Los Angeles Based Acting Studios The Heller Approach Shares Contemporary Insights to an Old Craft Based on Don Richardson’s Teaching

North Hollywood, CA -- (SBWire) -- 07/27/2016 --Founded in 1994 by Brad Heller, The Heller Approach Acting Studios believes there are multiple ways to approach acting. Some methods torment the individual while others uplift and challenge them. Based on The Non Method Acting Technique which comes from the lessons of the late Don Richardson (Emmy winning director who directed over 800 television shows and mentored such icons as Grace Kelly and Spencer Tracy), the Los Angeles based Heller studio takes the route that – while grueling in its own right – is anything but torturous. Along with plenty of hard work, it is something that can – to the contrary – be enjoyable and exciting. Training should equip actors with the ability to perform on queue and not depend on the uncertain and unstable foundation Method Acting calls for. Being an actor doesn't just mean being able to pull off an incredible scene once in a while – it means consistently and competently being able to execute superb deliveries. After all, in the real world, casting directors aren't going to wait around for you to tap into a childhood memory or care if you can give a jaw-dropping dialogue – they need to see a resilient, highly-skilled confident professional who can be depended on to perform at their craft at all times under any given circumstances.

It's no wonder then that The Heller Approach utilizes one of the fundamental strategies employed by Don Richardson in his training which is a technique based on muscle memory and makes the apropos comparison of athleticism to acting. The principle of "acting is like being an athlete" may seem confusing at first, but after some thought, it is clear how the two are related. An athlete and an actor require the same training, the same principles of preparation, and the same muscle memory execution. In order for one's acting to be believable and true, the actor must not be thinking about what he is supposed to do next, or be watching himself to ensure he is "doing it correctly." Don often reminded his students that "the character doesn't know she's in the story. To create convincing human beings we must obey natural laws. In life, we do not go around constantly thinking about who we are, and neither should the character." After our brains have memorized the lines, the rest of the tasks in acting are turned over to our body. Through practice, our bodies can learn to do things without thinking - just as we learn to catch a ball without thinking about it. The greatest aid in acting is that our body remembers.

The non-method acting technique used at The Heller Approach relies on muscle memory. Just as a professional tennis player does not think about how he is going to hit the ball on the tennis court, an actor needs to be able to trust his body to remember the preparation done prior to filming. Similar to athletic training, there are two phases in acting: Preparation and Execution. Preparation is the step where one learns everything. Execution is where they let go completely – allowing their body to remember what it learned during rehearsal. The muscles will remember if the preparation has been done. A professional athlete trains every day in order to prepare for the big match, and once he is on the court, there is no more thinking about what he is going to do – he just does it. In acting, the answer lies in making everything we can a conditioned reflex so that we don't have to think about it.

"Don Richardson's mentor Charles Jehlinger – and also a teacher of Robert Redford – once told him, 'You cannot criticize and be creative at the same time.' As I understand it, actors are creative individuals who want to share their gift with the world around them so this idea of the overall ineffectiveness of criticism and creativity sharing the same space simultaneously is one really worth taking seriously," shared Brad Heller who was personally taught by Don Richardson. "The Heller Approach creates a fun and effective environment where gifts are honed and nurtured into a powerful skill for actors who see what they do as more than a mere hobby, but rather as a career they are in passionate pursuit of."

To learn more about The Heller Approach, visit www.thehellerapproach.com or take a moment to watch some rich content and helpful tips from Brad himself on The Heller Approach's YouTube Channel (which boasts over 1 million views to date).

About The Heller Approach
From Judge Reinhold, Tyler Blackburn, and Natalie Distler to David A.R. White and Masi Oka, students of The Heller Approach have successfully created acting careers, and constantly keep their acting tools sharp with the studio. Brad's students have booked series regular, recurring, guest starring, and co-starring roles on hit shows like "Greys Anatomy", "Extant", "Heroes", "Anger Management", "Two And A Half Men", and "Mike And Molly". They have also starred in major Studio Films and Broadway theatre productions as well as and hundreds of commercials. Brad has also taught many professional comedians how to take their comedy and put it into a believable character ultimately leading to sit-com work.

"I never show up for work without working with Brad first. He keeps me real & he points out both my strengths and weaknesses in an encouraging way that allows me to make the most of every opportunity." – Judge Reinhold (Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, The Santa Claus, Ruthless People)

"I've have studied with some of the best known teachers between New York and LA. Brad Heller literally has changed everything that I know about acting. I have gone from chasing jobs to booking jobs. I can't say enough about his knowledge and dedication to the art of acting and his students." – Dimitri Lekkos (Days of Our Lives, Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief, 90210)

www.thehellerapproach.com
323-962-8077