Actor, Heal Thyself: Take Command of Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Webinar hosted by: Nick Hoffa
Actor
Nick Hoffa is an American actor, performance coach and director. Highlights from a full TV resume include Scandal, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, and a recurring role on Justified. The list of national commercials include spots for Google, Kia, Progressive, and Hallmark. Several years ago Nick started Wheelhouse Acting, an acting workshop for seasoned professionals in Los Angeles. Nick also hosts Eyeline, a podcast that gets up in the brains of Hollywood actors. Nick directed and produced the hit LA stage show, I Made Out With Him Anyway. IMOWHA’s web series, which Nick directed, was featured on Blip.tv. He also directed the short films Maja and Ike and Bagels, the latter of which ran on the festival circuit. Previously, Nick was Artistic Director of the Imagination Theater Company for five years and directed the sketch show Martini’s for Dinner at the Elephant Theater. He is originally from the East Coast, growing up in Western Mass and attending Wesleyan University where he met his wife, the TV blogger Meredith Hoffa. Nick moved from Boston to LA via San Francisco, where he trained at Full Circle and at American Conservatory Theatre. They have two kids. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
Learn directly from Nick Hoffa, Actor (recently Scandal, Justified, Castle), Performance Coach, and Host of Eyeline, a podcast that gets up in the brains of Hollywood actors.
You can’t perform to your potential if you are in the dark about your skills. Every other art form values breaking down that artistic skill into its component parts. For some reason, acting resists this, relying instead on vague language like, were you in the moment? Or were you in your head?
In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, your host Nick Hoffa will guide you through a questionnaire on the most common acting issues. After taking the questionnaire, you’ll have a concrete list of your strengths and weaknesses. Armed with this info, you will be able to audition better, perform how you want on set, take the right kinds of classes and spend time fixing past stubborn mistakes. Take control of your career and stop waiting for others to tell you how it went!
You Will Leave This Webinar Knowing:
- Your acting strengths and weaknesses.
- How to let go of bad auditions or performances.
- What kinds of classes to focus on next.
- How to apply the questionnaire to every performance you do.
When he’s not acting on TV, your host Nick Hoffa spends his time talking with working actors about their struggles and triumphs. He runs Wheelhouse Acting, a Los Angeles workshop for seasoned Hollywood actors and also hosts Eyeline, a podcast featuring conversations with Emmy and Oscar nominated folks as well as workhorses all over your TV. From these conversations, Nick has learned there is no one right way to do this, that success comes when you are honest with yourself about what works and what doesn't, and he is here exclusively with Stage 32 to share that knowledge with you.
PRAISE FOR NICK'S TEACHNIGS:
“[He] made me fall in love with acting again…in the end you walk away knowing your skills and trusting that you can take a ride with your instincts, even in an audition. Amazing confidence builder.”
"Working with Nick Hoffa is a joy. His ability to help you focus your own process as an artist/technician is wonderful. No rhetoric or therapy - no cliche. His practical experience as an actor, his instinct as a director, and his prowess as a teacher give every class immediate value that translates in the real world."
“I have this whole other area of my work that I didn't even know existed before."
"I just loosened up and tried things"
"I am almost immediately found that auditioning was easier, it was more fun, and I was more successful at it."
"But then there are things that challenge you and then there are strengths you didn't know you had."
What You'll Learn
- Acting Is A Mental Game.
- Learn how all the classes and techniques in the world won’t matter if you aren’t ready to mentally perform at your best when it matters.
- Self-knowledge is the first steps to taking command of the mental game.
- How to forgive yourself for what isn’t working and feel excited about the stuff you kick ass at.
- Actor, Heal Thyself.
- Why you will only succeed as an actor if you commit to figuring out how you work best.
- Learning about yourself allows you to be more relaxed, to be a craftsman and less of a magician.
- The Questionnaire.
- You will rate yourself on the most common acting issues, including:
- Memorization.
- Nerves.
- Emotional availability.
- Connecting with partner.
- Dealing with physical distractions.
- Dealing with distracting and judging thoughts.
- Spontaneity.
- Relaxation.
- And more...
- You will rate yourself on the most common acting issues, including:
- What Now?
- You will now have a concrete mini-analysis of your acting.
- You will go through the kinds of classes, the kind of projects you should be thinking about doing to fix problems and maximize virtues.
- How to analyze how it went and what you need to work on after every audition or class or job. Then how to let it go!
- Recorded, in-depth Q&A with Nick!
About Your Instructor
Nick Hoffa
FAQs
Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.
If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.
Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.
YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN
If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:
- Log into your Stage 32 profile
- Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
- Go to www.stage32.com
- Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
- Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.
Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.
Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.
Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.
Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.
Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.
Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.
If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.
Testimonials
“[He] made me fall in love with acting again…in the end you walk away knowing your skills and trusting that you can take a ride with your instincts, even in an audition. Amazing confidence builder.”
"Working with Nick Hoffa is a joy. His ability to help you focus your own process as an artist/technician is wonderful. No rhetoric or therapy - no cliche. His practical experience as an actor, his instinct as a director, and his prowess as a teacher give every class immediate value that translates in the real world."
“I have this whole other area of my work that I didn't even know existed before."
"I just loosened up and tried things"
"I am almost immediately found that auditioning was easier, it was more fun, and I was more successful at it."
"But then there are things that challenge you and then there are strengths you didn't know you had."
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Bobby Reed's SuperMarketing for Actors and Creatives
Since 2006, Bobby Reed has amassed 62 IMDB credits! 62! For this exclusive Next Level Webinar, Bobby shares his secrets for getting noticed and remaining in the minds of casting directors and producers! Come join Bobby Reed in an info-packed session about today's marketing for the modern artist, hear promotional techniques you may not have thought of, and get your questions answered about how and why to take charge of your own acting future. You and only you make it happen. The solution to your actor promotional questions is looking at you in the mirror: you are the boss, you will not be discovered sitting in the drug store. Bobby will show you some hot ways to get your career moving, and keep it that way. He's done if for himself; just check out his IMDb page. Come share his tips and tricks on how to promote your acting career each and every day (that's seven days a week, not five!). Well timed for the approaching new year, eh, when all your creative juices are flowing nicely? This will be your fresh start formula. PRAISE FOR BOBBY'S TEACHINGS: "Bobby's a firm believer in the "Do-It-Yourself" method. For the past year I had been saying I needed to "get a reel made." A week after speaking with him, I edited my own video reel." - Yvonne Senat "Bobby taught me that to be successful, I have to distinguish myself from the pack and to stay forefront in the minds of Hollywood decision makers - then he showed me how. Bobby's strategies are simple and sure-fire, and his love and concern for actors are real. Thanks Bobby for starting me on the right foot!" - Bill Bingham "He has limitless belief in the possibilities that come from action, persistence, and learning new skills. His ideas about what an actor can do are so useful, and get results! I feel like he really is invested in my success, and I feel lucky to know him." - Lisa Goodman "I was so impressed when I met Bobby Reed. His knowledge about the BIZ and what it takes to advance your career was exactly what I needed to really get going. Knowledge is power and Bobby willingly shares it all with you." - Porter Fowler
National Spots - Acting In Today's Commercial Climate
Hi, Curt Cornelius here! I'm a professional working actor and have been active in the entertainment industry for over 33 years. Commercially, I have over 100 national network spots to my credit, as well as over 3 dozen film & TV shows. In my Stage 32 Next Level Webinar we will discuss, in detail, the current commercial climate, union VS. non-union VS. Fi-Cor Ads, one's materials - including headshots, how to construct a resume and/or a reel and their vital importance. I'll also touch on the online submission game and the importance of creating one's social media presence. We'll also chat about commercial classes and workshops, and even the first steps in regards to how to land an Agent. And, lastly, I'll chat about the commercial audition itself - offering my best advice, knowledge, experience and tools in just how to give your best audition and win the room.
The State of Film Festivals in the Age of COVID-19 - FREE Q&A and Discussion
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every industry in the world, but perhaps none as harshly as that of live events. Whether it’s concerts, theaters, conferences, conventions, or anything in between, organizations built around bringing people together are scrambling to adapt in order to survive and continue their missions. Nowhere is this more true or evident than with film festivals. Film fests big and small have been grappling with large existential issues since the outbreak and have needed to find large scale and innovative changes to continue sharing films and championing artists in a now virtual setting. The landscape of film festivals has no doubt changed, but what exactly does this change look like and how permanent will this move to virtual be? How can festivals stay afloat and how should filmmakers be using festivals in this new era? In another FREE Stage 32 COVID-19 webinar, directors and programmers from Tribeca, Hollyshorts, Raindance, and Austin Film Festivals, as well as Stage 32’s very own Managing Director Amanda Toney will come together for an exclusive Q&A session where they’ll answer questions from the Stage 32 community about the state of film festivals and where they believe things are headed. They’ll address platforms and solutions available to film festivals (including Stage 32’s Screenings platform!), and will give their thoughts and advice to filmmakers on how to consider, approach and submit to festivals in this new virtual era. Bring your questions and prepare for a direct, upfront, and honest discussion.
The Casting Process: How To Create A Great Ensemble Cast For Your Film
Learn directly from Jordan Bass, Casting Director and partner in bass/casting, a bicoastal casting company with feature film and television credits including New Line Cinema's Annabelle, Starz' Spartacus pilot, Lionsgate's The Last Exorcism, and HBO's newest Project Greenlight among others! For many independent films, the filmmaker also wears the hat of casting director. How do you go about the casting process? How do you choose one actor over another when they both had a good audition? What should you be looking for to create your ensemble cast? In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, host Jordan Bass will breakdown the steps in the general casting process so you have a full comprehension of casting, from script to screen. He will focus primarily on the approach to independent film, and will share his advice on how to best tackle the "puzzle" that is creating a great ensemble cast. You will leave this webinar knowing: A general understanding of the basic casting process from first read to final locked class. How to dissect a script. The most effective tips to writing a character breakdown. A general understanding of the audition process. The most common pitfalls actors make during auditions Tips for creating a great working ensemble. Jordan Bass is a well-respected casting director, as well as partner in bass/casting, a bi-costal casting company run by brother-sister team Jordan and Lauren Bass. Recent theatrical films include the New Line thriller Annabelle, Lionsgate's Summer Camp, Chris Sparling's The Atticus Institute, and Friedberg & Seltzer's hilarious send-up of the Fast & Furious franchise Superfast. Upcoming releases include HBO's new Project Greenlight feature The Leisure Class, Blumhouse'sMartyrsdirected by The Goetz Bros, Sean Nalaboff's Hard Sell and Ryan Schwartz's Still Life.
How to Develop Your Film Festival Strategy and Choose the Right Festivals for Your Film
As an independent filmmaker, screening your project at a film festival may be the best opportunity to put your film (and yourself) on display. It remains a powerful platform for filmmakers of all levels to have their work seen. In fact you’d be hard-pressed to find a successful filmmaker working today who didn’t get their start at a festival. It’s where films get sold, where talent gets discovered, where reputations are crafted, where communities are built, and where the best networking can happen. And with the current movement away from the theatrical model and towards streaming, festivals can also often be the only possible way to physically show your film on the big screen to an audience during its life cycle. Film festivals are indeed often the next desired destination for a filmmaker, but it’s not always easy to get in, even with a great film. It can be disheartening after finishing a film and investing so much money and resources into it to realize there is still more money to be spent in going the festival route. The act of submitting to festivals can set you back hundreds, if not thousands of dollars simply through festivals’ submission fees. It’s probably going to add up no matter what, but it can set way pricier without a plan in place. It’s common for filmmakers ready with a film to more or less blindly submit to festivals: “Sundance? Check. Tribeca? Check. Cinequest? I heard that one was good, let’s do it.” Yet just because you’ve heard of a festival, just because it’s a legitimately great festival, doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your project, and it doesn’t your film is the right fit for them. Successfully navigating the festival landscape requires a lot more effort and a lot more time than just pressing that submit button. Yet doing the research, understanding your goals, and carefully building your strategy will not only yield more positive results, but will also save you money on unneeded submission fees in the long run. For nearly a decade Harrison Glaser has been immersed in the professional film industry working for Austin Film Festival and Stage 32. As Austin Film Festival’s Film Competition Director, he programmed the festival’s films for five years and discovered his passion for identifying deserving projects and championing exciting and unrecognized talent. During Harrison’s tenure as AFF’s Film Competition Director, over 100 films he programmed went on to secure distribution, six short films were later nominated for Oscars, and one that he qualified ultimately won the Academy Award. His work with Austin Film Festival and Stage 32 allows him to champion undiscovered storytellers and help them amplify their work. He also serves as a professional moderator for many different film related industry panels both online and offline. Through his many years leading AFF’s film selection and working closely with other film fests, he has become intimately familiar with the inner workings of larger festivals, as well as the common missteps many filmmakers make when working with them. He’s excited to share what he knows exclusively with the Stage 32 community. Harrison will walk you through how best to develop your film festival strategy and choose the right festivals for your film, well before you start submitting. He will begin with the basics of why you should or shouldn’t be submitting to festivals in the first place, and how to best think of festivals as a tool. He’ll then lay out what the festival landscape looks like, including what makes up the “Festival Circuit”, what Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 festivals are, and the lowdown on both niche festivals and destination festivals. Next he will delve into the importance of having your own specific festival goal and how to find it. He’ll provide six examples of valid and common festival goals and how best to adjust your submission strategy for each. Harrison will go deep into how to research festivals before submitting and what you should be looking for before you should feel comfortable paying their submission fee. He’ll also offer various strategies to choose the right festival and giving yourself the best advantage in getting accepted, including considering niche festivals, finding your ‘in’ and developing your network. He’ll spend some time explaining how scam festivals work and what you can do to spot them and stay away from them. He will offer some tips and context of what you should do if you film is ultimately rejected from one of your top choices, and also what to do if your film is ultimately accepted. You will leave with a slew of strategies to tackle your festival run more strategically and more effectively. Praise for Harrison's Previous Stage 32 Webinar: "This was great. Very comprehensive about festival strategy and works for shorts and features. Probably the best content about this topic I've seen" -Paige F. "The teacher really knew his subject. He was also friendly & warm and made the students feel relaxed. A well spent event and I learned so much." -Toni M. "Appreciated the way Harrison did not gloss over any point — he spoke thoroughly about everything." -Elease P. "Very knowledgeable, open, easy to follow" -Marilyn L.
How to Find and Work With a Script Supervisor to Make Your Film Better
One of the most critical and underappreciated roles necessary to make a film work is the script supervisor. This person is vital to helping a director achieve his or her vision and is one of the most important positions a director must choose for his or her team. A good script supervisor not only keeps track of script progress and continuity, but serves as the director’s trusted confidante. They save time, money, and are instrumental in helping a director achieve his or her creative goals. But for this to work, the relationship between these two roles needs to be solid. A director and script supervisor have an interesting and complex relationship. You can have a great script, a spectacular cast, the most talented cinematographer, production designer, and gorgeous costumes, but if your film doesn’t edit well, it will be a disappointment. A good, experienced script supervisor helps a director avoid missteps, gives them cinematic choices in the editing room, and becomes their narrative storytelling accomplice. A bad script supervisor can be a real nuisance, interrupt the creativity on a set, and fail to protect a director’s vision. It all comes down to understanding and communication. Forming the vital and promising relationship between a director and the right script supervisor will have a lasting, positive impact on the film. No matter the size of your film, mastering this complex relationship can make all the difference. Let’s explore how to make this work. Brenda Wachel is an accomplished and sought after script supervisor with over 30 years of experience and credits on some of the biggest films of all time, including JURASSIC PARK 3, OCTOBER SKY, BRIGHT, COLLATERAL, FURIOUS 7, and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. She has worked with countless directors like Paul Haggis, Joe Johnston, Michael Mann, David Ayer, Tim Robbins, and Terry Gilliam and continues to serve as script supervisor for upcoming projects like Netflix’s just released mockumentary feature DEATH TO 2020, written and directed by BLACK MIRROR’s Charlie Brooker and starring Hugh Grant, Samuel L. Jackson, and Lisa Kudrow. No one knows the role of script supervisor and how to find success through this position better than Brenda, and she’s prepared to share what she knows exclusively with the Stage 32 community. Brenda will break down the importance of a script supervisor throughout the process of making a film and demonstrate how to make the vital relationship between a director and script supervisor work. She will begin by delving into the job of a script supervisor and why they’re especially important to directors. She’ll also explain their duties during prep, filming, and post production. She’ll also explain why a script supervisor is necessary for films of all levels, from low budget features and shorts to big budget blockbusters. She’ll give tips on how to find the right script supervisor for your project as well. Next, Brenda will look at how to shape the relationship between a director and script supervisor including how to establish one and how to grow and maintain it. She will then teach you how best to communicate between these two roles and then go into how a script supervisor can help with the relationship between directors and actors. Finally Brenda will share the biggest lessons she’s learned in her storied career as a script supervisor. If you are a director preparing to start a new project in the new year, no matter the size, it’s imperative you have a good script supervisor on your side and a good relationship with them. Brenda will show you how to do this. “The role of a Script Supervisor is vital for any film production, but also often a misunderstood, under-utilized, and underappreciated one. Doing it well sometimes means being invisible. I’ve been on enough films and worked with enough different directors to know how much a good relationship between a director and script supervisor can elevate a film, and how much a film suffers when the relationship isn’t there. I am very excited to share my experiences with you and teach you what I know about being an invaluable script supervisor.” -Brenda Wachel
Register / Log In
