Aaron Speiser

Aaron Speiser (born, 22 September 1950) is an American acting coach and film director based in Los Angeles, California.[1] He is the founder of the Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio, formerly known as Aaron Speiser Acting Studio, an acting school based in Los Angeles, California.[2][3] Speiser has coached some of the most notable individuals in film and television industry including Academy Award winner Will Smith, Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, and Jennifer Lopez.[4][5] He is currently the co-owner and partner with Kay Aston at The Screen Acting Studio in Los Angeles, California.[6]

Aaron Speiser
Born (1950-09-22) September 22, 1950
EducationMaster of Fine Arts
Alma materBrandeis University
Occupation(s)Acting coach, film director
WebsiteWebsite

Biography

Speiser was born in 1950, in Manhattan, New York, to Pola and Julius Speiser and was raised in the Bronx. His parents were the holocaust survivors who were of Polish descent. Speiser attended Brandeis University where he received an MFA degree in acting.[7] Later, he attended HB Studio in New York City where he studied with Uta Hagen, Bill Hickey and his mentor Kenneth McMillan.[7] He worked professionally in theatre, film and television for 15 years before fully committing to teaching.[8]

Speiser’s coaching technique is recognized for its frank honesty, practical approach and personal connection to the character and the story.[8][9] He is known for focusing specifically on the nuances of performing for the camera in the 21st century.[10][11] He is the longtime preferred coach for Will Smith, Virginia Madsen, and Jennifer Lopez.[5][12] He has also taught or coached several other prominent film and television artists including Martin Lawrence, Heather Graham, Karyn Parsons, Kevin Ryan, Lauris Reiniks, Jeff Dunham, Gerard Butler, Elijah Kelley, Hrithik Roshan and many more.[13][14] Speiser has also worked on the sets with several acclaimed directors and producers such as Michael Mann, Oliver Stone, F. Gary Gray, Peter Berg, Ang Lee, Reinaldo Green, Antoine Fuqua, Tim White, Trevor White and Barry Sonnenfeld.[15] He has been credited with on-set coaching in the making of various films such as Hustlers, King Richard, Out of Sight, I Am Legend, Hancock, Olympus Has Fallen and The Pursuit of Happyness.[16]

In 1994, Speiser directed the feature film, Talking About Sex, starring Kim Wayans, which he also co-wrote and produced.[17] The film received accolades at Palm Springs International Film Festival, and won the Best Film Award at Breckenridge Film Festival. Aaron also directed two episodes of The Wayans Brothers, “The Son of Marlon” (season 4, ep.13), and “Pops Gets Evicted” (season 5, ep. 16).[18]

Credits

Film credits of Aaron Speiser
Year Title Credited as Notes
2022Marry MeActing coach to Jennifer Lopez
2021King RichardActing coach to Will Smith
2013After EarthActing coach to Will Smith
2013Open RoadActing coach
2013ParkerActing coach to Jennifer Lopez
2012Chasing MavericksActing coach to Gerard Butler
2012Men in Black 3Acting coach to Will Smith
2012The Magic of Belle IsleActing coach to Virginia Madsen - uncredited
2012About CherryActing coach to Heather Graham - uncredited
2011Machine Gun PreacherActing coach to Gerard Butler - uncredited
2011Red Riding HoodActing coach to Virginia Madsen
2009-2010HawthorneActing coach to Jada Pinkett Smith16 episodes
2010KitesActing coach to Hrithik Roshan
2010The Back-Up PlanActing coach to Jennifer Lopez
2010The LosersActing coach
2009NCIS: Los AngelesActing coach to LL Cool J5 episodes
2009Law Abiding CitizenActing coach to Gerard Butler
2008Seven PoundsActing coach to Will Smith
2008HancockActing coach to Will Smith
2007The ManActing coach to LL Cool JTV movie
2007I Am LegendActing coach to Will Smith
2007The Number 23Acting coach to Virginia Madsen
2006El CantanteActing coach to Jennifer Lopez
2006Last HolidayActing coach to LL Cool J
2005HouseActing coach to LL Cool J1 episode
2005Slow BurnActing coach to LL Cool J
2005EdisonActing coach to LL Cool J
2005Be CoolActing coach to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
2004I, RobotActing coach to Will Smith
2004MindhuntersActing coach to LL Cool J
2003S.W.A.T.Acting coach to LL Cool J
2003The Italian JobActing coach
2003Deliver Us from EvaActing coach to LL Cool J
2002RollerballActing coach to LL Cool J
2002A Walk to RememberActing coach to Mandy Moore
2001Kingdom ComeActing coach to LL Cool J
2000Charlie's AngelsActing coach to LL Cool J
2000DaddioActing coach to Donny Osmond1 episode
1999Any Given SundayActing coach to LL Cool J
1999In Too DeepActing coach to LL Cool J
1999Deep Blue SeaActing coach to LL Cool J
1995The Jeff Foxworthy ShowActing coach to Jeff Foxworthy1 episode

References

  1. Tibaldi, Madeleine (2021-04-14). "The Guide To Becoming an Actor in L.A." www.backstage.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. CBS Los Angeles (2013-10-28). "Best Acting Classes In Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. Local Stories (2019-07-22). "Meet Shannon Sturges of Speiser/Sturges". voyagela.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. Bedoya, Aaron A. (2022-04-28). "'It was an act of love': Actor Danny Trejo walks green carpet for film premiere in El Paso". www.elpasotimes.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. Iannucci, Lisa (12 November 2009). Will Smith A Biography. ABC-Clio. pp. 84, 116. ISBN 9780313376115. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. Backstage Staff (2019-11-05). "Spotlight on Los Angeles Acting Schools and Coaches". www.backstage.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. Backstage Staff (2012-08-15). "Readers' Choice Los Angeles". www.backstage.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  8. "The Man behind the technique". www.thescreenacting.studio. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. "Aaron Speiser, a mentor". People. Time Inc. March 2005. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  10. "Approaches to Acting Technique". www.backstage.com. Backstage. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 7 August 2022 via www.youtube.com.
  11. Peikert, Mark (2019-11-04). "Speiser has coached Academy Award nominee". www.backstage.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. InStyle (2021-04-05). "Jennifer Lopez in Her Own Words (and Everyone Else's)". www.instyle.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  13. Ganguly, Prithwish (2013-11-21). "Hrithik Roshan's a smooth talker". www.dnaindia.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  14. Miller, Mike (2015-08-07). "Why Ice Cube's Look-Alike Son Still Had to Audition to Play His Dad in 'Straight Outta Compton'". people.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  15. Backstage Staff (2012-08-15). "Approaches to Technique". www.backstage.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  16. Kaplan, Stephanie (2021-04-06). "'I Love What I Do': Triple Threat Jennifer Lopez Declares She's 'Living A Dream' As Her Multifaceted Career Continues To Soar". www.morninghoney.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  17. Flowers, John; Frizler, Paul (8 April 2004). Psychotherapists on Film, 1899-1999 A Worldwide Guide to Over 5000 Films. McFarland & Company. pp. 209, 573. ISBN 9780786412976. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  18. Kanellos, Michael (2006-01-10). "Mark Cuban's acting career". www.cnet.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
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