Chemika Bennett-Heath

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“Thank you John! Also, I just wanted to share with you a little note my agent sent me about my tape.

‘Chemika, I wanted you to know how good I think your tape is.  Just amazing that you did that in less than 48 hours.  Really nice work.’

This feels really nice to hear and I know I’m getting better because of my work with you! Thanks again :)”

- Chemika Bennett-Heath

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Natalie Krill

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"The way you approach the work was exactly what I needed. I have studied with many different teachers and sometimes I wonder why I didn't find you sooner...

“I really feel what I have discovered since working with you is invaluable. You have helped me trust myself again. The ideas, exercises and philosophy you inspire as you teach are the way I have always wanted to approach my acting. You have helped me to believe in that. You have helped me shift some very old narratives and guided me to free my own voice and creativity in my work. I feel I have built a new foundation within my work to grow from."

-Natalie Krill, The Listener, Below Her Mouth, The Next Step

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Thalia Kane

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"That time is always the best.

“I feel the work working. With your guidance I've found myself growing as an actor in ways I can understand. I've begun to think and approach the work in a more detailed and practical way. I love being able to try and practice properly. I am my best self when I am in that room."

- Thalia Kane

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Lisa Lau

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"Thanks for everything (your help in my growth, support, patience, the list can go on); I was, in fact, ‘a changed woman’ after The Intensive. I didn’t really start acting until training with John. He helped me experience and understand different characters by ‘dropping in’ to myself; he breaks the walls down between the actor and the character. John understands who I am as a human being first, which enables trust in the environment and therefore allows me to go deeper as the character."

- Lisa Lau

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Heli Kennedy

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"I wanted to thank you for such a positive and broadening experience. …the class allowed me to reinstate my “voice”… You quickly created an environment where everyone checked their egos at the door and felt safe to explore as themselves. The intensive process really allowed me to progress…"

- Heli Kennedy

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Tori Liang

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“It was truly a great experience working with you! You are a wonderful coach, a very knowledgeable person, every time after you explained the scenes to us, it blows my mind — not only the meaning behind the lines/scenes but also the human behaviours. It really gave me a new perspective in how to prepare the scenes, and also helped me to understand more about people. Thank you for sharing all these valuable insights, it allows me to explore more in acting and in life!”

- Tori Liang

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Joslyn Rogers

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"So, I made it. Still breathing. I think it went really well. I felt their intrigue. I was all there. So present. Got me some laughs and some sorry sighs. Viola was good. I began to hear myself speak a couple of times, but fought back, and re-rooted myself, got back in again. I felt very calm afterwards. Acting is becoming part. You have been endlessly generous with me since I first began at the Centre. Your direction really helped me find the truth in Viola’s words. to show you my work individually. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, support, and superior nature John, I just need to gush a little bit about class. I am really enjoying the work so much and all that you’re having us do. The improvs with the gun and the fairy tale, your ‘I’m looking at you’ … your comments are so insightful and the work in general has been so invigorating. I am forever grateful for the environment you have fostered as a means of exploration. Your coaching is invaluable"

- Joslyn Rogers

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Terry Odette

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"... the workshop for Directors, given by John Boylan this past weekend has been tremendously successful in continuing to develop my skills and experience in working with Actors. John’s generosity and patience, not to mention his lifetime of experience, makes his workshops essential for any Director at any level interested in continuing to develop confidence on the floor. This is the kind of programming I am thankful for ..."

- Terry Odette

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Alex Weiner

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“Another big thank you to you for this unforgettable experience. (Advanced Intensive). I feel like there was almost this... energy over those days.

“Not sure how to fully describe how I’m feeling, but what I can say is thank you: for your kindness, for the safe place to work, for bringing these people together.

“Thank you for helping me learn to speak as an actor and for helping me view my work with new eyes, from another perspective. I’m truly excited by the things I’ve discovered and I want to keep discovering.”

- Alex Weiner

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Regan Wang

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“Thank you so much for the letter. The letter looks fantastic. I will film the videos this week and I will send it to you once I finish editing it.

“I have made a promise with my mom to cook you a dish once we stop by Toronto to visit my sister. If you have a favorite Chinese dish, please let me know. My mom also wants me to tell you she really appreciates your help for the last couple of months.

“For Now, I am just going to work on my application for universities and I will let you know the result once it comes out. After I am finished with my applications or after quarantine, I would love to book sessions with you for the demo reel to work on my portfolio. That's it for now John, have a great night!”

- Regan Wang

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Elie Gemael

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“I appreciate that, I value your input a lot as you are a big part of my development as an actor and as a person. Today went well, I continued to try to incorporate some of the things we talked about. Some takes were better than others, so it goes. In general things went well as the director did a big ‘yesss’ gesture after one of my takes. It’s funny because as you said he likes the more intense version of the character. Tomorrow is another day and I will keep trying to do my best. Thanks again for all your help.”

- Elie Gemael

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In response to "Planned Responses"

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“John, thank you so much for this incredibly useful piece of guidance. I have been using this strategy and suggesting it to others for a while, but just in daily life. There are many times when I’m heading into situations where I’m nervous, inexperienced, or even terrified of abuse based on past experience. I’ve even gone so far as to have sentence stems or phrases written down in my notebook when I go into a meeting so that I’m ready.

“My husband has often said that I say yes far too easily. I agree to do things before really thinking it through and I’ve been burned. He has coached me to say ‘I’ll look into that and I’ll get back to you’ ‘I’ll give that some thought’ or something like that to kick it down the road and then discuss it with him. Some of the hardest things to manage for me are surprising/incomprehensible director’s directions in auditions or in work.”

In response to “Planned Responses“

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Jillian Welsh

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“John, I love this, so much.

“I remember how hard it was to say, 'I am an Actor' at first- even up to a few years ago. Especially while I was waiting tables. I liked remembering this, because this 'I am a good actor' step feels hard in the same way. It's amazing how hard it feels.I understand it on paper, and on paper I agree, but to understand it in my core, believe it with my knowing? It's a step for sure. At times, like with a "bad" audition, like the one I am still recovering from, this idea of 'good' gets beat up inside me, I don't feel 'good' who was I to say 'good'.

“I think maybe it's about letting go of 'perfection' and accepting 'good' as your baseline. Knowing that you are 'good', you will always continue to pursue 'great', you are not immune to failure, you are still learning, but the baseline is 'good', and now that is where you are starting from.

“Thank you for this.

“I just said it, and it felt better than yesterday :)”

- Jillian Welsh, in response to “I’m a good actor“

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