February 13, 2017

Meet Ayumi and Doug Iizuka and Morency of Connect Studios LA in Burbank

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayumi and Doug Iizuka and Morency.

Ayumi and Doug, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Connect Studios LA was started in 2004 by actor, Lynn Milano. She created a studio where actors could learn and network with casting professionals in a clean, respectful and supportive environment. She called it ‘Signature Studios’. In keeping with the name, actors and casting directors signed their names on the walls of the studio.

In 2008, Lynn Milano handed the reins over to another actor, Jeremy Scott Johnson, and the name of the business was shortened to the acronym SSLA’. Jeremy continued to expand the business with Lynn’s core values in mind: providing a clean, supportive, and respectful studio.

As the business developed, Jeremy’s acting and family life continued to grow as well. By the end of 2010, he made the decision to pass the torch to us so that he could refocus his time back to his acting career and family life…oh, and also to get a Masters Degree.

We had been taking classes, as well as teaching improvisation classes at at SSLA since we arrived in LA in 2010 from Toronto. We were impressed with the studio space and the welcoming environment at the classes, as well as the quality of the actors.

We officially took over the studio in March of 2011. We endeavor to continue to maintain the core goals of the studio while looking for ways to improve the experience for the actor.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Adapting to the constantly changing industry.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Connect Studios LA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Connect Studios LA is an acting studio dedicated to providing actors with the skills they need to succeed in Hollywood. We offer scene study classes, improvisation classes, casting director workshops, as well as yoga for actors and other specialty classes designed to help the actor grow and develop.

Actors need a sense of community and that’s what we strive to build — a safe and supportive place where actors can learn, network and succeed. We were grateful for it when we arrived from Toronto 7 years ago and are grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward.

We are both working actors. Between us we have a combined 50 years of professional experience in the business. We have worked as professional actors, improvisers, directors and instructors (on faculty at The Second City in both Toronto and Hollywood). We have a lot of practical experience to share with our actors. Our actors tell us the reason they keep coming back to our studio is because they learn a lot, and also feel that we really care about them and have their best interests at heart — which we do. They like the ‘vibe’ at our studio and that makes us feel great.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We plan to keep offering classes that will help actors succeed in Hollywood.

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