TO AZ ACTORS FROM OUR LA STUDENTS
To Arizona actors thinking about studying with the Howey Acting Studio. It can be difficult making an expensive decision to join an acting workshop you know nothing about. Carla and I have asked some of our Los Angeles students to write to you about their experience studying with us. These comments are addressed to actors in Arizona to help you make up your mind.
Dear Arizona Actors: I grew so much during the time that I worked with Bill Howey, both as an actor and in my own emotional awareness. He isn’t the kind of teacher who is going to tell you how to fix a scene or what will make it better. Instead, he teaches you how to open up your own senses and imagination, which allows you to stretch the possibilities of any scene. He gives you the tools that allow you to get to where you want to be in a role yourself, and that is the most invaluable thing an acting teacher can do. Working with Bill has made me a more versatile and self-confident actor. I’m happy to say that I recently filmed a pilot for a major network, and am certain that Bill’s thoughtful, engaged and rigorous approach as my teacher was key to my success. –Kaya Rosenthal
Bill Howey encourages actors to recognize and work through their own emotional blocks in their day to day, which leads to a more open and honest emotional life when performing. There is no easy path to being a committed, open, free, ballsy, truthful, memorable actor – but Bill teaches you that, believe it or not, you already have all the answers. He brought the joy of acting back into my life, which I will be forever grateful for. I’m very jealous of his Arizona students. — Guerrin Gardner
Arizona actors: Bill Howey’s workshop was an amazing experience for me. I trained with Bill Howey for a little over 3 years before he moved to Arizona. In that time, I learned a lot about acting, the audition process and I learned a lot about myself.
Here is what you will get from Bill Howey as your acting mentor:
Bill truly cares for your success. He will challenge you every time you step on that stage to find the story in your scene. He will challenge you to express the vulnerability in yourself in order to find it in your character. He will tell you to get out of your own way and see what happens. But, above all, he will challenge you to believe in yourself because he believes, whether you know it or not, you are good enough. You are all very lucky to have the chance to work with Bill. Believe me, after Bill left, I can’t find another instructor…IN LOS ANGELES…who can do what Bill does. His love for acting and storytelling is only matched by his genuine desire to help you succeed. Enjoy your time with Bill, because I’m praying everyday he comes back to Los Angeles. —Nancy Sanchez Patel
Hey Arizona actors! I’ve been in several acting classes and it seems every teacher has their own style. My experience with Bill Howey is that his style is caring. He cares about actors, he cares about acting, he cares about auditions, and he cares about students. What does that mean? It means he cared enough to point me in the right direction on screen, “in the room”, and out in the world. His experience is evident, and his teaching different for everyone. Bill figures out what you need specifically as an actor and works with you. I will always be grateful for the time that I had with Bill, and his willingness to actually help someone else in a town and business where that type of selflessness can be rare.
— Clinton Pickens
Bill Howey’s workshop will forever be one of the best experience for me as an actor. For 8 years I grew as an actor because of Bill & Carla. I was challenged, push and supported. Bill helped me to stop acting and just be! Be still, be myself and be captivating. They will be missed dearly in Los Angeles,but Phoenix , Arizona has gained an amazing workshop for all actors. I will always recommend Bill and Carla to any new or seasoned actor. I can talk all day about how great Bill is as a teacher is, but you just have to experience it for yourself. Take this class, you won’t be disappointed. —Jennifer Candy (Daughter of John Candy) TV: Liv and Maddie, Second City, According to Jim.
I’d been a working actor for many years before working with Bill. I had my bag of tricks and was getting by using them. I went to Bill because I wanted to challenge myself to be the best actor I could be. I gave myself over to his approach and from the first class I felt free, excited, and connected. I liked acting and being an actor before. Now I love the craft of acting and look forward to every opportunity I get to act because of Bill’s teaching. He taught me to look within to find the character and that has given me so much power. I’m very sad that he’s not in LA now, but some lucky Arizona actors are going to fall in love with acting now.
—David Hoffman – Lead Actor on I Live With Models, Guest Star on Bones, Guest Star on Castle.
Arizona actors, you will not find a better teacher than Bill Howey. I had the privilege of working with Bill for the better part of two years and it was by far the best class I’ve taken to date. In fact I think I’m still grieving the loss of Bill and Carla leaving to Arizona. Bill and Carla will not let you be a lazy actor, they will refine you, they will help you grow, and they will help you work. When I went looking for a class I was looking for someone who would be honest; unfiltered honesty, that is what you get from Bill Howey. He will challenge you to be truly believable, act in the moment, listen, and be unpredictable. I hope that for some reason Arizona doesn’t work out so that they can to come back to LA, but for now, take advantage of this opportunity and learn everything that Bill and Carla have to offer. Love you both! -Clarissa Thibeaux
To the actors in Arizona: Bill cultivates a class environment in which actors feel very safe making choices, experimenting, making mistakes, correcting things, trying to do the same character differently, finding what works for each of them personally in the way they each communicate something specific to an audience. What you put into Bill’s class varies directly with what you will get out of it. There should be a willingness to consistently work hard, to prepare for class outside of class, to take feedback seriously, to be self-disciplined, to be vulnerable. Bill wants you to do all this because he genuinely cares about you and your growth as an actor. –Carl Schwaber
There are no appropriate words to describe the positive experience in Bill Howey’s class. Under his watch I have grown so much as an actor and as an artist. He has genuinely changed my life. To anyone who wakes up knowing they have no choice but to continue pursuing this absurdly challenging career, you owe it to yourself to study with him. When I audited with Bill I was skeptical that it was just going to be another acting class like all the others, but I was so wrong. Acting is such a hard thing to master, but it’s debatabley harder to teach because it’s going to be a different experience for everyone. Bill knows that, and caters to the individual’s needs; he cares so much about having you discover what works for you. Anyone who has worked with Bill in Los Angeles debated stalking him to Arizona just to be near him. All you have to do is meet with him and you’ll feel it for yourself, he’s the real deal. I don’t gamble, but I would bet everything that I have that he will change you. Enjoy the process. –Jeni Reed
Once I started studying with Bill Howey I knew that I had found a great acting teacher. Bill’s class is for actors that want to act, that want to work, that want to get up and do the job. Bill teaches actors how to figure things out for themselves by challenging each actor to get personal, to find something in themselves that is effective. He gives each and every student individualized attention that helps them find their own way. Actors can then take those skills with them and apply them to whatever role they may be playing. Bill creates a safe environment to explore, and that has helped me to become far more personal and effective actor. The first thing I would tell any aspiring actor to do would be to study with Bill Howey. –Adam Eppenstein
To Arizona Actors: So many gems come from studying with Bill Howey, he is such a talented and generous coach. I have been blessed to have studied acting with Bill for many years. As an actor and personally, I have grown immensely from taking his classes. He focuses on the individual actor’s needs and will provide you with inspiration and the tools to find the truth in your scenes. He challenges each actor to make personal choices that are affecting to an audience. Bill is creating powerful, independent actors. I will miss him in Los Angeles but look forward to hearing about his new adventures. “If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly” -said by Bill Howey, many times. I’ve listened. –Kelley Flynn
Arizona Actors: I’ve been to a few different acting instructors since moving to L.A. and most of them have been good. But, no one has had a bigger impact on my acting abilities than Bill. When I arrived in his class I was in a flux. I lacked understanding and discipline. Bill guided me to better understand material and how to use what’s inside me to achieve layers in developing a character. He helped me understand the wonders and impact of silence and stillness. In the short time we spent together I made leaps and bounds in my acting ability. I’m saddened that he moved to Phoenix not just because he’s an excellent instructor but because he is, more importantly, a good guy who cares. And, in this industry, it’s a rarity. Bill and Carla, Thank You! –David Scott
To Arizona actors: Bill Howey was my first acting coach. I studied with Bill for 6 years and the lessons I’ve learned from him will last a lifetime. You’re only as strong as your foundation and I’m extremely fortunate that my foundation is Bill Howey. –-Spencer Ralston TV: How I Met Your Mother
Arizona actors: Every actor needs a safe place to practice his craft, to try new things, to see what works and what doesn’t. Bill Howey is a teacher, who creates such a place in his studio. With his guidance and expertise the sky is the limit. –Adi Spektor (Scandal, Rizzoli & Isles)
I had the privilege of studying under Bill for a little over three years. In that time Bill really showed me what is needed to be a successful actor, from understanding a scene and the story that’s being told, to understanding a character and personally challenging you to be vulnerable and bring yourself to the character. In addition to this Bill really invests personally in his students, he will show you what is needed for auditions, etc. HE WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED. He not only helped me become a stronger actor, but also more confident in myself as a person. Since Bill and Carla left Los Angeles I have not found an other workshop that even comes close to what I’ve learned from them! –Billy Williamson
Dear Phoenix Actors: If you’ve stumbled upon this website, count yourself lucky. You’ve just found a coaching duo who know how to truly help you expand and hone your craft. Of course, plenty of other classes claim to do that… So you may be wondering, “Why, among all the other coaches and courses out there, should I take an acting class from Bill and Carla Howey? What sets them apart?” Well, to be direct, here’s why:
- Because there’s no strict theory or set of practices to follow, no exercises that have a “wrong” and a “right” way to be done—no one-size-fits-all regimen that could make you feel like you’ve failed or are in competition with your classmates. The most universal principle from which Bill and Carla coach is to be true to yourself, your individuality.
- Because they will help illuminate your hidden blocks to personal expression—not by telling you what they are but by challenging you to acknowledge them for yourself, to be honest with yourself. And then to be brave enough to break them down and risk “failure” (which, you’ll come to learn, doesn’t exist).
- Because Bill and Carla give 110% to YOU, each and every class. And if you’re truly interested and committed to the work—if you give 110% back—you will grow, grow, GROW as an actor. I say this from experience: light years of growth!
- Because they foster a safe space of mutual respect among all participants to “let it all out,” without judgment—to vent, to laugh, to cry, to pout. Just do it! Put it in the work.
- Because there are people back in LA who’d give their right arm to be back in their class. You think I’m joking. I’m not. Once you train with Bill and Carla, you find yourself a part of a family that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else.
- Because you deserve to take a chance on yourself!
Bill and Carla don’t offer a how-to magic quick fix (although results often feel magical). They don’t teach you how to audition or how to shmooze or put you in a typecasting box. They focus on the art of acting. The human-ness of it. The “you” of it. And you are worth uncovering how great “you” already are. –Erin Reed
“Hey Arizona Actors: Bill is witty, tough, caring, and sympathetic. He is not only the best acting coach I’ve had, but he is also one of the best teachers I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning under. With absolutely zero ego, he sees in you what you might not have realized in yourself and finds ways for you to uncover the real you through your work.”
–Eric Carpenter