Business Details
18 Years
experience
Premier Acting School for Working Actors in Los Angeles
Stan Kirsch Studios (SKS) is a premier full-service acting school in Los Angeles, dedicated to training working actors for success in television and film. Founded in 2008 by Kristyn Daniel and the late Stan Kirsch, our studio provides personalized, industry-focused instruction that demystifies script analysis, genre-specific techniques, and audition strategies. Our faculty comprises working actors with extensive on-set experience, offering students insider knowledge of casting processes, director expectations, and network dynamics. Through classes, private coaching, and audition taping services, we help actors identify marketable character types, refine their craft, and build sustainable careers.With a proven track record of clients securing series regular roles and industry representation, SKS combines technical expertise with a supportive environment to empower actors at every career stage. Our state-of-the-art audition taping studio ensures professional-quality self-tapes, while our career consultation services guide actors in branding and industry navigation. Committed to authenticity and growth, we emphasize text-based choices that align with an actor's unique strengths, fostering confidence and artistic integrity.
Services
Acting Classes
Private Coaching
Audition Taping
Career Consultations
Self-Tape Intensive
Details
- Year established: 2008
Highlights and features
- Our faculty includes working actors with prime-time TV and film credits.
- Personalized career guidance from industry professionals with 15+ years of experience.
- Proven techniques for breaking down scripts and identifying casting clues.
- State-of-the-art audition taping studio with HD production capabilities.
- Alumni network includes series regulars and award-winning performers.
What people say
Life completely changed
Booked a Series Regular
Safe and supportive space
Helped hone my craft
Found MYSELF in acting
Services
Acting Classes
Our acting classes focus on TV and film script analysis, genre-specific techniques, and audition strategies. Designed for working actors, these sessions help identify marketable character types while refining on-camera performance skills. With both group and specialized workshops, students gain practical experience through simulated auditions and scene work.
Private Coaching
Personalized coaching sessions address individual career goals, audition preparation, and scene analysis. Working actors receive tailored feedback on self-tapes, character breakdowns, and industry branding. Sessions range from 15-minute technical reviews to comprehensive career consultations with SKS faculty.
Audition Taping
Professional-grade audition taping includes HD recording, lighting, and sound engineering. Clients work with SKS coaches to refine performances before final recording. The studio provides technical support and post-production editing to ensure casting-ready submissions that meet industry standards for content and format.
Career Consultations
Career consultations focus on branding, reel development, and market positioning. SKS advisors help actors create compelling headshots, resumes, and self-tape packages. These sessions also cover agent relations, pilot season strategies, and long-term career planning tailored to each client's professional trajectory.
Self-Tape Intensive
This four-week program trains actors to produce professional self-tapes independently. Participants learn technical setup, performance choices, and submission formatting. The intensive emphasizes consistency in auditions while developing a strong on-camera presence through repeated practice and faculty feedback.
People
Kristyn Daniel
Co-Founder & Director
Kristyn co-founded SKS in 2008 and oversees all studio operations. With 15+ years of experience, she provides personalized training while maintaining the legacy of Stan Kirsch. Her industry insights and supportive approach shape SKS's positive learning environment.
Colleen Foy
Studio Director
Colleen Foy, known for her role in 'Station 19,' serves as SKS Studio Director. A working actor with TV and film credits, she brings practical audition experience and ASL fluency to her coaching, emphasizing authenticity and resilience in performances.
Angela Fornero
Lead Faculty
Angela Fornero, a UCSD theatre graduate, leads faculty instruction at SKS. With recurring TV roles and Sorkin-era experience, she specializes in helping actors develop their 'type' while navigating Hollywood's competitive landscape through practical career strategies.
Brock Ciarlelli
Lead Faculty
Brock Ciarlelli, a former series regular on 'The Middle,' brings mathematical precision to acting instruction. His holistic approach combines creative performance with industry business practices, helping actors understand both artistic and professional aspects of their careers.
Brian Dare
Super Coach
Brian Dare, a Sundance-recognized actor, focuses on audition psychology and commercial-to-TV transitions. His coaching emphasizes process enjoyment over outcome obsession, helping actors maintain creative fulfillment while achieving professional success through consistent, authentic performances.
Questions
What makes SKS different from other acting schools?
SKS instructors are working actors with current industry experience. We focus specifically on TV/film auditions, script analysis, and career navigation rather than general acting theory.
Do you offer online courses for remote students?
Yes, we provide self-guided online bootcamps and mini-courses covering comedy, drama, and self-tape techniques. These programs include lifetime access to instructional materials.
How can SKS help actors book roles faster?
Our training emphasizes text-based choices aligned with casting clues in scripts. This practical approach helps actors deliver targeted performances that match director expectations, improving booking rates.
What's included in private coaching sessions?
Sessions cover audition preparation, scene analysis, self-tape technical setup, and career strategy. Faculty provide personalized feedback on material interpretation, character choices, and industry branding.
Do you guarantee actors will book jobs?
While we can't guarantee bookings, our proven methods have helped clients secure series regular roles and industry representation. Success depends on consistent application of our techniques.
How much do self-tape services cost?
Taping-only sessions start at $1/minute (30-min minimum). Coaching packages with taping range from $30–$140 per session, depending on duration and faculty level.
