David Kagen’s School of Film Acting

I recommend David Kagen’s School of Film Acting to all my fellow actors.
It is a Master Class without having to go through the introductory curriculum other acting schools require, which I discovered when auditing the master classes of other programs. The personal attention I received is equivalent to a private lesson because the classes were small (4 – 8 students).
The notes were direct and long lasting because every session is recorded on DVD in split screen format. This allows me to see what the teachers are seeing and to see how I’m reacting to my scene partner’s reactions. «Acting is reacting.»
The teachers’ varied styles were able to give multifaceted insight into what was blocking me from bringing my true self to the scene.
I look forward to working with David again. His school is a hidden gem in the clutter of Hollywood acting schools.

I am pretty much like Simon Cowell in that I am ruthlessly honest with my opinions. I am also stingy with my time and created a Unilocal account just so I can write this review. For every dissatisfaction that I ever express, every once in a blue moon I find something to praise. And here it is. This school has one ingridient i have been hard pressed to find in LA acting schools: relentless integrity. The instructors seem as if they were finely crafted like good wine. Mr. Kagen himself is so unassuming that I really did not realize how blessed I was to stumble upon his school. Honestly, I have audited Many schools and this one is one of the top.

I studied here for 6 months, and learned so much from Emily Nelson! The classes are small, so you’re able to build a tight-​knit community of fellow actors. Because of the small group, each class could be catered to the specific needs of the group– for example, although the class was a Cold Reading class, in some weeks we opted to focus on Scene Study or commercial work. Emily’s a working actress with a wealth of industy knowledge, so every session was incredibly informative.
The format is paired scenes, and each session is recorded. You usually end up doing each scene 3 – 4 times, with adjustments, a short discussion, and critiques between each one. It’s really helpful to hear the critique of your performance in class, then go home and watch yourself on tape to identify the points that were called out.
This class has helped me so much as an actor– highly recommended for any actors looking to hone their skills and learn more about different acting methods, the industry, and themselves!

I have been attending David Kagen’s acting classes for six months. My results are superlative. David’s unique method of incorporating the best from a host of acting methods produces incredible results. I just started my acting career in July 2013. As a result of David’s expert coaching I have done two films which will air on TV and in the process of callbacks on several others. David’s focus, insight, experience and total dedication to developing your authentic self into the best actor you can be is at the heart of this transforming process. There is nothing like it!
John A Reilly

I have been to four different acting schools. After being throughly dissatisfied by each, I found David Kagen’s on Google. After carefully reading the Google reviews, reading over the class website, and watching the online coaching video, I decided that I needed to meet with David.
I cannot express how pleased I am with the teachers and methods taught here. Mark gave me a strong foundation, and David has helped me push past myself. I have had at least one class with 5 coaches here, and I must say, I have never met teachers with such a passion for acting.
Anyone who truly loves their craft, or anybody who wants to build stronger, real connections in their life, should make sure to check-​in here.

David Kagen may be the best kept secret in Los Angeles. After years of studying in New York, with some of the biggest names in the biz, I was fortunate enough to have had some minor success in the indie film market and moved to Los Angeles. I audited some classes in late 2008, studied, banged my head against the wall and flustered over auditions and the loss of fearlessness in my acting that had gotten me where I was… I plowed through acting classes and found everyone teaching all the same stuff that had been around for the last fifty years. Then I started David’s class. Not only does he teach the,“real stuff” that no one ever talks about in a direct way but he can show you how it works by putting you in the driver’s seat and experiencing the, «real stuff,» first hand. Once you’ve experienced the difference, you can never go back. I quickly regained a spontaneity in my own work that I had lost and began to stretch into new terrain. David is extremely honest but not cruel and you always know he’s giving you «the truth.» He is not stroking your ego to keep you in the class. In addition, unlike many teachers, David is still acting, so while many teachers can only speculate as to the obstacles we face as actors, David is in the trenches and knows first hand what it takes to survive in today’s market.

I’m posting a second review again because when I was browsing around recently, I noticed that not only had Unilocal taking down my past review (5 stars) of David’s school, BUT they had taken down all of the other positive reviews as well! And of course they leave up the one mediocre one. Unilocal must be at it again, censoring unfairly… no wonder there are lawsuits!
ANYWAY…I had a such a positive experience at the school. I studied with Brett who I found insightful and really engaging. You could tell he put a lot of thought into his classes and has worked really hard at perfecting his skills-​not to mention that I see him regularly in films and on big time TV shows (SHOWTIME)! Its great to know that I am taking a class from someone actively working in the business.
The class style was unlike any other format I have taken. If you go into it expecting it to be like other classes you have taken, you won’t get much out of it. It is all about having a real experience on camera. Exactly what you would need to do as a working actor.
Also, the way David has structured the school (scheduling, attendance requirements, payment system etc.) helps to weed out those who don’t want take their growth seriously, and makes it so everyone participating is held to the same standard of professionalism.
The class sizes are some of the smallest I’ve been in. Usually 4 – 6 people, sometimes 8, so you get tons of one on one time. The cold reading really prepares you for auditioning, and since every class is filmed, you have something to review to see your improvement and also to use for a demo reel.
I would highly recommend David Kagen’s School to anyone who is looking to grow in their acting career and pursue film acting as a profession.

Not sure why all the positive reviews for this place get filtered and the one negative review doesn’t, but let me reiterate my previous statement.
I’ve been a student of this school for over two years now and I’ve found the instruction to be both professional and extremely helpful as an artist.
Cort M. has every right to express their opinion, and I suppose I can see where some of what they say comes from, but I guess I just see it through a different glass.
The school pushes you, sometimes into uncomfortable territory. But, in my opinion, it’s the territory you need to face in order to become a more complete artist.
I’m not saying it’s the best out there. I can’t, because I haven’t gone to every school in the region. But it is certainly a great school to challenge yourself as an actor, to learn and to grow. Definitely worthy of more than a 2 star Unilocal review.

I was just prepping for an audition and thought,” my best bet is to remember what David said.” Keeping my work honest and true and open and available, David helped me tremendously to find my abilities AND then to trust them. Time and again, my training with David is what gets me the job. Very grateful for his training.

I have studied at several highly acclaimed acting studios in LA, and finally hit GOLD when I found David Kagen’s School of Film Acting! David is truly one of the few great acting coaches in Los Angeles. His years of experience as an actor and teaching make his insight so deep, he literally pin-​pointed my problem (the blocks and walls I felt I had hit after 3 years of studying and acting at other places in LA) within MINUTES. I left the very first session I had with him, knowing exactly what was wrong with my acting and what I needed to do to push through them and grow as an actor. ONE SESSION did this while YEARS at other schools with other famous teachers never did — whether due to a lack of individual attention or not wanting to be honest for fear of losing a customer I don’t know. but for David this is not the case. The amount of attention he gives each individual during each class surpasses anywhere else I’ve been and his honesty is so blunt it might make you cry (haha for me at least! and then realize how right he is and how much you need change or remove the ‘layers’ of hiding so that you can be YOU!) He is incredibly open, sincere, and I really believe he cares about each of his students and wants them to succeed and grow. All classes are on-​camera so you can take your DVD home and watch it and learn even more from what the camera picks up and just watching it again with all of David’s amazing feedback. He truly is AMAZING! Do your career a favor and check him out for yourself!
Thanks David for having such a positive impact on my life! :)

Studying acting goes way beyond learning the“tools of the trade”…and David goes way beyond teaching them. He is a dedicated, caring, extremely honest and giving teacher. I have learned so much in his classes so far that it is difficult to quantify in words. The most succinct way I can put it, is that David teaches you to understand the difference between self-​consciousness, and self awareness. He will put you on a path to dig down inside, uncover, and bring out the unique core of what makes you who you are, and then bring that to your acting. The effect of his approach is life changing. The wonderful results are long term, and immeasurable to any actor, regardless of your level of experience.
Thanks David!

I’ve been taking class for about 2 months and it has been a great experience. My skills have been improving with each class and I am becoming a much more skilled actor. This class really challenges me and is taught by incredible teachers!
Thanks David Kagen and Sarah Hudnut and especially Mark Brady!!!