The Brownstone Class is a screen acting studio rooted in a radical, necessary premise: that in an age of artificial intelligence and synthetic media, the human actor still matters. Founded by Adam Smith Jr. - actor, teacher, and author of The Actor’s Mirror - the studio offers a new kind of training that challenges outdated methods and shallow mimicry. Instead of emotional recall or naturalistic imitation, our actors are trained through deep imagination, gesture, and embodied realism. We prepare as actors must prepare now: alone, often without rehearsal, learning to work from instinct, discipline, and philosophical insight. This is not just a class; it’s a response to the times. Our method reclaims acting as a humanist art form: rigorous, imaginative, ethically awake, and creatively free.
CLASS STRUCTURE
Each week, you'll be assigned a two-person original script (2-3 pages long) and be asked to prepare your preferred role. You will see the set and meet your scene partner on the day of class. This mimics the experience of being on set, where you often have limited time to prepare and may not know who you're acting across from.
Our focus is helping actors become bulletproof. From learning lines to your Actors Access profile; we discuss it all.
What to expect:
Filming: Each take during class is filmed.
Personalized Feedback: We recognize that each actor is at a different training level and has unique learning styles; this is considered when providing direction.
Footage: At the end of each week, your class footage will be processed and uploaded to a private gallery. You will receive the footage within a few days for review. Please note: Scene editing is available at an additional cost.
Growth: Actors who train continuously will experience exponential growth by practicing in front of the camera, learning from the class environment, and reviewing their footage.
See you in class! www.TheBrownstoneClass.com