Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop (Los Angeles)

Eric Stephan Kline of Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop, one of the most respected acting coaches in the world

Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop (FAW), established in 1961 by actor and producer Tony Barr, is a prestigious acting school in Los Angeles dedicated to preparing actors for film and television. The workshop offers a simulated Hollywood studio environment where students perform scenes that are videotaped for critique, fostering real-world experience. Its curriculum is based on Barr's influential book *Acting For The Camera*, emphasizing the development of listening skills to deliver authentic, compelling on-screen performances.

== Educators ==
==== Tony Barr ====
Tony Barr (1921-2002) began his career as an actor in New York during the 1950s before transitioning into acting coaching and founding Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop in 1961, which became highly influential in Hollywood. Besides his work in acting training, Barr had a distinguished career as a network executive for over twenty-five years, working at ABC and later at CBS as Vice President of CBS Productions, where he oversaw the development of popular series such as Dallas, Magnum, P.I., Lou Grant, and Knots Landing. He was also a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, and served on the board of governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, making significant contributions to both television and acting communities.

In 1982, Tony Barr published the book *Acting for the Camera*, which was highly acclaimed, with a Los Angeles Times reviewer calling it "a first class book for the beginner and a refreshing review for any pro," highlighting its value for both novice and experienced actors.

==== Eric Stephan Kline ====
Eric Stephan Kline, the successor and current owner of Film Actors Workshop, attended San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley, beginning his teaching career there in the late 1980s. He holds a Master of Arts in Television Production and has frequently lectured in the Drama department at UC Irvine. Kline has coached actors for thousands of auditions and roles in film and television, often via Skype or Zoom, and has served as a visual consultant on shows like Grey's Anatomy, Medium, Brothers & Sisters, and The Gilmore Girls. In 2020, he published *A Troubleshooting Manual For The Modern Film Actor*.

In a 2022 interview with The Medium, actor Russell Thomas, who stars as U.S. Vice President Eli Winter on Tyler Perry's The Oval on BET, praised the Film Actors Workshop, stating, "It was there at Film Actors Workshop with coach Eric Stephan Kline that I really honed the skill set that I employ on the day-to-day on my show. In my years of study, I’ve picked up various nuggets of knowledge from so many sources: books, classes, workshops, other actors; but it was in the workshop that I put them into practice, that I developed a discipline, attempted, failed, tried again, and eventually incorporated."

==== Guest Coaches ====
During the 1980s and 1990s, actor and television director David Paymer was a frequent guest coach at Film Actors Workshop. Paymer has received nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, highlighting his notable career in both acting and music.

== Film Actors Workshop Books==
*Acting For The Camera* (1982, 1997) by Tony Barr is a comprehensive guide stemming from Barr's 40 years of experience as a Hollywood performer, director, and acting teacher. The book offers practical advice on character development, monologues, visual focus, comedy, and collaborating with directors, along with tips on navigating the studio system and acting guilds. It also features anecdotes from renowned actors like Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins, and includes examples from contemporary movies to illustrate its lessons. The book forms the educational foundation of the Film Actors Workshop curriculum.

**A Troubleshooting Manual For The Modern Film Actor* (2020) by Eric Stephan Kline is a practical guide aimed at helping actors navigate common challenges in auditioning and performing in film and television. Covering topics such as accents, activities, auditions, altered states, comedy, emotional preparation, entrances and exits, exposition scenes, fight scenes, love scenes, props, scene and script analysis, and working with the director, the book offers solutions to 150 common acting problems, making it a valuable resource for actors seeking to improve their craft and confidence.

== Location ==
Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop originally opened in 1961 at 5004 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, before relocating to 2050 South Bundy Drive in West Los Angeles for several years. It later settled at its current location at 3228-B Nebraska Avenue in Santa Monica, California, continuing its legacy of acting training in the Los Angeles area.

==Notable Students, Alumni==
The Film Actors Workshop has trained many notable actors, including John Lovitz, (Emmy-nominated comedian from Seinfeld, Friends, and SNL); Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H; Lorenzo Lamas (known for Falcon Crest and a Golden Globe nominee); Russell Thomas (who plays Vice President Eli Winter on Tyler Perry's The Oval); Steven R. O’Brien (actor, writer, and director); Andrea A. Jackson (actress and director); John Papp (Somewhere in the City); Gary Moore (The Bill Collector); Javier Alcina (actor and educator) and Yadira Pascault Orozco (French-Mexican actress featured in La Jefa).