Improvisation:

The ability to improvise can never be underestimated when it comes to acting, especially on camera where there is usually very little rehearsal. Whether in comedy or drama, actors improvise well when they are fully engaged, listening to their partners, and releasing their inhibitions about failing. Through games and exercises, students learn how to let their imaginations run wild, how to play well with others, and how to live “in the moment”—free from anticipating or planning what to do next.

Scene Study:

Working on scenes allows actors to learn all of the basic concepts of approaching a scene: defining objectives, breaking the scene down into beats, pursuing your objective, playing actions, and working to overcome obstacles.

On-Camera

Students learn the basics of television and film acting: calibrating performances based upon shot size and angle, hitting marks, emotional and physical continuity, and strength and imagination in acting choices. The students are assigned scenes. These scenes are filmed in class. In addition, students learn to perform a number of film crew positions, to broaden their knowledge of the duties of everyone on a professional film set.

At the age of 14, Ann Marie’s parents signed her up for a local 8 week modeling course. Why? Well, she was already a lanky 5’9” tall and pleasantly outgoing. It seemed to them that a course on fashion, health and etiquette would be a perfect fit. Within a year she attended her first modeling convention and three months later, at the age of 15, Ann Marie was flying to Tokyo Japan to model for the summer with one of the top modeling agencies, Elite Folio. At 16 she was in Paris, France with the famous Glamour Agency. 20 Countries and as many years later, Ann Marie has spent over half of her life as a professional model.

When given the opportunity to put acting on her resume she jumped right in. As a model, Ann Marie had always enjoyed shooting commercials and felt ready to put a voice to the character she portrayed. One of her dreams came true when she was cast as a series regular on the Power Rangers television show. Now she had fulfilled two of her goals!

With the two goals still active it was time to go for number three - a very special one at that. Her long-term goal has always been to produce an educational video she has been preparing and envisioning for over 10 years. Comfortably settled in Los Angeles, she began writing her modeling course. As part of her mission to teach and inspire young models, she had often told her story and given real-world advice at modeling Conventions and workshops.

Ann Marie decided that the use of video to teach aspiring models would be the perfect way to reach out to a broader audience – namely, those small towns that did not have an agency nearby or an affordable way to learn these techniques. Ann Marie’s high-quality video, titled “BEING BEAUTIFUL Inside & Out” was released January 2005 and contains interviews with some of the top names in the L.A. modeling world.

Ann Marie and her family recently moved back to the area to begin this next chapter in her life. Teaching her techniques to the next generation of aspiring actors. She will also be teaching modeling workshops for Mary Lou's Models from time to time.

Ann Marie's passions are now teaching and scouting for that next fresh face.

I love detail and feel the more information I can write down, the better understanding you will have of how my company works. My goals are to teach the students, build their resumes and then submit to markets depending on each individual preference. For example, if you want to stay local then that is what we concentrate on. If you are able to travel a bit then we talk about what markets. Some love the acting classes as a fun activity and others have goals of television and film. This is my job as the manager to get to know YOU. I run this small coaching and management company for a few reasons.

1. I love teaching. A true passion of mine. Watching the growth and helping to make dreams a reality.

2. I can make my own schedule therefore am able to raise and focus on my 2 year old.

In order to give the quality I am proud of, and you deserve and expect, 90% of my work is done on the computer when I am not teaching. I email my students and their parents on a regular basis and talk before class. The time I have for the phone is limited and often used to speak with agencies and clients. Submitting and managing you. Therefore if at all possible emails are the best way of communication for me.

I have a maximum number of talent I teach because the majority of my work for them is done outside of the classroom. I believe in quality! As a Mother, Acting coach and Manager.