The SAG Hollywood Conservatory provides its membership with the opportunity to hone and develop their craft through workshops, lectures and symposiums. Conservatory members are also eligible to perform in American Film Institute (AFI) student films, often gaining that vital first piece of on-camera experience or to add more footage to their reel. A registration fee of $20 for adults or $10 for children is required to become a member of the Conservatory for one full year. Applications are available online at www.sag.org or at our office on Western Ave. (For some photos, visit http://www.sag.org/hollywood-conservatory.)

Download Application to join here!

Workshops, Lectures, Symposiums and Special Events

The structured workshops are offered to members from October through May and also during our Summer Seminar and cover the following but are not limited to:

* On-camera commercial and theatrical techniques

* Commercial & theatrical cold-reading techniques

* Video scenes

* Voice-overs

* Improvisation

* “Meet the Casting Director” seminars

* Monthly Special Events

* Open Camera/Independent Study

* ShowBiz 2.0

AFI Student Film Projects

The Conservatory is a means for professional actors to continue their training and/or participate in the student films at AFI.

The first year films are called cycle projects. These are non-paying shorts shot under a special SAG Contract with AFI. We hope you’ll enjoy the experience of working with the Fellows here, networking, and also get a good piece for your reel.

Besides the first year films, our Conservatory Office casts Cinematography projects, occasional screenplay readings for the 2nd year writers, workshops for 2nd year directing classes, assist with thesis films, the Directing Workshop for Women, and alumni projects.

Actors in the SAG Conservatory should always appear in their best light since one never knows who’s watching! Professionalism counts!

For more details, please visit www.sag.org and click on Hollywood Conservatory or call Nikki Frustere, Program Coordinator for the Conservatory at 323.856.7736 or email at nfrustere@sag.org.

DAVE WILLIAMS – Dave Sebastian Williams is a voice-over artist, producer and publisher with decades of experience in all aspects of the voice-over industry. www.VoiceOverResourceGuide.com and www.EverythingVO.com

SUZANNE WHANG – Suzanne is a professional stand-up and performs her one-woman show internationally. She also currently hosts HGTV’s House Hunters. My Big, Fat Greek Wedding is a solo piece that made it’s creator a star. This workshop will focus on how to find your own story to help you shine.

DAVE WESTBERG – A veteran of forty years in the business, Dave will help you turn your cold read into a hot piece of acting.

DOUG WARHIT – Doug has been teaching on-camera scene study and cold reading in Los Angeles for the past twenty years. He is the author of “Book The Job” and “The Actors Audition Check List.” In addition to teaching acting, he is a life coach specializing in eliminating actors’ issues of performance anxiety, self-sabotage and procrastination.

Taught in conjunction with Make Your Own Movie (Writing), this workshop will transform the 2-3 page script you created Saturday morning into a movie.  You might even be able to star in it.  That is, if you are right for the role.

WILL WALLACE - One of the most challenging things to do on screen is to take the technical task of on-screen intimacy and make it romantic and sexy. This workshop won’t make you a lover, but at least you’ll be able to play one on TV.  Will has written, directed, produced and acted in numerous award-winning films for well over a decade.  He has also been teaching acting for 10 years.

CRAIG WALLACE – Author of “The Best of You – Winning Auditions Your Way,” Craig will speak about his theories of audition techniques.  Based on his experience as a development executive, producer, head of talent development and talent agent, he will candidly discuss what you can do to make your auditions the best they can be!

LAUREL VAN DER LINDE– Learn the basics, including the different genres of audiobooks and what is expected of a voice actor. Laurel Van der Linde, of Underground Audio went from being a successful V/O agent into directing and producing, specializing in audiobooks. lvdl@dishmail.com

SHAWN TOLLESON – Feeling stuck? Create a career breakthrough with writer/filmmaker and career strategist Shawn Tolleson She is currently working on her feature, Shakespeare’s Henry IV with Martin Sheen, Angela Bassett and Haley Joel Osment.