The Actors Company

I first met Joe when I signed up for their demo reel service. I was surprised that they offered such a helpful format for it, with three rehearsals designed to help you choose then work on a scene to tape. Besides being an extremely nice and positive person, Joe was also an excellent director and coach for the scenes. So much so, that I decided to give his Tuesday class a try and have never regretted it. Each class gives you a lot to work with from on-​camera, to audition technique, to even improv and cold reading. And through it all, Joe constantly makes it a fun, safe, and supportive environment while providing coaching and direction that I feel is on point. Really, one of the best classes I have taken. I know Joe and Lawrin are looking to grow the Actors Company and I am excited to see and hopefully take part in what more they will offer!

I cannot say enough good things about The Actors Company. After hearing some of the negative issues that the previous owner (Daniel) left with Joe and Lawrin, it is no wonder there were awful reviews, unfortunately. However, Joe and Lawrin have completely revamped this place. I have been taking classes here for a while now, and I can honestly say that Joe is the kindest and most encouraging teacher I have ever had. Lawrin and Daleelah keep the studio running in tip-​top shape as well. Any problems can be solved with a simple phone call and communication. I hope to keep growing more here as an actor in the future.

I had a really fantastic experience with The Actors Company. I was referred by a friend who had had success with them previously to do their manager workshop and so I signed up. It was for 5 managers and the cost was very affordable. To my surprise they also included a coaching session with their acting coach Joe Salazar. You come the day before the workshop and go over your scene with him. I wasn’t sure what to expect since it was someone I didn’t know, but he was incredibly friendly and welcoming and gave me good direction on my scene that I believe helped for when I performed the following night.
The workshop itself was pretty fun too — they emphasize that the performance is for you and to just have fun, which reminds you to take some of the pressure off yourself (or try to anyway). You also get to read with the reader BEFORE you’re performing which helps SO much just to get a feel for what energy they’re going to throw back at you and to be given the chance to give them adjustments if needbe. After all the performances you then go and do a Q&A with the managers which lets you get to know their personality and style a little bit.
After the workshop I was contacted by one of the managers to meet and after I went in, they offered me management. I am very grateful to TAC for giving me a comfortable space to perform in front of industry professionals and push my career in this crazy town further along.

I was given wonderful advice for my acting reel. The school was extremely organized and professional. I couldn’t have done it without Joe and his team!!! You guys rock! Thank you Actors Company LA!!!

I teach at The Groundlings Theatre, and yesterday, I got a last minute audition that I needed to self-​tape. I asked my students where I should go, and they all recommended The Actors Company. I walked in and told them that I needed to self-​tape an audition, and they were able to accommodate me in on short notice. They were so nice, professional, and helpful; it could have been a very stressful process, but instead it was fun, and I felt totally relaxed with the reader. The footage was high quality, and everything was shot, edited and emailed to the casting director in less than an hour. Also, the cost was very affordable. I can’t say enough good things about this place!

Contrary to popular belief, I think actors are lovely. [Speaking in general terms] They’re silly people with big dreams. I also think they deserve respect, but most out-​of-​work/​older/​failed actors, casting directors, and managers take advantage of rookie talent.
It may sound cliché, but actors need to look out for other actors. After all, acting originated from the concept of a communal group living on stage…
It’s not a stretch to regard «The Actors Company» as one of those places in which industry professionals get paid to watch actors perform.
The previous owner, Daniel Probert, completely annihilated any reputation or integral connection to the theatrical community. I had a ghastly experience in the «Coast to Coast» Voiceover class. In 5 weeks, I was given VO scripts that were too long to be in a commercial demo reel, and now I’m paying to re-​record audio. I paid $ 275 for a useless reel and industry advice that has gotten me nowhere.
(Side note: I emailed a famous VO actor who gave me free advice that got me an agent! Should of done that instead of wasting nearly $ 300!)
Basically, The Actors Company is a waste of money, time, and energy. It’s another one of those dead-​end traps. (Of course, you could always attend a showcase/​workshop and gain positive results, but the people who do are few and far in between).
Since last summer, the Salazar’s have taken over management which is automatically better than Daniel. However, they’re still hurting for money (rent in Weho isn’t cheap).
I had a free workshop credit, but since there wasn’t a casting director that was relative to my career, I didn’t use it. Then, I found out the credit had «expired» within 2 months. Really?

Thank you Actors Company for being so helpful and accommodating today! I love taping my auditions here! You guys are amazing!

The Actors Company is now under new ownership and the acting classes are absolutely amazing. I have, and am still currently taking the scene study class with Joe Salazar. First of all, I have grown so much as an actor for the simple fact that every class Joe gives us a lot of work, and you don’t get better until you work hard at something! In one class you get to work in front of the camera, do scene study work, and a surprise section of the class that is always new. The classes are small so that you get a lot of individual attention. Would seriously recommend checking it out.

I was there in 2014 to do some filming for a reel, i paid a lot of money and paid upfront, and was promised a lot and they didn’t deliver. Very unorganized and poor communication. Very frustrating as you put a lot of money into something and expect them to do a good job and be professional and this was not the case. I would definitely look else where to do business, although i think i saw that it is under new management, so hopefully thats true… otherwise don’t wage your time or money…

UPDATED REVIEW:
Under new management/​ownership as of October 2014. This is good news. The Actors Co has a prime location for new actors looking for workshops and material for their reels. Sadly, the previous owner (Daniel Probert) was lazy and crooked. I had to file a dispute with my bank to get a refund from him last year and I had vowed to never return.
I stopped in today on my way out of CAZT. Lawrin and Joe seem MUCH more legit. I think they’ll be able to turn around the poor reputation left by the previous owner.

I took the showcase preparation class and I learned a lot about how I should showcase myself to agent and managers by choosing TV show scenes that I can easily be cast on. The class was very small with only 5 people so we really got that one on one attention with Daniel. Daniel is very honest and I love how he check up on us every week to see if we have done anything to reach our goals we have for this industry. The showcase prep class is 4 weeks and you can sign up for free for any manager or agent showcase you like and can choose a partner to do a scene with rather than having a reader at a showcase. I am planning to do the August showcase. I also sign up for the reel intensive because I do not have a solid reel and really need to show agents and managers that I am prepare by giving them everything they ask for. Overall it has been a good experience with the Actors Company

I love The Actor’s Company LA. I have been using all their services for about a year and a half. I got my Agent through one of their Agent Showcases. They run very professional Agent and Manager Showcases. I love the CD workshops. I have met great Casting Directors and got to do Cold Reads for them. The Disney VO Class was so fun and the Coast to Coast VO class got me a VO Demo Reel that sounds great. I also got my Theatrical Demo Reel done there and it looks amazing. They do audition taping with a nice 7D camera and my agent has loved my audition tapes from there. Lastly, they offer great acting classes too. I have taken the On-​Camera Class, the Personal Branding, and the Scene Study/​Audition Prep with the owner Daniel and he is a very good and knowledgeable teacher. I recommend this place to all actors. It is friendly and reasonably priced. –Jackie N.

I came across the Actors Company last year because I needed a couple more scenes for my reel. I was so happy with the result! Daniel, the owner, was very helpful and gave me great directions for my scenes. Since then, I’ve been going back for workshops and classes and I just love it because it keeps my acting skills fresh and I’m able to perform better at auditions and on set. I feel more confident and my work has definitely improved. If you’re looking for a professional environment where you can grow and improve as an actor this is the place for you.

I got a discount by signing up for 2 showcases. One was an agent showcase and one was a manager showcase. Both had known industry people in them. The whole process was smooth. The industry people brought in were knowledgable and gave great feedback. All of them gave contact info where we could reach them directly. Some responded to my emails and I even got a meeting with one of the management companies! Worth the money :)
My one note would be to make clear if the industry people are looking for union or non union talent. Some weren’t interested in non union talent and I would have liked to know that ahead of time.

I’ve had two great experiences at the Actor’s Company! My first experience was for an audition I needed to tape, so I made an appointment. Rachel was super helpful. She gave me feed back and helped me through it to the end. The price was incredibly reasonable and the final product looked amazing.
I joined their email list and received info on their demo reel intensive. I don’t have one so I jumped at the opportunity. I am very happy that I came to them for a second time. Daniel helps you to review your scenes, gives you feedback after your on camera rehearsal and guides you through the whole process. For the day of the shoot you get hair and makeup (thank you, Sergio!) and a professional crew that helps you through everything. Thank you guys!

Go to Audition House.
This place was a loss of time and money. Point blank.
We actors need quality, consistency and good business.

I rarely Unilocal Reviews, I’m just so excited to have signed with a Theatrical Agent after years of failed efforts and its all thanks to The Actors Company. I’ve gone to every workshop pop up in LA and I always come back To The Actors Company because I’ve had the most success with them. Thanks Team. See you on the big screen!

Where are all of the actors who got parts and agents posting?
And about how wonderful this «Actor’s Workshop» is for your career?
Because it doesn’t happen. If it did, and people got good agents through this workshop, they’d be posting about it.
It was a complete waste of money, time and spirit even bothering with this place.
I’ve had better experiences in the lobby of Central Casting or the Van Nuys DMV
I had a terrible experience at The Actors Company-​their previous name was the Actors Collective. A source (from my research on this company) told me that the owner Dennis was busted for illegally selling breakdowns and I was told by several people that they are currently under investigation.
You know what we need to do? We need to fight back with art. If we actors banded together and started crashing workshops at a troupe and did only scenes about greedy casting directors and agents/​they’d be too embarrassed to keep coming because we can heckle them from the stage. We can be like the group Anonymous, but actors.
Here’s what I’ve learned from doing workshops and my experience here:
Because of my research and cattle call like experience with the actual workshops I’ve attended at the Actors Company, I found out that casting workshops are a scam and per my source who said they spoke to the city attorney, Mike Fuer and his assistant Karla Cortez; most workshops and casting assistants/​low level agents who frequent them are currently under investigation. They’re supposed to each post at $ 50K bond with the city. Any casting director & one source told me that «it’s illegal for agents to charge actors to meet them.»
The agents and casting directors who you read for at the Actors Collective mock you with their behavior & treat you like you’re an idiot. They talk and check their cell phones during your scene. I’ve had better experiences at the DMV than at the Actors Collective.
These agents on the agent’s night workshop refused to look me in the eye when speaking to them, were rude and snickered and talked throughout my reading to them. They barely paid attention to anyone’s scene and it was clear they were here to pick up their checks and leave to go spend your money.
It was a complete waste of money, time and spirit even bothering with this place.
It seems like the agents and casting directors come to pick up your cash and go home. That’s it. Not one other actor I know has ever been called in for an audition or gotten signed to an agency through the Actors Collective. It’s called Payola, and it’s illegal.

I’m currently taking the four week Disney Animation Voice Over Workshop and I love it. I will definately be back for more workshops here.
Daniel is very professional and very friendly. There was some confusion the first day of class and we started a little late. When I got home there was an email from Daniel offering us 10% our next workshop because of that, apologizing for the delay and asking what we liked about the class. Next week he was there and apologized again.
The teachers, Sara Goldberg and Aaron Drown, actually seem like they want to be there and have gone over the class time to make sure we get our money worth. They are friendly and approachable and I bet most, if not all of my class, will get called in to read for them.
The workshops are resonably priced and with great people. I also like the board Daniel has showing people who have been signed with agents and managers from workshops he’s done.

My previous 2 reviews mysteriously were removed and I think all my actor friends out there should get honest feedback on this company. Even of that means I write a 3^rd review.
Took a class here in the past 12 months and found the owner to be very unprofessional and rude. The workshop started late, I was told there would be approx 25 actors there and turns out there were over 50. If you want to be involved in the Q and A you have to wait until everyone has gone. They like to bring in two groups-​you will not be told this over the phone.
For the price and service hop over to actors key. They are at least professional and more decently priced.
Also, do not give out your email. I ended up getting spam mail which was linked back to actors company when I phoned around.
And Daniel, instead of calling Unilocal to get my review removed why don’t you try being a professional and responding to my MSG or better yet, spend your time taking a UCLA extension class on customer service?
Sincerely,
An actor you will never see a dime from again.