I have been attending ALW Acting Studios for about 4 months. It is INTENSE. Adam will CHALLENGE you…read moreto develop your TALENT. In the past couple years I have become a working actress and I go on a good amount of auditions. I had an AUDITION yesterday for something I couldn't wrap my head around. I applied what I've learned in Adam's class. Here's the feedback I got: "Wow you are the only girl to NAIL IT in the rehearsal!" " Do you do a lot of theater, because it seemed like you were really seeing everything?" I wanted to say yeah I do theater 4 hours a week at ALW Acting Studios. It's very rewarding to see such immediate results from putting in the WORK. My number one goal is to BOOK JOBS and further my career, which I believe Adam's class will help me with. But! I also love being re-inspired as an actor and realizing there is so much more to LEARN! The class is inexpensive and ADAM gives all of himself and his experience as he coaches you to FIND YOUR GREATNESS! http://www.imdb.me/gabrielleconforti

Adam knows his stuff. He's a teacher, he's a coach & he' a mentor. Thanks ADAM!read more

This is by far one of the top acting classes in LA! It's nothing compared to others because coach…read moreBanks doesn't just focus on the craft of acting or a specific technique (even though he does train us on those things), he brings coaching to all areas of our lives so that we can walk in better balance with hard work and discipline in everything we do. He has incredible knowledge in the industry and the business of it. But more than and acting coach he's a life coach.

I met Clay at an agency meeting, he came in to speak to our group…read more I was very, very intrigued at what he had to say. So when he announced that we could go try out his studio, I practically ran in. He spoke about developing your product, learning the craft, being authentically you, among other things. He also said that they use cameras at their studio, including an extreme close up shot. But the biggest thing was that I could tell he is a very genuine dude, who is extremely invested in helping people succeed. As well as overcoming the things inside of them that are holding them back. So I went to the two classes, had a fantastic experience, as I knew I would, and am enrolled and will start this coming week. Can't wait to grow at this studio. Cheers.

It was awesome taking classes with Lloyd! I am a vocalist hoping to learn guitar and piano from…read morescratch so I could get better at songwriting and production. Lloyd is clearly expert at both instruments and adapted the lessons to meet me exactly where I was at. It was especially helpful to bring attention to some habits I picked up from random self-learning; Lloyd immediately notices details that, when adjusted, makes a world of difference. Lesson plans were very flexible which was helpful when I was interested in many different things. He's very patient, easy to talk to, and makes things fun so I didn't feel frustrated being a stumbling beginner and was able to focus on refining skills :) Looking forward to the next class!

I got voice and guitar lessons from Lloyd as a birthday gift from a friend, and what a fantastic…read moregift it turned out to be! Lloyd is an amazing teacher with a great ear and a clear, approachable way of explaining things. He tailors each lesson to what you're interested in while still keeping everything structured so you make real progress. He will record a lesson summary for you at the end of each session, which is incredibly useful to look back on and makes practicing so much easier. On top of being a talented musician and teacher, Lloyd is just an overall great guy - easy to work with, encouraging, and genuinely invested in your growth. I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking to improve their voice, guitar skills, or both! :-)

Life-changing experience. The level of support, wisdom, skill and compassion in Gerry & Heather and…read morethe space they've created is unmatched. 5 stars isn't enough!

I joined this class with absolutely zero stand-up experience, and it exceeded all my expectations…read more Gerry and Heather are phenomenal instructors, and their system truly works. They create a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable taking risks and finding their voice. By the end of the class, I had a set I was proud of and the confidence to get on stage and perform it. The group itself was incredibly supportive, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

You get high quality work at Hot Shots!…read more I've taken Jon's workshop, self taped with him, and also filmed a demo reel with him. I've learned so much about the industry, and I feel confident in the work I produce because of his guidance and feedback. Jon has always been kind, professional, and respectful, and I'm grateful for all of his insight and support. Thanks, Jon!

Stop thinking about it and work with Jon. There are no words to describe how incredible he is as…read moreboth a teacher and an actor. I recently took his Self Tape Mastery 3-Day Intensive and WOW. I truly cannot recommend it enough. I've been acting for a few years now (mainly commercials and short films) and I had always wanted to train with Jon. But to be honest, I was pretty intimidated because I know many of his clients are booking major projects. I went into the class so nervous I wouldn't measure up, but I felt at ease immediately and couldn't stop thinking, "Why didn't I do this sooner?!?" Jon is INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about the industry and the amount of insight he shares is invaluable. My mind seriously was racing trying to absorb everything. Plus, he creates such a welcoming and supportive environment. He tells it like it is (something I've been searching for in an acting teacher for years), but in a way that makes you feel empowered and capable. I genuinely didn't want the class to end. And yes, by the end of the three days, I walked out as a stronger actor and I promise you will too. Jon is also one of the most supportive people you'll meet. He'll be your biggest cheerleader and is the kind of coach who simply wants to see his students succeed. In fact, I went back to tape an audition with him just a few days later, which was another fantastic experience. He really is a one-in-a-million coach and LA is lucky to have him. I'm already looking forward to getting back into his studio again soon. So if you're considering working with Jon, take the leap and invest in yourself. You'll walk away with priceless knowledge and guidance from one of the best.

Zero stars SCAM! My fiancé was excited about attending the Adult Commercial Workshop course. She…read morestruggle during her introductory monologue the teacher (who never showed his face) gave no constructive feedback and proceeded to tell her to "call back in 5yrs when she's ready" and hug up in her face. She thought it may have been a mistake and tried to reconnect, and was never allowed back in the class. I dont leave comments, but the disrespect, confusion, and frustration my fiancé experienced made me want to save everyone the headache.

Killian is a well respected and skilled educator in our community…read more Thank you for encouraging, inspiring and being an incredible mentor for many! Happy Holidays! "LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR." -Killian McHugh

My opinion: They Don't Stand Behind Their Product…read more I took TV 1 in January. I developed a pilot with specific direction from an instructor at Writing Pad. It was a really good experience. I took TV 2 in Feb, using the same exact draft from TV 1. In the first class of TV 2, the instructor said she didn't understand my pilot, and that I would need to change it anyway because marketing wouldn't know it sell it. I told this is how the instructor in TV 1 specifically told me to do it. I like it, so please only give me notes on how to make this story work. To the best of my recollection, the next 3 classes, the TV 2 instructor didn't to my knowledge read my outline. Each class, I wouldn't get much from her except her demand that I change my pilot for marketing reasons. I called Writing Pad to express my dissatisfaction with a marketing note in a TV Writing Class. This is the first phone call on the image below. The person there said he would look into it and call me back. Almost a week passed. Nothing. An hour before class, I called him. He said he didn't see her doing some other things, but to my knowledge made no mention of the "note issue" I referenced above. I asked him to focus on the "note issue" with the instructor. He said he would. Class started, but I didn't hear anything, so I emailed Writing Pad. They responded with the first text in green in the image attached to say they talked with teacher about the "note issue." The above interaction with Writing Pad didn't sit well with me. A student emailed me the next day, to say that she was dropping TV 2 and she wished to remain in touch. I asked her why she was dropping. Her response is the first email of 3 in the image below. I redacted this and sent it to Writing Pad that same day, Friday, since they had asked for proof regarding the issues I raised on the call. The next day, Saturday, Writing Pad responded with the second email of 3 in the image below, kicking me out of class and seemingly banning me from all of Writing Pad. I can't say why they did this in response to what I see as me simply informing them with proof that other students felt as I did. In response to their email, I told them that my opinion was they were reacting against me to reduce their liability because I had furnished proof. I pointed out the irony that they were saying no teacher at Writing Pad would understand my pilot, when I wrote it at the specific direction of another of their instructors in TV 1. This irony is what makes me feel like they don't stand behind their product. Because their reaction seemed to me unmerited, I reiterated the events through my eyes and told them I would post a review. My intention was to give them the benefit of the doubt to speak for themselves in what I saw as a major overreaction. They responded with the third email, which I see as a veiled threat. You may draw your own conclusions.

I enjoyed the classes I took here. It can be a real mixed bag. Had two instructors I loved and two…read moreI wished I hadn't taken classes from. The owners are very responsive and really care about their school. They have mixers and other events for new writers. The only problem would be that it's hard to figure out who is actually a good teacher and who isn't. There's no real way to find honest feedback about the instructors. It's quite expensive so a misstep in this direction could feel like it's career ending as the bad teachers, and screenwriters in general, can be quite nasty. That can be a problem at any school though. Overall, I recommend this place.

What can I say about Nicole Criona that hasn't already been said by her many clients? She's a gem…read more She's super knowledgeable, motivating, detailed in her suggestions (and broader too when you need that)... and best of all, a deeply compassionate human being. Whatever parts of your story you think are not working, she helps you sort out and get to the bottom of. She's helped me to develop my main character's voice, pretty tricky to do given that it's a white older male (very different from me), and shepherded me from writing my first five chapters over and over again to my latest chapter, thirty-four. I'm almost done with my first draft, and I'm looking forward to my second. I've told her many times: I couldn't have made it so far without her. She gets it. All of it. The prose, the mental trap doors, how to build suspense and empathy within the readers, the whole process, from the first word on the page to getting it out there. If you're thinking about writing a book, by all means, enlist her help from the get-go. My only regret in working with Nicole is that I didn't find her SOONER. It would've cut months out of my process! I've only done private sessions with her, no classes, so I can't speak about those, but holy-moly, is she an expert as a one-on-one coach. She's my creative fairy godmother!!! Thank you, Nicole!

SHORT VERSION: Reach out to Nicole if you're ready to finally write that novel you've always…read moredreamed of. You will have your life changed for the better by the kindest, most passionate and genuine person you'll ever meet. LONG VERSION: I have been working with Nicole for a few years now and I can say with 10000% confidence that I would not have been able to write my novel without her. I initially signed up for her one-on-one coaching because I needed accountability to actually get writing done, but through our work together I've gained SO much more. Her feedback is invaluable. Not only have I learned so much about the craft of writing from her (the quality of my writing has improved tenfold, no lie), but she has this amazing gift of tapping into my brain and helping me realize that I already know all the answers to the questions I have about my novel. She's given me a confidence in my writing that I never knew I could have. My favorite thing about Nicole, though, is her ability to encourage me. She knows when I need a gentle push, and when I need a bit of fire lit under my ass. But even when she lights a fire, she manages to do it in such a loving way! I know that she genuinely cares about me and my novel, and I never doubt that she's rooting for me. I'm also a member of the First Draft Incubator workshop which is just as wonderful as private coaching. Each meeting leaves me in such a great mood. Whether we go over craft topics or just spend the meeting with everyone updating each other on our progress and discussing writing, I get so much from each session. Writing is such a solitary act and it's so nice to feel connected to other writers. I wouldn't be the writer I am today if it wasn't for Nicole, and I am forever grateful to her. I look forward to working with her on my second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) novel!