ACTOR'S CIRCLE
FALL SEMESTER
CLASSES SEP 19 & 26 | OCT 3& 10
WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY
This professional training program prepares actors for real-world film and television sets by building the skills, discipline, and industry awareness required to work consistently and professionally. Participants gain a clear understanding of how productions operate—from background work to principal performance pathways—while learning the expectations casting directors, assistant directors, and crews use when rehiring talent.
The program also introduces the fundamentals of screenwriting as a beginner-level component, covering structure, character, dialogue, and industry-standard format. Students leave with a clearer understanding of how scripts function on set and the tools to begin developing their own screenplay.
Professional on-set etiquette and hierarchy
Differences between background, featured background (FINT), stand-ins, run-of-show stand-ins, and utility stand-ins
Background acting techniques and continuity discipline
Learn the basics of writing for film and television, including structure, character, dialogue, and format.
Stand-in fundamentals: marks, lighting, and technical readiness
What separates reliable, rehire-ready performers from those not called back
MEET THE TEAM
Lori A. Campbell
SAG-AFTRA Actor, President of the Black Film Council
Lori A. Campbell is a retired U.S. Naval Officer, SAG-AFTRA, and voice-over actor with over 20 years of professional experience in film and television. She brings a rare depth of expertise shaped by leadership, discipline, and extensive on-set work across multiple production roles. Lori has worked extensively as a director’s pick featured background performer, stand-in, run-of-show stand-in, background casting assistant, and military technical advisor, and is known as a highly sought-after U.S. military casting director. She has also worked with the NBCUniversal Veterans Network, supporting veteran actors in television and film. Her credits include Broken City, Bleed for This, Leverage (featured background), NCIS: New Orleans, American Horror Story, Terminator, Your Honor (Season 1) (Run-of-Show Stand-In), BET’s Sacrifice (Seasons 1 & 2), and Cherish the Day, among others. She has additionally appeared as a commercial principal, model, and in print and PSA campaigns. Lori has served as a Run-of-Show Stand-In and on-set stand-in trainer on multiple New Orleans–based productions, working closely with directors, assistant directors, cinematographers, and camera teams. She also brings professional voice-over training under Rolonda Watts, further strengthening her versatility as both a performer and instructor. She teaches from real-world experience—preparing actors to show up professional, disciplined, and rehire-ready, where reputation is everything.
Hank Byrd
Filmmaker and Screenwriter
Hank Byrd has spent the last 15 years working as a screenwriter, producer, director and author. Hank is also the creator of the popular web series, Blerds, where he serves as the show's creator, head writer and executive producer. In 2023, he was one of the head writers on the crime thriller, Boneyard, starring Mel Gibson and Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, scheduled for a 2024 release.
Stephanie Alecia Rose
Film Director, Photographer, Filmmaker, Secretary of the Black Film Council
An actor, director, filmmaker, and more born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma who has appeared in feature films, TV, and commercials in Los Angeles and Oklahoma such as 7-Eleven, CiCi’s Pizza, and more as well as produced several short films that have been through the film festival circuit and won.
Matt Leslie
(Director, Videographer)
Jason Pawlowski
(Actor, Stunt Performer, Choreographer)
May Hwen
(Actor, Singer)