Paul Schackman’s Actors Instinct Workshop

Paul is a phenomenal teacher. Aside from learning great techniques that’s been broken down step by step, what you will also learn is the kind of attitude and professionalism that is needed to be successful running marathon in the business. You will learn a lot by watching and participating in the Tuesday class, and along the way you will pick up some of the finest jokes in town!

Paul has an approach to acting that just makes sense! It’s that simple. There are many places to study acting in LA, but few studios are as straightforward as this. Paul teaches what he knows: what has worked for him in the industry can relate to any actor, at any pace. This is a place for actors to challenge themselves by exploring their boundaries, and trusting their instincts. I have been so happy with this class, and Paul’s way of working has already made a positive impact on my career. He is a supportive teacher and an encouraging friend. I highly recommend you look into this place. I’m so happy I did!

Paul Schackman is a personal, professional, and student-​invested teacher. His class is laid back but challenging. It is less for the actor looking for a system or methodology and more the chance to flex their muscles and play their way toward more relaxed, instinctual and truthful acting. Highly recommended!

Paul is the BEST! Paul creates a safe and fun environment where you grow as an actor. Classes are extremely affordable for the starving artist. He gives each actor individual attention, which has really helped me with my confidence. I love that his Tuesday class is «drop-​in», so if you are booked you don’t lose money. Not only is he a great teacher and actor, but he is also a great person. Audit his class, you won’t be disappointed.

I used to be constantly thinking about character choices while delivering lines and it made my performances very stiff and unnatural. Paul has helped me so much in getting out of my head and connecting in a real way with material. I’ve improved so much and each week is a blast getting better and better.

I love Paul! I have been in the industry for about 15 years and I have studied many methods. Paul’s approach is the first one that I feel works completely with my own instincts and makes every character I take on more real and relatable. His guidance is gentle, allowing me to learn rather than just be directed, and the safe atmosphere he creates allows for great creativity and exploration. I have been working to get over several hang ups I have as an actor for years, and I was able to address them and for the first time conquer them in this class! Paul is a working actor himself so he also gives up to date advice on the industry and connections. He could charge so much more for all he provides, but he keeps his rates low so us starving actors can afford to attend! Go to his class. I guarantee you will have fun and learn something.

Paul is THE MAN and taking his class was the best decision I’ve made! I’ve gotten some great gigs as a result of it and would highly recommend it to anyone serious about acting!

Paul’s class is exactly what I needed at this stage of my acting career. I had the tendency to over prepare and focus too much on the lines and how to say them, but Paul has helped me let go of that habit in a very short time. Instead, I’m now focused on my character’s point of view and, most importantly, the person I’m speaking with. Rather than being controlled by the text, which led to false and forced acting toward where I thought the scene should go, I’m now freed up to express my natural, instinctive response to the situation, which is more truthful and a heck of a lot more fun. This also allows me to more flexibly handle any changes thrown at me– a huge help both in auditions and on set. Thanks, Paul!

I moved to Los Angeles several months ago, and after training in Chicago, I needed a new approach to my work. My material became too memorized and did not allow for directional changes required of me in the LA audition setting. I then found Paul and my craft changed for the better.
The Actors Instinct Workshop is the perfect place for you to let go of the text and focus on the person you are interacting with. Paul stresses that you are either acting or you are not acting… there is no wrong way to do it, as long as you are doing it. His approach allows you to be natural and in-​the-​moment. By not focusing all of your attention on the words, you realize how quickly the memorization becomes a byproduct of your work.
I would highly recommend this class for any actor at any level. It is the perfect workshop to keep you connected with your scene partner and experience (and not suppress) feelings as they arise.

In going through my four years of theatrical training, I found script memorization and the technical break down of a script (a process which follows) to be extremely tedious and seldom helpful. I then realized that the majority of actors go through the same precarious approach. –They spend vast amounts of time reading and re reading their lines, convinced that memorization (as the first step) is of the utmost importance. In the past year, I have come across this acting workshop, which essentially encourages the exact opposite. The strong belief held by this instructor is that memorization is simply a byproduct of truthfully and emotionally connecting to any material.
Paul’s class strays from the mainstream method of acting and invokes the natural learning process of human beings, in order to simplify the acting process. As a working actor, Paul is a testimony to the effectiveness of his own method. Along with many other things, I have learned to use my initial instincts while doing a cold reading, rather than allowing my conscience to commentate and direct in «how it should be said».
I’ve gone from needing weeks to memorize a monologue, to being able to do it in a day. –If that doesn’t show results worth getting on a soapbox for, then I don’t know what does.

Paul is terrific. He is as good as it gets. This is the way to go. Paul is sincere and gives you the best advise. Give it try. You will not regret it. You just might get a gig

It’s great to have a (currently) working actor teaching you how to work with scripts and connect to material in ways that all casting directors want you to — simple and real. Paul has worked on almost every TV show there is and he’s as good a teacher as he is an actor. Honest, clear and great at finding unique ways to help each student «get» the point of each exercise. Everyone works in each class multiple times (which is RARE in LA) and it’s the BEST, most professional, set up… 2 hours on Tuesday night for a really reasonable rate (also, RARE in LA). For actors just getting into auditioning or even seasoned veterans, there is something to be learned. I get way more callbacks now!

I started taking Paul’s class a month ago. Since then, Tuesday nights can’t come soon enough. His class makes me think harder than I knew possible and challenges me. Everyone in the class is SO supportive of each other. We each offer something different as actors, and Paul pulls it out of each one of us. We learn from every student, and enjoy watching each other succeed with each passing week. I moved from NY this year, and struggled to find a class that I loved here in LA. I found it in PAUL and ACTORS INSTINCT WORKSHOP!

I have been in several acting classes in Los Angeles. In Schackman’s class you don’t take notes, you don’t memorize lines, you don’t even ACT. The point is to connect to material, follow your gut, and be as real and believable as if you can in an audition. This is the point of an actor. And this is what keeps me coming back week after week. Paul and this class are top notch!