FAQ

coaching/consulations

  • While both types of appointment are one-on-one, consulting can cover a variety of topics. Honing in on a specific goal for your time will serve you better. Consulting might be career advice, navigating entering a master’s program in acting, discussing your child’s entrance into the industry, reviewing headshots or self tapes, receiving advice on a short script you wrote, exploring a multi-hyphenate identity in the biz, or any other aspect of this fast-moving multi-factorial business. In other words, consulting can be about pretty much anything that helps you advance as an artist. Coaching is literal work on a scene or monologue with a private coach for a better performance in your craft, for you, or a class, an audition, or on set. Private coaching is dedicated one-on-one time to help you put your best foot forward with specific material that you choose to bring in.

classes

  • No refunds, however we understand that a working actor works. Certain long-term classes are occasionally recorded and for the enrolled actor who cannot make a specific class, a request in advance of the class taking place is essential. If planned and granted, the missed class recording will be shared for a limited time. This, however, is not to be used as a replacement for the entire course and is granted on an individual, case-by-case basis. On the whole, intensives do not have this option.

  • Some classes have both participants & observers. Participants get individual direct interaction with the instructor. Observers witness and learn from that interaction, applying anything that is germane to their own situation, performance, or process.

  • Typically, no. For most of our classes, scenes may not be from projects that are currently in pre-production or production. Please email us at aws@arvold.com if you’re not sure. Be sure to indicate what class you are enrolled in.

    EXCEPTION: Participants in On Camera Audition Techniques can use current scenes

  • For classes with prep materials, we send out an email 48 hours prior to class. Please check your spam folder if you think you haven’t received this email, or email us at aws@arvold.com if you do not hear from us by then. Be sure to include in the body of the email what class you are enrolled in.

  • We cater to actors college age and above. On occasion, we add youth classes to our curriculum.

  • Please email us at aws@arvold.com to inquire further before purchasing a spot in any adult class for a child or teen.

  • Our classes are geared toward actors’ preparation for film and television work. We currently offer classes for every level of screen artist, from new to polished.

    If you are still not sure where you fall in terms of experience/ability, perhaps a consultation with one of our studio teaching artists would help.

    We require all actors to start with Total Prep to familiarize themselves with the core AWS curriculum. It is the prerequisite for most of our other classes.

  • Great question, and you can read our studio policy here.

membership

  • We’re glad you asked. You can check it out here.

  • Nope, your membership date begins a monthly or yearly cycle. In this case, you’d renew on the 5th of every month (automatically paid through our billing system).

  • When you join, you automatically receive a 4-day free trial before billing begins.

  • Click HERE for instructions on how to cancel your membership.

  • One of the hardest things for screen artists struggling to make a name for themselves is to understand that personal and professional boundaries exist separately from one another. Our membership creates space for the many different types of screen artists -- actors, writers, gaffers, directors, DPs, talent agents, casting directors, producers, production designers, etc. -- to coexist as artists, and not merely as their jobs. It is of paramount importance, therefore, to treat each other as co-equal artists, and not as opportunists seeking an edge. We cannot stress this enough: if you want this membership to be a place where you can reinforce your artistry, respect other artists enough to understand that they are here to reinforce their own artistry and to possibly help others reinforce theirs, but they are not here to help your career. Career opportunism is out-of-bounds here.

    Genuinely seeking advice can be fine. Asking a question like, “Any feedback on how to make my self-tape pop? Would love to hear from CDs and agents too, please!” is fine; asking, “Hey, I see you’re an agent, I need someone to represent me, what’s your mailing address” is NOT. Even subtly hinting is disrespectful, no matter how much you dress it up in buttery praise; for example, please don’t do this: “You guys are the best and I learned so much from your last event; I can’t wait to work for you again in the future!” There’s a veiled implication that your career is more important than your artistic integrity, and you may wish to reconsider your words before sending a message like that.

    To put this in the starkest terms possible: if you try to cozy up to someone because there is some perceived benefit to your career, and they report this interaction to us, we will revoke your membership.