The Artist’s Playhouse

Where to start. Or where to refresh.

Sometimes knowing where to start or what direction to go in is the hardest thing. It’s amazing how much time and energy we can put in and still feel like we’re not moving forward. We make sure that’s not the case.

Novice to master, all skill levels welcome

Alex Watson has worked in casting on over 50 feature films for all the major studios, and has been teaching and private coaching Hollywood’s elite for over 15 years.

Get started What to expect

What Alex and the Playhouse are proud to bring

A tough but encouraging environment in which to learn and grow as an artist.

You will get pushed, but in a positive way!

An intimate experience — everyone gets the one-on-one attention they need.

Alex takes a personal stake in every single one of his students. He wants to help you succeed, and it shows! Learn your strengths and your weaknesses. Find out what you personally have to work on to achieve your goals.

We truly represent a group environment.

Get ready to learn from your peers as well as your teachers. We encourage open learning. Everyone has something to offer.

What’s included

Self-tapes

Work sessions

Scene study

Lectures and Q&A

Audition technique

Individual meeting to go over personal hurdles and goals!

What to expect

A few things you can expect.

01

Assessment of current level and roadmap to achieve your goals

Find out where you rank in “Hollywood Standards” without actually having to go to Hollywood. Get a true and honest assessment of the things you need to work on, so you can make a career plan that works for you and allows you to take advantage of every opportunity you get!

02

Self-tapes

Self-taping has become a staple across the industry. From Los Angeles to London, major roles are now cast from self-tapes. A well-done, professional self-tape can be the key to how the casting director and director view you. On a self-tape you don’t have the casting director giving you adjustments, so choosing a slightly broader range can be all the difference. Learning to do professional-looking, well-thought-out self-tapes is the first step in submitting yourself for all roles, even ones casting out of Los Angeles. Los Angeles actors submit for local roles — why can’t you do the same?

03

Modeling to acting

Moving from modeling to acting, or vice versa, can be a challenging transition. Understanding the similarities and how to apply them can be the difference between a smooth or bumpy ride. They are both forms of performance; some rules transfer, some don’t.

04

Local to regional, or regional to worldwide

When truly investing in yourself, knowing when, how and at what pace to grow in your area and beyond is the key to success in anything. Like in comedy, “timing” is everything in entertainment. Learn what to look for and when to go for it! Leaping ahead too soon can sometimes be even worse than not leaping at all.

05

Audition technique

Learn what to do “in the room,” how to control it, and how to be at your very best every time! Opportunities don’t come around every day; be ready so you won’t waste them when they do.

06

Headshot and résumé consultation

Find out how to make yourself stand out on submissions and get seen, because if you can’t get “in” the room you can never show them what you have. The industry is ever changing and you have to move with the flow.

07

Scene study and monologue

Learn how to get the most out of scene study so you can grow to your maximum. There is a different mindset when doing a monologue vs. a scene with another actor or group of actors. Learn how to lock down your performance and give all you can.

08

The business of acting

This is one of, if not the most, important issues we cover. So many actors have to call it quits because they didn’t financially prepare for a career in the arts. Learn what you have to do to be able to survive and have the time and mental focus to follow your goals to their fruition.

Begin or continue your journey now.

“I don’t care how slowly you’re moving, as long as you’re moving and it’s in the right direction.”

Enroll now

Enrollment coming soon. E-mail to set up an interview for enrollment (if enrollment is open).

info@theartistsplayhouse.com · (818) 934-0255

Alex Watson

Actor · Acting coach

Alex Watson

Alex Watson is an actor and acting coach who split his life between Virginia, Hawaii and Los Angeles. Alex moved out to Los Angeles after attending the University of Virginia for theater. Once in Los Angeles he began to study with Ivana Chubbuck while simultaneously working at Betty Mae Casting with both Mary Vernieu and Anne McCarthy, casting such films as Any Given Sunday (dir. Oliver Stone), Requiem for a Dream (dir. Darren Aronofsky), Spy Kids (dir. Robert Rodriguez) and Scary Movie (dir. Keenen Ivory Wayans).

Soon after, Alex began private coaching, and quickly started receiving referrals from the top talent agencies in Hollywood. Some of Alex’s clients include Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), Edward Furlong (Terminator 2), Jeremy Renner (The Avengers), Fiona Gubelmann (The Good Doctor), Brad Renfro (Apt Pupil), Jason Acuña (Jackass), Michelle Weaver (Love Is) and Winter Ave Zoli (Sons of Anarchy).

Alex has also appeared in many films, including Deuces Wild (dir. Scott Kalvert) and Road Trip (dir. Todd Phillips), and on television — most recently Peacock’s The Paper and Apple TV+’s Palm Royale.

“Learning how to learn is equally as important as the information you wish to absorb.”