KNOW YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR, A PERSON & A PRODUCT.
A Class For Actors who are ready to dig in and get to work!
The Truth is what you’re searching for in yourself, your character and your work. In order to find it, you must first know yourself as an actor, a person and a product. Success in this industry depends on having a strong sense of direction in all of these areas. Michael Leoni’s classes are specifically designed to help you achieve that.
Know Your Type: Are you right for Studio Film? Indie Film?
One-Hour Drama? Comedy? Commercials? Are your headshots
working for you? Are you marketing yourself correctly?
Know Yourself:
In order to become a character, you need to understand the
instincts, emotions and rawness of human behavior. As humans,
we all have basic needs and desires. Once you understand them,
developing the life and back-story of your character will naturally
become more truthful.
It takes guts not to try to control anything. Working with Coach
Michael Leoni (sometimes credited as Michael
Justen) will help you focus on all of these aspects in order
to give you, the actor, a working knowledge of yourself, your
craft and the business of acting. His goal is to guide actors
through their rawest selves towards the most important and
intense truths of the character, so the audience forgets they are
watching acting.
The Coach:
Michael Leoni has been has been called a true “actor’s director” because he connects with the actor on a human level and provides a safe, honest and nurturing environment for creative freedom, self-discovery and a focused commitment to the business of acting.
Directing and writing for over 12 years, Michael spent the last six between New York City and Los Angeles. His projects have received rave reviews by the press, industry professionals and more importantly by the actors he’s worked with.
During the course of his coaching and directing career he has worked with actors varying from beginners to professional Film, TV and Broadway level talent. The end result of his work has connected actors and singers with theatrical and commercial agents, managers, record labels and direct casting.
Currently, in different stages of development, Michael has three Feature Films, two Broadway Musicals, two Documentaries and a Television Show being packaged at CAA.
His most recent stage production of The Playground, a Rock Drama, inspired by the true events of teenage runaways and street kids, ran in Los Angeles for the last three years and is now in development as a Feature Film.
Group classes are limited to 12 students; private coaching, audition technique and scene study are also available. For more information, please email us with your name, contact info and a brief introduction of yourself. Or call 323-848-8821.
“As an acting coach and teacher myself I am highly critical of referring other coaches. Michael Leoni is the exception to that rule. As a strong director, he brings a passion for the craft as well as a brilliant awareness of human behavior. He is a strong teacher with the ability to take actors to the most honest place. I’ve seen his work as a director, actor and as a teacher and I highly recommend him!”
Lisa Pantone - Casting Director, Acting Coach
“Michael Leoni is a wonderful acting resource. Not only is he a focused director, but he’s an extremely talented actor. This can only benefit actors being directed by him, for he has the knowledge and understanding of acting that allows him to properly communicate what he wants out of you, and a solution on how to get you there. It’s an honor and a learning experience to work with him.”
Lisa Schwartz - Actress
“Working with director Michael Leoni was an experience I would recommend to anyone. His vision and direction took me to places I never thought possible.”
Luke Barnett - Actor, Film & TV
“Watching Michael work has been completely inspiring. Creatively, he’s years ahead of his time, both as a writer and as a director. It’s his passion and dedication to the work that I found most impressive but his knowledge of what’s current and what’s “now” is the true genius that continues to attract top level of industry to his work.”
Jeanne Elfant Festa - Producer, Piper Cub Productions
“Working with Michael brought my acting to a place that I never thought it could be. He’s up close and personal and he knows exactly how to get what he wants out of you. He connects with you on a level that makes you feel safe and free to go to the places you’re afraid to go.”
Rachael Page - Interscope Recording Artist
“He has a passion, curiosity and drive for what goes on beneath the surface of his generation. He is unafraid to reveal the truth. He creates from the realities of what he finds. He goes to those places; brutally at times, that most of us do not want to see.”
Peter Flint - Broadway Actor, Director
