FAQs

All new students to Speiser/Sturges are placed in one of our Technique classes. This is to familiarize you with our methods and the terminology we use. Under some circumstances, new students with a professional reel and training may be placed in a Scene Study class. Please know this is to serve you and Technique is the most informative and useful class we teach.

We do not offer refunds or prorate, your tuition is not transferable. Please be sure that you wish to enroll before you pay. If you have a special circumstance, please inform the office manager ASAP and we can work to perhaps extend your enrollment if you must miss class for a prolonged period of time. Think of your membership as you would a gym membership or an art school. We hope that you will come regularly and get the most of class, but cannot credit you if you don't attend, we have reserved that space for you.

We do not guarantee a particular teacher, when you are a student you will have access to all of the instructors and can audit all of the regular session classes.

Our Online Technique classes run for six weeks and meet twice a week. Technique taught at the studio is 12 weeks long (Technique is 12 lessons). Our Scene Study classes are ongoing and monthly. If you are new/returning to the studio a minimum 3-month commitment is required.

Our technique is specifically focused on film and television. It is based primarily on the teachings of Stanislavski, as well as Spolin, Hagen, and other great teachers. However, Stanislavski's work was strictly focused on theatre. We have updated and modernized the entire technique so that we can stay at the cutting edge of modern acting. Our goal in all of this work is to create truthful behavior (life) in the imaginary world of the script.

When you join a scene study class, there is no rehearsal, blocking, or projecting of your voice. We want to prepare you to be a professional film actor. When you join the studio we give you a copy of our studio binder with our techniques and exercises.

We use material from film, television, and plays. In the beginning, the teacher will select your material. Eventually, you should be finding your own material to work on.

There is no violence in the studio, ever. There is no food or drink allowed in the studio (water and coffee are allowed.) Please turn off your cell phones, refrain from texting, and no recording of your fellow students. Always be respectful, acting is being vulnerable.

Yes, contact the studio as one-month programs are tailored to the specific student and pricing is adjusted accordingly.

Not at this time. Shannon does offer private coaching for teens and youth and is CPS permitted. We recommend our trained teachers, Deena Freeman and Ada Luz Pla for classes. Contact the studio for their info.

Yes, Shannon and all of our associate teachers offer private coaching. Contact our studio for rates, we also offer discounts for packages of five or more sessions. Discounts are available to all current studio members. Sessions are held in our studio on La Cienega or via Zoom.

Sorry, we don’t often answer the phone. We are coaching, recording or teaching. Email us and we usually respond within 24 hours. If needed we will call you to discuss your questions in detail.

Please schedule an audit or email the studio at info@speisersturges.com; we are always happy to help! If your questions are personal or time consuming career related, booking a private session might be needed.

There is no audition required to join.

In addition to Technique and Scene Study classes, we regularly offer specialty classes such as Commercial Classes, Voice, Dialects, Improv, Stage Combat and Cold Reading/Audition technique. Specialty classes typically run in 4-8 week cycles. Check our class schedule for dates and times and current offerings. Be sure that you are subscribed to our newsletter to get notified when those classes are offered.

This means that when you are in a scene study class, there is no rehearsal. That's right-- NONE. You can run lines before class with your partner, but you won’t be going to someone’s house to rehearse because you won’t be able to do that when you book a job. Oftentimes, you’ll first meet the other actor on set the day you shoot. Our process gives you the tools you need to work professionally. Our scene study classes are not camera.

All of our regular classes are for adults 18 and up; coaching and referrals are available for youth.

Yes! Technique, Scene Study, Audition Technique and private coaching. We have had students from every part of the globe.

Yes! As long as you are a current studio member, you can audit classes at no cost.