Tess Skorczewski
Acting Coach

Tess Skorczewski is a Professional Acting Coach, Producer and Actress. She recently worked as the on-set acting coach to the Irish actors in Hollywood Trials, now airing on RTE TV. She was featured in a three-part series on child actors in Los Angeles, aired on KTLA News. Tess currently works with clients on Heroes, Dexter, Pushing Daisies, Weeds, Mad Men, My Name is Earl, Eli Stone and House. Tess has performed on stage, both in New York (Zena Group Theatre) and in Los Angeles, in films and on TV. She studied acting at the Howard Fine Studios under the auspices of Bob Krakower. Mr. Krakower is a renowned instructor at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. It was from Bob that Tess learned to use the “story” to immerse herself in her characters and to approach each and every role through the eyes of her own life experience. Tess continued her studies with Knightsbridge Theatre Ensemble, Second City and Beverly Sanders, The Mary Tyler Moore Show & Rhoda. She has since trained hundreds of actors at the Margie Haber Studios where she heads the Reel Kids and Teens department. She has worked with many young performers, as well as adult actors, in helping them to enhance and deepen their performances. Tess’ clients may be seen on TV in Pushing Daisies, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, The Wizards of Waverly Place, Without a Trace, The Game, Girlfriends, House, Las Vegas, That’s So Raven, Hello Sister, Goodbye Life, Love’s Long Journey (Lifetime TV), Judging Amy, Zoey 101, The Ghost Whisperer, The Starter Wife, ICarly, Medium, CSI New York, Mad TV, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Bernie Mac Show, Zach and Cody as well as many feature films such as Saving Grace, Dark Angel, Monster House, Mirrors, Shutter, The Last Mimzy, Disturbia, 1408, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Yours, Mine and Ours, The Cat in the Hat, Cheaper by the Dozen, Pirates of the Caribbean, Santa Clause 3, and Cinderella Story. Tess specializes in working through the actors’ preconceived notions as to how they should “perform” and other blocks caused by memorization and emotional inhibitions.

Marcie Smolin Director The Actors Circle, LLC.

She began her acting career as a child actor. Marcie has been a series regular on two TV series as well as guest starring in numerous television shows. In addition to acting Marcie was a stand-up comic for 13 years appearing on numerous stand-up shows including An Evening at the Improv, Girls Night Out, Later NBC as well as a primetime NBC comedy Special . She toured the country for many years appearing regularly in Vegas. Marcie has also appeared in more television commercials than she cares to count. She received her Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and her Masters Degree in screenwriting. Marcie has been coaching both children and adults for over 17 years. years ago. Many of her current and past students are appearing as series regulars and in feature films. Her students can also boast 7 Emmy’s and 2 Tony’s. Marcie continues to work as a performer, though coaching actors is her first love. She feels that by continuing to work as a performer, she can bring all the current trends of the industry into the workshop. Currently she is also working as a director. Her short films can be seen on http://www.superdeluxe.com. She also has a feature and a documentary in preproduction.

Jan Bina

Jan Bina graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre from
Mundelein College; she also has a M.A. from Indiana University in Radio and
Television.  She is an actor, casting associate and writer-producer
– a typical Los Angeles hyphenate.  A native of Chicago, she
performed for many years at The Second City, had an award-winning comedy act
with Pam Pauly, was a DJ at Radio Station WSDM-FM, and toured Europe with The
Godzilla Rainbow Troupe.  Fleeing wind chill factors of 20 below,
she has prospered in the LA sunshine.  She has worked in commercial
casting since the early '80's and continues to do so.  As an actor
she has appeared in numerous films and TV shows and countless commercials,
including the 2008 campaign for the GABA language school that shot in
Tokyo.  She co-wrote, with Lee Murphy, Sirens of Seduction,
which had a very successful run at The Victory Theater in Burbank. 
Currently she is busy writing and producing material for her website, inthetrenchesproductions.com.
She has been an acting coach for both adults and children for the past 12 years.

Jon Smet

Jon Smet has a B.A. in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth
University and an M.A. from Goddard College.  He co-created a
two-man comedy act, which toured colleges and comedy venues across the
country.  That act brought him to The Second City in
Chicago.  He enjoyed a long stay there as a performer and as a
director.  While in Chicago, Jon began what became busy career
acting in commercials and industrials.  But Hollywood
beckoned.  In Los Angeles, he also found success as a writer,
working on WKRP in Cincinnati.  As an LA actor he
continued his string of commercial bookings along with landing roles in film and
TV.  He also started, what has become, the longest running Cold
Reading Group in LA history; which is still thriving.  Jon has
worked as a Casting Associate for 16 years for Lien Cowan Casting (now called
Broad-Cast) and continues to do so.  He has been an acting coach
for both adults and children for the past 12 years.