Chris Wells Acting Coach

10/14/2023

I am thrilled to share Maxim by Nyah Gazda with a wonderful performance by Alfred Cabrera!!

It’s a very cool short film. Creepy, and thought-provoking, and beautifully acted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya9mBWo2DFI

I have taught and coached Alfred since 2019 and I couldn’t be more proud. Over that time I have seen him grow from a relatively inexperienced “newbie” into a stunning young actor. His growth is a testament not only to his talent but also to the power of consistent and focused effort over time. Alfred has never stopped studying and growing; deepening his craft and methodically developing his professional life. And he is a lovely person, with a generous spirit that shines in everything he does.

https://www.alfredcabrera.com

alfred cabrera Hey, welcome to my to page. I’m a NYC based film and theatre actor living in Queens. Check out my reel, contact me or just follow me on Instagram.

09/17/2023

Hey all!

Just a quick reminder that my 6 Week On-Camera Acting Game Changer starts this coming week. It’s not too late to join us!

BTW, it may seem counter-intuitive but there are REAL ADVANTAGES TO TRAINING THIS WAY AS OPPOSED TO AN IN-PERSON CLASS.

For example, it helps you develop a daily practice routine so you don’t get rusty in between gigs or auditions. It also gives us an opportunity to go deeper into some fundamental aspects of your craft so you can take a major leap forward.

It’s never been more affordable — my way of helping during the strike ;-)

It's also super flexible ‘cause you can do the lessons at home in your own time, working with scene partners from our wonderful community.

Give me a shout if you’d like to hear more about the advantages of App-based training vs. an in-person class.

Packages start at only $99 (hundreds of dollars off the usual cost)

There’s never been a better time.

09/06/2023

What are your plans for the Fall?

So - summer is over and the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are not. Yet…

Why not take advantage of some spare time to up your game?

I’ve spoken to lots of actors this year who were really excited about my stuff but weren’t able to make it work financially. So I decided to remove that obstacle as much as I possibly could during these tough and uncertain times.

And, since the strikes drag on, I’ve decided to continue offering huge discounts this Fall.

If you have found my posts helpful, or intriguing, and want to know more about what I do, let’s talk!

My 6 Week On Camera Acting Game Changer has never been more affordable and I don’t know how much longer I will be offering it at such a low cost.

The Game Changer is packed with information and step-by-step training to help you nail your self-tapes and performances, but it’s also flexible. The course content is on an App. So you can do the lessons in your own time (working with partners), supported by email and a wonderful community, plus group and 1:1 coaching if you want.

It’s designed to be like a six week intensive you might take at The Barrow Group (where I teach) focusing on On Camera Acting and Self-Tapes.
I have 5 Goals for you:
1. A complete sense of Ease on Camera
2. A Rock Solid Understanding of your Craft
3. A Reliable Process of Preparation
4. The Ability to Direct Yourself
5. Joining a Supportive Community

There are 3 options in terms of packages starting at only $99 (hundreds of dollars in savings).

We start next week.

There’s never been a better time.

08/26/2023

LEARN TO NAIL YOUR SELF-TAPES EVERY TIME
(For less than the cost of an acting class)

I’ve been getting questions about my On Camera Acting Game Changer course so here’s some basic info ;-)

The program teaches an effective, efficient process for doing really strong self-tapes (within an overall approach to acting on camera). There are daily lessons 5 days a week for 6 weeks (a ton of information). It takes about an hour a day and it’s designed to be fascinating and fun! (I’m a huge believer in the power of play.)

Here’s what’s included:

- 6 Week On Camera Acting Game Changer to take your work to the next level
- PDF Library for Quick Reference on Acting Technique
- Private Accountability and Support Group To Keep you on Track
- Your Own ActorsEdge App to Learn Anywhere, Any Time
- Discounted Access to Group and 1:1 Coaching

The lessons are available on an App. So you can do the lessons whenever you want (working with partners), with support from me by email and a wonderful community, plus group and 1:1 coaching if you want.

There are 3 options in terms of packages (all deeply discounted now because of the strikes):

1) Game Changer Course with email support and Private Community: $99
(save $200)

2) All of the above + 3 Group Coaching Sessions (Every 2 weeks) $199
(save $500)

3) All of the above + 3 1/hour Private Coaching Sessions (Every 2 Weeks) $499 (save $725)

LMK if you have questions. We start in a couple of weeks!

08/22/2023

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR BOOKING RATE: TRY THIS

If I had to pick one thing that can immediately improve your on-camera booking rate, it would have to be physical activities.

I recently coached an actor on a scene they were struggling with in which the character was doing some sewing. Before we did anything else, I said: “Great! Do you know how to sew?” They said: “Oh yes, I do it all the time.” I said: “Great do you have something you can sew now?” They said: “Sure.” I said: “Go get your things and sew something while we do the scene.” The transformation was instantaneous and profound.

A friend of mine was talking with a casting director recently. She told him that she got curious about what, if anything, was different about the self-tapes of actors who booked. So she went back and reviewed their auditions, and she discovered that the biggest difference was that they had what is sometimes called a “physical life”.

I’m generally skeptical of acting buzzwords, but this one seems to me a reasonable way of summing up all the things an actor is PHYSICALLY doing when they act. Like activities, or movement of some kind, even down to little bits of behavior that are so subtle we hardly noticed them. (In fact, the best activities don’t call attention to themselves, they just seem like real life.)

Time after time, I have seen the introduction of physical behavior transform a scene from something that feels like a reading or an audition to something that feels like watching a real person in a real situation. The transformation is almost magical. Yet surprisingly many actors don’t take full advantage of this extremely powerful part of their craft.

Physical life is so fundamental, and so central to my approach, that I recommend actors work on this before they work on their lines. For me, step 1 is script analysis, which gives you the foundation for deciding what physical activities are appropriate for the scene. And step 2 is working out the physical activities.

Then, with that solid foundation of physical behavior, I find actors are MUCH more grounded and relaxed, more in their bodies, and in their voices. In other words, much better prepared to begin the tricky process of making scripted text feel and sound real.

My 6 Week On Camera Acting Game Changer takes you step-by-step through this process of preparation and provides a wealth of insights into how to make your self-tapes stand out consistently so you start booking more work!

The course is now available for hundreds of dollars off.

Message me soon if you’d like to sign up. We start in a couple of weeks.

08/20/2023

THE PARADOX OF PREPARATION IN ACTING

The best acting is instinctual.

And trusting our instincts requires one of two things: Confidence (in our ability and our understanding of the scene) or the subtle art of not giving a #*&!.

Both can work. The problem with the second is that, while it can lead to brilliant work, it can also lead to work that is awful.

The problem with preparation is that in cultivating confidence, we may kill off the instinctual responses that are the real gold.

It’s a kind of Catch 22. We need preparation in order to trust our impulses. But over preparation (or, more often, the wrong kind of preparation!) can take the magic out of our work.

So what’s the best way to prepare?

Preparation is forming habits. So it’s critical to examine our process to make sure that we are DOING what is ESSENTIAL and AVOIDING what is COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.

What's essential?

A. SCRIPT ANALYSIS - so that:

1. You don’t miss important details in the text
2. You understand all the context (5Ws)
3. You understand the story structure

B. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: Most actors tend to neglect or undervalue this. If to act is to do, what are you doing? PHYSICALLY. (Actions/objectives are another story.) Once you work this out, make sure you are really doing each thing and you will ground your playing in undeniable physical reality (both for you and the audience). It’s also the best way to tell stories - especially on camera.

C. REALLY TALKING AND LISTENING: This takes practice

Which brings me to the main things to avoid.

A. Practicing without a scene partner. As soon as you start playing a scene, saying lines, work with another person. (It’s OK if that other person is on Zoom as long as you’re talking to a real person in real time.)

B. Practicing line readings. A big temptation - and a big trap. If you notice line readings forming (this often happens automatically), break them. Change the rhythm or inflection.

C. Memorizing in a way that leads to line readings. This is where many actors go wrong. So I have a process for getting word perfect (if that is required ) without locking in line readings.

D. Trying to be “natural”. In an effort to be natural, many actors end up making their work flat. Conversational - but boring. And no more real. This is case-by-case but sometimes giving yourself permission to “overact” will help you play more freely, more impulsively.

If you want to give your process a tune-up, shoot me a message! I am currently offering a MAJOR DISCOUNT on my 6 WEEK ON CAMERA ACTING GAME CHANGER, which goes into all of the above in detail.

This is my way of supporting you, my dear fellow players, during these tough times.

Storytelling is medicine and the world needs healing. Let’s keep learning to be the best storytellers we can be!

08/18/2023

6 WEEKS TO SELF-TAPE MASTERY

Self-tapes are here to stay. Are yours as good as they can be?

Let’s face it. It’s kinda weird setting up a camera in your own home and taping yourself acting. Do you have a reliable, repeatable process for delivering your best work every single time? Or is it still a bit hit and miss?

Do you enjoy the process or dread it?

Are you making common mistakes that undermine the power of your acting?

I’ve helped scores of actors — from young students to established professionals — take their playing to a whole new level with simple actor-tested techniques that can be used instantly. And they work!

I’ve refined an approach based on the very best techniques I’ve encountered in more than 50 years acting on stage and camera. And I’d love to share it with you.

For self-tapes, I’ve developed a structured technique that distills the craft to its essentials. It’s a step-by-step process of preparing to act on camera that simplifies everything from framing to eye-lines so you have total clarity.

Here’s what students are saying:

“I have always been very adamant about only taking in-person acting classes, but I not only liked Chris’s course more, I found it more valuable. Chris’s Game Changer course truly lives up to the name. I cannot recommend it enough.”

———————————

“I loved the simplicity. I never felt overwhelmed or stressed, which automatically makes the work enjoyable. Small, manageable steps are the key to creating good habits and I think Chris’s system makes creating these new habits incredibly realistic.”

If this interests you, let’s arrange a time to talk (no cost and no commitment) so we can see if it’s a good fit for you.

See how I can help you:

- do beautiful, powerful self-tapes and auditions every time
- direct yourself
- manage nerves and tough situations
- fall in love with acting again

If things are slow for you during the strikes, why not use the time to hone your craft?

And because I’m offering the program at hundreds of dollars off the usual price, there’s never been a better time ;-)

Shoot me a message to learn more!

08/17/2023

TO ALL MY FELLOW ACTORS

Things are really tough for actors these days and I want to do what I can to support.

So I am thrilled to share the news that my 6 Week On Camera Acting Game Changer is now available for hundreds of dollars off.

Why?

During the strikes (and they will end), is a great time to hone your skills. Since the course is already built (and actor-tested!) I am able to offer it for a huge discount.

The results have been amazing.

Like Alfred, who booked his first film just after completing the program; he played the lead and did such an amazing job that the whole crew burst into applause after he nailed a particularly challenging take. They even invited him to do two more roles with the same team*.

Or Nhumi, who wondered whether she could even call herself an actor – since she was hardly ever acting – and re-kindled her joy and passion, started doing stunning self-tapes and getting jobs, including a great role in a pilot directed by 2 industry legends ...

Give me a shout if you’re interested and we can arrange a time to talk!

Chris

* Click here (https://chriswellsacting.com) for Alfred’s take on the Game Changer

08/16/2023

QUICK ACTING TIP: PARAPHRASE (Then go back to the lines)

If you’re having trouble getting a monologue or a self-tape to feel natural, it may help to let yourself paraphrase the lines. Try not to change the meaning of what you’re saying but put it in your own words. This can help you key in on what you’re trying to say rather than the words, which is more like how we talk in real life. Then go back to the lines. (Note: in certain situations paraphrasing is not only accepted but encouraged. Just check that you’re not changing the meaning, because then you are changing the story.)

Give it a try and LMK what you discover!