Biz Studio is a professional screen acting school for kids and teens. Working actors teach small classes and workshops for ages 5-7, 8-11, 12-17 in a simulated audition environment. The goal is to help students book work in film+tv.

The simulated audition environment is key to the way we run our workshops and classes. Auditions can be very exciting/stressful, and so to learn effective audition technique actors have to study on camera, under pressure, in as close to an audition environment as possible. That’s why our teachers are all working actors, so they can balance support with with a clear understanding of what makes an actor “bookable and bankable.” A good audition takes confidence, camera technique, and acting technique, so our programs include a balance of all three.

We make the classes fun, but the focus is on putting in the work to be professional, and developing a strong work ethic. Our actor training also builds skills like self-confidence, self-awareness, listening skills, self management and emotional sensitivity – valuable life skills at any age, and a real advantage for young actors.

Mission
To prepare young actors to audition and work in BC’s film and television industry by providing professional, practical on-camera training.

Michael Bean: Founder and principal coach at Biz Studio, Michael has an irrepressible and energetic teaching style. A classically trained actor, Michael’s recent film credits include roles in “The Big Year” with Steve Martin & Jack Black, “Love Happens” with Jennifer Aniston, “Case 39″ with Renee Zellweger, and “The Day The Earth Stood Still” with Jennifer Connelly. Michael is based out of Vancouver, BC in Canada.

Dena Ashbaugh: After getting her start modeling in Asia, Dena’s film and television career has included notable local series Smallville, Reaper, Psyche, Andromeda, Da Vinci’s Inquest and more. She has also done more than 30 commericals, most recently a commercial for T Mobile alongside Catherine Zeta Jones. Dena also has extensive experience behind the camera: she created,directed and produced the feature documentary “No Numbers: Identity beyond measure”, which premiered in New Zealand last fall, and she is currently directing her first television commercial.

Alain Chanoine: In addition to teaching the Stunts+Falls workshops at Biz Studio, Alain is an actor, martial artist and stuntman. A former World Karate Champion (‘99), he was lured back to Vancouver from theatre school in Montreal to do stunt work on Blade, and has been working consistently ever since. His recent appearances include “Painkiller Jane,” “Smallville,” and a solid month on “Percy Jackson & The Lighting Thief.”