It wasn’t until I had the great fortune of studying with the legendary Jeff Corey that I was introduced to the concept of a one-on-one coaching session in a small class setting, in which every single student experienced an undeniable acting breakthrough and transformation every single class.
Jeff taught a small class (under 10 students) every Tuesday in a small studio above his garage, at his home in Malibu. His students over the year included James Dean, Jack Nicholson, Leonard Nimoy, Rob Reiner, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Robin Williams, Steven Spielberg, Sean Penn, Dick Van Dyke, John F. Kennedy, Kirk Douglas, Peter Fonda, and too many more to mention.
Rather than being forced to partner up with a scene partner, actors were given the option to present work—either on their own or with a reader—and coach one-on-one with Jeff every class.
In fact, it was Jeff Corey that showed me it was possible for every actor to actually have an undeniable acting breakthrough every class. This is now a guiding principle in my work with actors.
READ: Why You Must Be Honest With Your Scene Partner
When actors are forced to work with a scene partner, it has a tendency to dilute the quality and impact of an
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