Developing an Acting Career in Los Angeles

Choice Skinner is an actor and entrepreneur who has performed stunts, directs, and brings other actors together in a supportive environment in his weekly Breaking Through Acting Workshop. He's worked on The Shield and performed stunts on Lost.

Choice and I originally met at Bobbie Chance's Expressions Unlimited workshops in Studio City.

How did you get started acting?

"I took a stunt fighting / choreography seminar given by Art Camacho & Eric Lee. Art approached me and said 'You got all the moves kid and the camera loves you but you just can't act. You suck. You need to take an acting 1-on-1 class or a college course or something.'"

Choice was referred by a friend to Bobbi Chance. "She became my first and only real acting coach. I never knew that I would enjoy it so much or learn so quickly. I guess what attracted me to [acting] was the opportunity to explore other sides of my personality and of course the chance and opportunity to fully express myself and in the interim affect people with that expression."

In what ways do you take charge of your own career?

"I've always known that the audition route would not be my way. I accepted that very early on in my career when I realized that no matter how much you prepare or how talented you are, the best person doesn't always book the role.

"I work hard to brand myself as a name. I've gotten into writing screenplays then producing and then directing and now I currently am coaching actors. I have several films I'm pre-producing / directing like an independent comedy called Autumn In Love and a short entitled Brotherly Love and a webisode starring three of my students entitled "1%".

"My most current work as an actor was a cameo in a film called 'Free Sample' starring Jessie Eisenburg, Jason Ritter and Jess Weixler.

All of those vehicles are a means of staying busy and expanding my resources as an artist so that way I don't get discouraged or caught up in the waiting game. I think that's the main reason why many people quit.

The acting game is a lot about hurry up and wait but my feeling is, if you stay consistent and busy then when the opportunity approaches you'll be prepared.

What prompted you to start your own class and what do you stress differently from other workshops?

"I actually didn't have a desire to be an acting coach. I started my class due to a huge pressure from other actors who sensed my care for their growth and liked my approach and skill.

"I train my actors to have an A-List mentality. [Although] I believe in what is called a no pressure policy. I have seen many actors get burned out and become embittered for many reasons but the main reason is due to the pressure that they put on themselves.

"The pressure to succeed, to be perfect, to get it right, to fit in and to perform at maximum all the time eventually becomes the reasons why an actor would quit. My class is different due to the fact that's it's not about me but the actor. I create a nurturing yet very empowering atmosphere for the actors that attend. There is no technique or method.

"My approach is to prepare the actor by giving them the atmosphere to prepare themselves for set or stage and to allow them to know that they are already great and all they need is the opportunity to see that for themselves through their work. We work on scene study, accents of all kinds, physicalization, set etiquette, character analysis and audition/cold reading drills."

What advice do you have for actors in Los Angeles working on their careers?

• Make sure you're in a class where the coach cares about you as an actor and not just your money.

• Follow through on all contacts you've made, you never know where people will in up being in a year or two.

• Be proactive in your career.

• Learn the business of acting and not just the craft!

• Keep your word and have integrity.

• Show up on time.

• Be professional on set and off.

• Find a great manager and agent to be a part of your team. They work with you, not you for them or them for you.

• Be flexible and able to make adjustments artistically in class and on set, in other words... Don't be difficult!

• Don't forget to live in the moment everyday despite your circumstances.

• Time is the most important gift in your life and put God first, then your career, then you, and then your family, friends and loved ones!

Visit Choice Skinner and his projects on Facebook.

Visit here for Expressions Unlimited and Bobbie Chance.