Originally from New York City, James began acting in 1994 at Rutgers University where he majored in Theatre and Cinema. After college, he began working professionally in television and regional theatre while also working at MTV Networks in Times Square. His 16 years of actor training started with a degree in theatre and cinema at Rutgers University and continued training for 2 more years with The George Street Playhouse, Uta Hagen, and the William Esper Studio before moving to Los Angeles where he trained for a decade with various film & television Studio acting classes. Simultaneously James worked as a filmmaker for various companies and projects for over two decades from branded commercial content, documentaries, web series, and many feature films. With over 100+ credits as an actor in film, TV, commercials & print work, he has worked as a professional actor since 1996 in New York, Los Angeles and Australia.
James wrote, directed, produced, co-edited and starred in the feature film ‘Starting from Scratch’. After winning many film festival awards the rom-com earned a distribution deal playing in theaters across the country and streamed worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and many other digital platforms. This is a near impossible feat for a low budget indie film with no celebrity actors. A key difference in James’ teaching that differentiates him from other teachers comes from his extensive experience as a director and editor as well as an actor. Knowing what the story and camera needs and knowing what the film crafting process requires is one of his greatest strengths as a director and acting coach. As an actor, he knows first-hand how to usher other actors to get there. Always the student, he most recently completed the UCLA Photography certificate program with high honors.
Now in Melbourne, Australia, James wants to offer everything he knows to his students as he takes a break from the intensity and time commitment of filmmaking to focus on being a father to two small boys. Upon relocating, he immediately booked his very first two guest star auditions with ‘La Brea’ and ‘Joe Vs. Carole’ and has a recurring role on season 2 of ‘Young Rock’. Most recently he was given a straight offer guest role on his first Aussie show ‘Fisk’ and will be a recurring role in the Netflix series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ as well as a role in the upcoming film ‘Play Dirty’ with Mark Wahlberg and Robert Downey Jr. He can also be seen in two national commercials for Coles and Quest Hotels.
Edward is an Acting Professor with over three decades of theatrical experience. He graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting and Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/ Original Works Playwriting and Directing. Aside from currently lecturing at the VCA Acting and Musical Theatre Departments, he has years of teaching credits, including holding instructor and guest artist positions at N.Y. Film Academy, Contemporary American Theater Festival in West Virginia, Actors Shakespeare Project in Boston, Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. and a teaching artist at hundreds of NYC Schools while working with Enact LLC, The Theater Development Fund, Smart Arts Academy, and the 52nd Street Project. He is a Fox Fellow and was awarded a Fox Foundation Grant to research New digital technology in Acting. Edward currently resides between Manhattan and Melbourne.
Elisa is a Melbourne native who has enjoyed performing long before she started her acting career as a competitor in All Star Cheerleading. She has been in numerous local theatre productions most recently starring in The Patient by Agatha Christie. She was nominated for a Comedy Lyrebird Award for her performance in A Knight to Remember. Elisa has been expanding her screen acting work with student films, music videos and shorts. Her actor training includes completing TAFTA’s full time program as well as training at NIDA, private coaching and The Hollywood Actor Lab. Elisa is also a prolific Bingo caller at the local RSL.