Magnolia Studio

I am rarely on Facebook any more, if you are interested in booking the studio, please reach out to me via email at [email protected].

Rates: $25/hour (week day discount: $20/hr until 6 pm).

Location: On Magnolia between Laurel Canyon and the 170 in Valley Village, CA, 91607.

Features:
Waiting room/holding area
Restroom
AC/Heat
Projector/Screen
Fiber Optic internet & WiFi
24+ Chairs
Flexible layout

Ideal for classes, workshops, auditions, rehearsals, table reeds.

Ample street parking.

No shoots, please.

So, I have an idea for re-starting acting classes. I'd like to know what people think.

First of all, let me be clear - health and safety first. I am not interesting in coaching anybody through some deep Method work of what it is to be deadly ill.

None of this happens until we are reasonably sure it's safe to do so. LA County Covid cases are currently (as of June 11) on the rise again. I'm gonna keep a sharp eye on that for the next 2-4 weeks before we open up, and I reserve the right to push back opening indefinitely, or re-closing if necessary.

That out of the way, here's the idea:

1. On-going class is broken down into 4 week (or possibly 1 month) Cycles. I would ask everyone to commit to a month at a time minimum. (If you need to study half time, please consider going with a month on/ month off pattern, or, if there are enough people who want to do half time, we could form an every-other week Pod (see next item) that goes for two months.)

2. Every class is divided into Pods of 4 students each.

Only the 4 students from each pod (and I) are in the room at a time, for (initially) 1.5 hour sessions. We'll work on two scenes during each session, asking the two non-working actors to run cameras while wearing masks.

New Pods are formed every month, and the 4 actors come up with 6 scenes for each possible pairing, so each actor will do 3 scenes over the course of the cycle (each time with a different partner), with the 4th week dedicated to a detailed check in with each actor, goal setting, and cold read/prepared practice. This will also give us the flexibility to handle the inevitable occasional missed class.

3. On a given class night, we might have the first pod at 6, 2nd at 7:45, 3rd at 9:30. It is essential that students show up on time!!

There would be time for students to socialize outdoors before and after their pods while the studio is aired out and sanitized.

4. Make ups would happen in the form of my helping you with a self-tape, either real or practice.

5. Counter virus measures would include:

a) Airing out the room (with a big ass fan or two) in between Pods, if not in between scenes.
b) Sanitizing all surfaces daily, if not in between Pods
c) A strict do-not-come-if-you-are-ill policy
d) Temperature checks upon arrival
e) Frequent hand washing and sanitizing
f) Masks to be worn by the non working students and me
g) adopting any other measures that SAG/AFTRA, LA County etc. recommend.
h) No kissing scenes! (unless you live together anyway)

Thoughts?

I'm gonna have the super bowl up on the big screen in the studio if you want to swing by - Go Niners! (DM me so I know you're coming)

Scene study class starts in one week - Mondays at 7pm at the studio. I have a couple of spots left, if you would like to come check it out! DM me.

Annnnnd.... We're off!!

Scene Study class with Jeff Elam starts on Monday, February 3rd at 7 pm at the Studio!

Picking up where Glenn left off, Monday nights at the studio will be a bit more tightly focused on the scene work, and with learning how to adjust your work for the camera.

$200 per month, everybody works every class. Class limited to 12 people so that everybody gets sufficient attention.

Free to audit, just let us know! Questions? You can reach Jeff via DM or at 323-687-5333.

Happy New Year, and welcome to my vision for 2020!

For the past two years, I have cut my teeth teaching in Glenn Morshower's stead while he worked on The Resident in Atlanta, and spent some much needed time with his family in Dallas. Glenn finally decided to pull the plug on his Los Angeles workshop at the end of last year in order to settle in Dallas. With his choice made, and with his blessing and encouragement, I'd like to pick up the ball, and along with as many of you as possible, keep on running with it.

To be clear: As we move forward, Glenn, while always welcome here, will not be involved.

That said, here's what we're going to do.

I have three offerings to start off with. Please reach out to me (Jeff Elam) here via DM if you are interested in any one or more of them. You can also reach me at 323-687-5333, or at [email protected].

1. First Fridays: A monthly gathering on the first Friday of the month.

First Fridays would be very similar to what you are used to with the Extra Mile Classes - good news, warmups, a potluck/party/celebration atmosphere, and scene work for those who want it. If you would like to bring in a scene, the cost is $60 per scene ($30 if you have a monologue). For everyone else who'd like to join us, I'll just put out a donation bucket.

2. Weekly Scene Study Class (on going): Mondays evenings. This class is intended as gym/workout for advanced actors - I need to keep the level of skill/work high in this one. You'll be ready to take on that massive guest star self tape with only a few days days prep, because that's the kind of thing you'll be doing every week.

We'll also start looking into how to take a scene that is great in the room and turn it into a great scene on camera. Less emphasis on warm-ups and good news so we can leave time to put the standout scenes on camera. Cost: $200 per 4-week month, with some incentives to potentially lower the cost a little.

3. Basic Scene Study Class (8 week workshop): This one is geared towards those still working on mastering the basics. For those students, I'll ask you to learn the tools I teach in this workshop before I invite you to join the ongoing class. Cost: $480 per 8 week session. Which night is TBD, but most likely Tuesday or Wednesday.

Fringe benefits:

I do self-tapes with a top of the line 4-point lighting set up in the studio. The normal rate is a dollar a minute. Current studio students (and SAG-AFTRA members) get 25% off!