1^st lesson free

Joel

5 (5 reviews)

Rate $50
Response 1h
Students
Number of students Joel has taught since their arrival at Superprof
16
Number of students Joel has taught since their arrival at Superprof

5 (5 reviews)

$50/h

1^st lesson free

Acting

Experienced tutor in Acting in Los Angeles, Joel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Acting

Lesson location

- At Joel's house: Los Angeles
- online
- at your home or a public place : will travel up to 20 mi. from Los Angeles

About Joel

I am a 40 year veteran of the theater, film, and TV business- USC, NYU, and Yale Drama School trained. I am an award winning actor, theater director and theater producer and I specialize in coaching actors on specific issues they are having, whether it's auditioning, emotional preparation, sensory and environment creation for stage and screen, or script analysis. You can check out my website for a complete list of my credits and more about me at JoelPolis.com. My strength lies in my hands on approach to the work and I do mean work. If you need coaching in any area of Acting, give me a shout.

I enjoy watching an actor respond to a suggestion that opens up their imagination to their own real and unique behavior. Witnessing an actor digest the power of their own talent is an enormously rewarding event.

I have taught and coached, on and off, since 1990. As a student, my teachers trained me to "see" what other actors were doing, where they succeeded and where they needed work on technique or inspiration. As a theater director, my focus is always on the performances of my cast. I am proud to say that almost every play that I have directed garnered critical acclaim and award nominations for the actors in my productions.

MFA Yale School of Drama

BA USC School of Theater

NYU Summer Training Program

NATAS Dramatic workshop, NYC '78-83

John Lehne Professional Acting Class '87-93

About the lesson

A conversation with the student to determine his/her needs and experience, and to find a focus for the subsequent work.

A short example of the student's work to assess skill level.

Specific session work tailored to address their concerns, boost their confidence, and improve their skill set.

My students do the work. I am there to witness, to suggest exercises that expand their understanding of the craft and to address their specific needs.

I have worked with actors from 14 to 70, as a director or coach. A rainbow coalition of talent and personality. And in a word, enthusiastic.

Audit their class, if possible. Talk to the teacher and see if you "vibe" with them. In a situation where intimacy (and I'm talking about the emotional intimacy one shares with an Acting teacher), the student MUST feel comfortable and confident enough in their mentor to reveal themselves and know that they are safe, supported and valued. It is a most important feeliing.

Last year I spent a month traveling the length and breadth of New Zealand, investigating art galleries and museums, hiking it's beaches and volcanoes, hanging out in coffee shops, with people I met, visiting cultural centers, and learning to drive on the left side of the road. Because for an actor, empathy, expanding one's mind, cultural appreciation, and connectedness to the entire spectrum of human behavior and tradition, is as important as one's innate talent.

A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
When one joins a class or coaching relationship, it is to become a better actor, obviously. However narrowing down specific areas for improvement will speed an actor's growth. For example, maybe the student needs to learn how to be more relaxed on stage or in auditions. Perhaps he/she needs to learn some techniques to prepare emotionally for the requirements of a scene or monologue. How does the student analyse a scene or script so that they are filliing themselves with the given circumstances? Self awareness and a realistic evalution of one's skills are invaluable when hiring a teacher or coach.

Review

All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience lived by students with Joel.

5 (5 reviews)

M

Michael
- 5
Perfect! Bottom Line: Joel Polis is an incredibly honest, yet supportive acting coach. If you nail your scene, great; but if you leave Joel wanting, you better believe he'll let you know. His business expertise paired with his professionalism make for a killer combination. I wouldn't trust my money or my career with anyone else.
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M

Michael

Perfect! Bottom Line: Joel Polis is an incredibly honest, yet supportive acting coach. If you nail your scene, great; but if you leave Joel wanting, you better believe he'll let you know. His business expertise paired with his professionalism make for a killer combination. I wouldn't trust my money or my career with anyone else.
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Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher

Michael

Joel Polis is one of LA’s smartest and most knowledgeable acting teachers, coming from a wealth of stage and film professional experience. He combines technique based training with real world feedback and has given me the best training possible and feedback and strategies that is helping me in the development stage of my new acting career -- and likely valuable as well for veteran actors to reinvigorate their craft. And importantly, his advice and expertise is in not just the craft, but the business as well.

Read more

M
Michael
Joel Polis is one of LA’s smartest and most knowledgeable acting teachers, coming from a wealth of stage and film professional experience. He combines technique based training with real world feedback and has given me the best training possible and feedback and strategies that is helping me in the development stage of my new acting career -- and likely valuable as well for veteran actors to reinvigorate their craft. And importantly, his advice and expertise is in not just the craft, but the business as well.
Nicholas

I worked with Joel when I was fifteen years old. His incredible passion and empathy took me from viewing acting as a hobby, to seeing acting as a career.
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N
Nicholas
I worked with Joel when I was fifteen years old. His incredible passion and empathy took me from viewing acting as a hobby, to seeing acting as a career.
Jeff

I had the good fortune of being directed by Joel in the critically acclaimed two person play Years To The Day- Stage Raw nominations for best actor for both me and my partner, who also received one from LA drama critics-
Working with Joel was one of the greatest gifts of my life as an actor. His passion for the work is contagious and inspiring. I cannot recommend joel highly enough!
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J
Jeff
I had the good fortune of being directed by Joel in the critically acclaimed two person play Years To The Day- Stage Raw nominations for best actor for both me and my partner, who also received one from LA drama critics-
Working with Joel was one of the greatest gifts of my life as an actor. His passion for the work is contagious and inspiring. I cannot recommend joel highly enough!
Gigi

Joel is an exceptional coach. I feel completely safe, he helps me access my deepest emotions as well as looking at the situational circumstances so as to help me figure out what I want as the character. I feel really on my game and confident after I have coached with Joel.
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G
Gigi
Joel is an exceptional coach. I feel completely safe, he helps me access my deepest emotions as well as looking at the situational circumstances so as to help me figure out what I want as the character. I feel really on my game and confident after I have coached with Joel.
View more recommendations

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5h: $250
10h: $500

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Joel will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

online

$50/h

Experienced tutor in Acting in Los Angeles, Joel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Joel

About the lesson

Review

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

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Experienced tutor in Acting in Los Angeles, Joel offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Joel

About the lesson

Review

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Other tutors in Acting

Carolyn

Diego

Roy

Sarah

Eddie

Melinda

Guy

Evangeline

Robert

Frank

Deborah

Franckie

Natasha

Alisha

Lois

Marshall

Patty

Jason

David Earl

Josh

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