industry, audit a class. Seeing it for yourself is enough. This studio made acting feel doable, and that's honestly the biggest gift for a beginner. read more

Graham Shiels Studios - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I think Graham is a wonderful teacher. However, my rating is due to this company's business ethics. I enrolled in a three-week intensive where students are evaluated and placed with a teacher. I made it clear from the start that my only goal was to train with Graham, which requires an invitation. When I asked about ongoing classes, I was told his classes were full, but that I would be placed just below his level and moved up after I completed the four week course with a different teacher. After completing the intensive, my card was charged without my knowledge for an additional four weeks of classes, and NOT with Graham. When I raised this with the office, they pointed to a "subscription" clause in the contract that allowed them to automatically charge my card. This was never clearly explained to me. I only enrolled in the initial program based on the understanding that I would be invited to train with Graham upon completion. Instead, I was unknowingly charged for more classes, with a different teacher, without consent. When I requested a refund, especially since I wouldn't even be in town to attend (which I explained to them) they refused... "No refunds". They told me I could take the classes when I returned to town, presenting that as a generous accommodation. However, they still would not guarantee placement with the teacher I originally requested. This experience felt misleading and very exploitative. Many actors are investing limited resources into their training, and transparency matters. Charging for services I did not knowingly approve, and could not attend, is unacceptable. I ultimately disputed the charge. After months of back-and-forth, they ruled in favor of the school based on the fine print referencing a subscription. That may be technically enforceable, but it was not clearly communicated, and it's disappointing. Mind you I paid for the intensive, additional classes with a teacher I didn't want based on a promise that wasn't fulfilled, and even booked private sessions with Graham.. all within two months. This company could have earned far more from me long term if they had acted with transparency and integrity. They were greedy and shortsighted. Do better. read more

I had an amazing experience with the lab! It was three classes and each class about 5 hrs. The time went by very quickly every week. I found the experience not just a valuable learning experience but also really fun! I really enjoyed watching my fellow actors perform and learn alongside them. The instructors were knowledgeable, specific, and kind in the way they gave feedback and offered helpful tips. read more

Really enjoyed my experience at The Lab at GSS! The teaching style is very unique and provides a great way to understand how to be entertaining, as well as naturalistic, believable, and realistic. All of the instructors are working actors, which means they can all provide greta insight to the industry/what works in self tapes and what doesn't. Highly recommend! read more

Great class for working talent. No BS, just get down to work and start booking. Strong slate of instructors with valuable insights and knowledge. read more

GSS is amazing! Graham is a great instructor and his team of working actors / instructors are patient, kind, generous and genuinely want to see the student in class improve. Looking forward to my tenure at the studio. Thanks all! read more

My favorite acting class in LA!!! All teachers are amazing and such a professionals. Truly recommend GSS

I just completed the GSS Lab and I already feel like I have learned so much! Every single one of the teachers at GSS is so knowledgeable and has given me amazing feedback that I have implemented. Additionally, all of the teachers being working actors/actresses helps because they are very well-versed in what current casting directors look for and what goes on in the current state of this industry. I signed up for the Film & TV classes following the GSS Lab and I cannot wait to continue improving and learning at GSS! read more

I came in with mostly a theater background and needed to get comfortable on camera -- this class helped a TON! Class is always productive and it's never a watered-down "you're a great actor, see you next week" situation. The instruction is specific, practical, and it actually works! If you're serious about improving, this is the spot.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

I attended the first audit of 2026 and really connected with the studio's approach to acting, especially how technical, specific, and script-based it is. Other studios can often lean heavily into abstraction, which isn't as appealing to me personally. I signed up for the Lab and had a great three-week experience. Graham and the other coaches are direct, clear, and great at explaining the studio's technique without overcomplicating it. Some of my favorite takeaways were that reversals reveal character and the emphasis on a character's likes and dislikes, which lead to real, actable choices. I'm really looking forward to continuing in the ongoing classes and deepening the work here. read more

I cannot recommend this studio enough! If you're looking to become a better actor this is the place no matter what your experience level is. Every teacher is a working actor that treats you with respect and professionalism. I have learned so much already and I can't wait to continue taking classes here. Audit a class and see for yourself! read more

I highly recommend Graham Shiels Studios to any screen-actor who is seeking to work in the industry or looking for guidance! All of the instructors not only give great constructive criticism, but also are very knowledgable. They will give you the right advice to succeed both in your craft and in navigating the technical aspects of the industry. This is a great class to have on your resume if you are looking to become a serious actor. read more

The LAB at GSS is amazing and really helps actors prepare. We learned a lot about auditions, scenes, and in-depth technique !!! I highly recommend this studio to actors that are just getting started and even actors who have the experience already. I enjoy Grahams teaching style and I'm excited to be continuing with ongoing classes! :) read more

The choice to begin the ongoing film and tv program here at GSS following the completion of the Lab (3 week into intensive course) wasn't a hard one. The dedication to the craft comes from a place of true passion for both the instructors and students. But in terms of the WORK, they are militant. They understand what it takes to truly succeed in this extremely intense business and want to prepare their student as such. Since completing the Lab workshop, I already feel more confident and exceedingly more prepared to tackle my career head on! Thank you so much for a great August. I can't wait to see you in October! read more

Had a great time, for someone with 0 experience this is a great place to start! Couldn't recommend it more!

Just finished The Lab and it was great. You try a little bit of all types of scenes to get a feel for everything, while being taught by different teachers. You get to go up every class and perform what you prepared from the scene you are given. This school really focuses on current projects and getting you an agent with their agent nights. Go audit it and see if you like it, I do. read more

Absolutely love these classes. I feel I've grown so much in these classes and can't wait to continue my time with GSS. The staff are all very knowledgeable and there are so many opportunities presented, that I haven't gotten with other classes in LA. Take the audit and see for yourself, you won't regret it! read more

If you want to pay almost $500 (3 "classes" in the span of 3 weeks) to play pretend with Graham the salesman; knock yourself out. They advertise as an ON-CAMERA acting class except during this 3 week "THE LAB" course, they will never press record when you're doing your thing. So pretty much you leave with no demo reels or takes to bring with you into the real world outside of class - the camera they use for the "screen-testing" has no SD-card...LOL. *Be aware* "There are unfortunately no refunds for The Lab" IF you want a take of you acting to be recorded you must pay another class fee AFTER taking The Lab course since "The Lab is a mandatory prerequisite for ALL Ongoing Classes." - this is what they say in-class and on the website. It's honestly laughable how much they are charging for "on-camera" acting classes when they don't even record anything for you... ONLY during the Ongoing Classes AFTER The Lab they will record you, but with YOUR OWN PHONE, NOT the camera in the "studio" because it doesn't have an SD card and they don't want to have the headache of distributing the reels to everybody - hilarious. If you want to do "this" the right way, get a good set-up for demo reels at home; record and go crazy! Critique yourself as you go... if you suck, you'll know - THAT is ways better than doing this + you will save TONS of money instead of paying into this joke. If you have no idea what you're doing or how to critique yourself and you THINK that's why you need an acting class, maybe you shouldn't be an actor to begin with. read more

Took lab and had a great experience! The teachers were all kind and strong, and I thought the approach to script analysis was practical and effective. read more

Love classes here! Always a great experience. The classes push you in a positive way, and the atmosphere makes you feel comfortable and encouraged. read more

Amazing experience! I love that the teachers are actively auditioning as well. They know what they're talking about!

I just completed The Lab - highly recommend. Very fun and educational. The instructors have great experience, advice, and feedback.

Great experience doing an acting lab at this studio! The teachers are so kind and encouraging and really bring the best performances out of us! Already excited to join another ongoing class. If you're serious about leveling up your acting skills, this is the place to do it! read more

Best acting classes I have ever taken! I have taken classes that caused me to really doubt if I could act but after working with Graham those doubts are long gone. The teachers work in the industry, they are friendly, and they give feed back in helpful way. Going to this studio for class is the highlight of my week. read more

Great training, but I'm disappointed by the studio during a personal loss I experienced. To begin, I was genuinely so excited to start at Graham Shiels Studio a few weeks ago. As a SAG-AFTRA actor returning to the industry after a long health-related hiatus, I wanted to brush up on my skills and sign up for weekly classes. GSS had been on my radar for years and I finally pulled the trigger to go here. I started with The Lab, the required prerequisite class, and I truly loved it. It was one of the best experiences in terms of acting training I've had and I've studied at many of the top LA acting schools over the years. Graham's method--grounded in his Yale School of Drama training--is clear, easy to apply, and incredibly helpful for breaking down scenes and deepening character work. The faculty are working actors with substantial TV & Film credits, and the feedback from both Graham and his teachers was very specific, kind, and constructive. I really valued that. After The Lab, I signed up right away for an ongoing class with Aaron. Unfortunately, before I could even attend the ongoing portion, my mother-in-law (who was also a mother to me for the past 13 years) was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and quickly passed away in the last week of me writing this review. It was a devastating time, and I wasn't in a good place to attend class. I tried to push myself to try and show up, but emotionally, I just wasn't ready. When I reached out to let the studio know, I was met with a strict enforcement of their 24-hour makeup policy--no exceptions, not even for an unexpected death in the family. What I didn't realize when signing up is that makeup classes aren't just based on giving 24-hour notice--they must be made up within the same assignment week, which runs Monday through Sunday. So even if you give notice ahead of your Sunday evening class (as I did), there's no time left in the week to actually make up the session since Sunday is the last day, not the first. The policy, as written, sounds agreeable--but in practice, it leaves very little room for being able to miss class on short notice if you're a Sunday student. I completely understand the importance of structure and consistency in a class setting. I personally hate flaky people and I believe being 15 minutes early is on time and to always be prepared, off book, and reliable. If somebody is missing class to go to a Sunday Happy Hour, that's one thing. But when someone in your studio's community is going through a major loss, I think there's an opportunity to show some grace. Acting is built on empathy and emotional truth, so it was hard to reconcile that in a very painful moment of my life they couldn't make any exception for me to make up class. The email I received said how they are sorry to me and my family during this time, but they still require 24 hours' notice. Also, when I signed up I was told there would be no class on Easter. A few days before Easter Sunday, we are told class is now happening on Easter and my billing date would be moved up. I never heard of acting class happening on a holiday like Easter. I truly loved the training and believe in the work being done there. This review is just an honest reflection of my experience and an invitation to consider how the studio might better support its students when emergencies & personal situations occur. Life happens, and when it does, a little grace can go a long way when somebody is experiencing major grief. I'd have hoped they'd say, "Steve, typically we don't allow make up classes, but given your mom died we will do what we can to get you into another class during the week." That kind gesture would've meant a lot. It would have made me feel like part of the community, and I would've gladly continued paying $250-300 a month for ongoing training. But I was disappointed with how the situation was handled, and ultimately gave my 10-day notice to withdraw from the class. read more

The instructors care about giving useful tips on how to improve your skills. I appreciated that they pointed out some physical ticks that all us actors have in an effort to make us more aware of our physicality and thus dive deeper in to the character. Excited to continue training! read more

I just finished the 3 week lab today, and I had the best time!! All the instructors were very knowledgeable, kind, and willing to challenge you to step outside your comfort zone to improve your skills. I signed up for ongoing classes to keep practicing and continue working on sharpening my skills! So excited!! read more

The GSS Lab was a great experience! This was my first acting class, and I felt really comfortable and nurtured by the instructors. Really opened my mind to the joys and struggles of being a working actor. read more

Incredible experience, I did the lab 3 week course and learned so much. All the instructors were really amazing, encouraging and gave helpful advice. Even when I wasn't up performing, I was learning so much from watching. Can't wait to go back! read more

I greatly enjoyed The Lab and the ability to work with several different teachers from the studio - including Graham.

This review is long overdue! I took the commercial acting workshop with John Fulton last year and it was great! John's teachings of the commercial business were super informative! Not only that, but he taught us how to audition for commercials proficiently. John provided us with great feedback on our auditioning skills so we can be prepared for future auditions! Overall, a solid class that is worth taking again! read more

I just completed The Lab at GSS and immediately enrolled in on-going classes because I really enjoy how this school operates. The material we work on in class is from currently or recently casting projects which is super relevant to working as an actor in LA. The teachers I've worked with thus far gave specific and helpful feedback in class. And one of the most important factors that led to me choosing this school is that they do agent showcase nights!! Every. Month. I'm in search of theatrical rep so that made my decision to enroll a no-brainer. Parking is also a breeze. read more

I studied with someone for 9 years but unfortunately my coach was diagnosed with ALS so I was on the lookout for a great new coach. I was trained on a stage so I really needed someone who understood the art of the self tape and bringing my best to the camera. After my quest I came across Graham! He just gets it is what I can say. He's patient, funny, smart and brilliant. I absolutely loveeee the staff. They are so sweet. I'm so happy that I've finally found my acting home! Thank you read more

This was my first ever acting class and I am so glad I found Graham Shiels Studios! They are super welcoming and immediately make you feel comfortable. I felt good knowing that despite it being my first experience in an acting class, they still pushed me in the best way. I cannot recommend The Lab enough. I'm so glad I found this studio! All of the teachers were so knowledgeable and overall I felt welcomed despite the nerves of it being my first time. read more

Year later. Amazing training. Everything is text based, very specific to understanding tone, genre and how to serve the text. This studio is built upon the premise to help you get work and book. This place is not "this system is the only way to act and you must learn it or you are lost." The studio is a true community dedicated to giving you tools and the awareness to enhance your talent. read more

Graham Shiels Studios is honestly such a great spot to grow as an actor. The classes push you in the best way, and Graham and his team give super helpful feedback that really makes a difference. It's a fun, supportive environment, and I always leave feeling more confident and ready to take on new roles. read more

I love this studio! Teachers are so inviting and encouraging! I definitely recommend!

If you attended the audit and found yourself on this yelp page, I have some bold advice for you: He's better at selling you the class than anything else, and there are a lot of acting teachers in LA who went to Yale if that's the experience you're looking for. Typically, on camera "labs" like these are looked down upon in the theatre community, as I've learned retrospectively. I recommend taking classes at a community college like SMC, it will be much cheaper and you'll receive a well rounded and concrete experience. For about $150 you can study with a theatre teacher from UCLA for about 4 months twice a week and have resources and equipment at your disposal that people like Graham wouldn't be able to offer. On top of that, if you're in SAG-AFTRA, the SAG-AFTRA foundation has free workshops with casting directors, and has it's own on-camera lab with readers and coaches if you need to make a last minute self tape (all of which is entirely funded by donations). Graham places a heavy emphasis on booking jobs, but it's just advertising. Other studios, like Berg Studios for example, don't have the same outlook despite casually having well-known actors in their repertoire. It's important to have a realistic view of the industry and what you can expect from it when you're starting out, especially since on camera labs like these prey on people who just moved to LA and have little experience or knowledge of theatre education or acting resources in the city. I deeply regret wasting my time and money here, and often look back at it with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm surprised that there aren't more negative reviews, seeing as Graham Shiels is entirely driven by profit. He's more interested in your credit card information than your ability as an actor, and I suggest looking into the resources I've mentioned. read more

Since I audited the class I knew I wanted to train here. This is not the typical LA acting studio where they try to convince you that THEIR method is the only true and correct method and everything else is garbage. No, this studio gives you practical ways (obviously while making you a better actor) to BOOK a role and ALL the instructors are WORKING actors. I've only taken the LAB so far but I just signed up for the ongoing classes. Can't wait to start working! read more

Just completed my 3week Lab, I recommend it to anyone interested in improving their Audition/On-camera technique. They put in a lot of time and care into preparing the class schedule and materials for the actors. The staff there are working actors, so they are able to provide the most recent industry information. read more