Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Norris.
Hi Brian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Oakland. My parents put me in Shakespeare Camp around age 10 and I never looked back. Acting became my passion, my community… the North Star organizing principle of my life. That led me to UCLA (theater major) and I’ve been acting in Los Angeles ever since, including roles on 35+ major network, cable, and streaming television shows. Most recently was this year’s wickedly fun season long recurring on Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady.” Along the way I’ve been fortunate enough to work consistently in films, commercials, and in the Voice Over booth, including five years as the National Campaign Voice for Wendy’s fast food.
Along the way, I started teaching and coaching pretty early. I helped friends tape auditions. I produced Voiceover Demos. I directed and produced friend’s projects. By the time I was 26 I was teaching acting and coaching at John Rosenfeld Studios. There I also co-founded Actor Salon with Brian Patacca and found a passion connecting acting craft work to acting career coaching.
In 2022 I opened “The Norris Studio,” a boutique studio for film and tv actors to build confidence and momentum in their craft and careers. The last three years have been an incredible ride, watching a community of kind, talented actors find success and support at a time when the industry is supposed to be tough. Owning the studio leveled up my own acting in a way I could never anticipate, so I’m excited to see what’s next.
When I’m not working, I live in North Hollywood with my wife Cara and our incredible daughter Piper (4), and doggy Hazy. I love Steph Curry, Sugarfish sushi, Survivor, and seeing movies in a theater full of people. That about sums it up!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it’s a smooth road for anyone. But the challenge I want to share is about taking OWNERSHIP of my life and my work. The truth is, I wanted someone else to do all the hard work for me. I think I expected someone would!
I thought some agent would introduce me to the town, explain the industry, define my casting, believe in me as a star, and make auditions and jobs fall from the sky.
I thought some wise coach would unlock my acting. They’d give me the technique, tool, or adjustment to share the brilliance I was positive I had inside.
I thought that sticking with the same bad relationships and unhealthy friendships would work itself out or that something better would pull me up.
I thought I would make so much money acting I never had to figure out a support job and ways to start planning for my future.
But none of it happened. My agents didn’t have time for me, my acting technique got me in my head, my bank account was low, my relationship patterns kept repeating themselves.
The truth was I had to take ownership of each of those areas. And that’s an ongoing, ever-evolving challenge. I needed to take control of my career – what I was selling and understanding my value to the industry I wanted to work in. I needed to answer my own acting craft questions, break my own patterns, and roll up my sleeves and figure out some ways to make money.
And every time I do, every time I take ownership of something new, the universe magically responds with acting work. It’s wild.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Top 5 Things “The Norris Studio” Is Known For:
1. Craft + Career Approach
Coming up, my acting coaches never talked about my career in class — like it was beneath them. I think that’s absurd, and borderline malpractice. Actors are paying to learn how to work in a competitive business — there has to be a strong throughline connecting your work to the career that sells it. We offer paid and free career coaching options to all enrolled clients.
2. Work with Current Working Actors
So many acting teachers are retired or never really did film and TV — and that drove me crazy when I was training. All of our coaches are currently working actors. We’re in the trenches with you — submitting self-tapes, showing up on set, qualifying for health insurance.
3. Get Out of Your Head with Practical Technique
Too much “training” just traps actors in their heads — overly complex ideas, exercises no one uses on a real set, or “scene work” that doesn’t translate to camera. Our approach is practical, simple, and playable — so you can do the work and book the work.
4. Currently Casting Material
We use scripts from projects that are actually casting right now. That way, you know what’s trending, how the marketplace is shifting, and you’re ready when your audition for the same show hits your inbox. No plays or 30 year old screenplays — just relevant, current material that moves your career forward.
5. The Community
I don’t think there’s a better one in LA. Sure, our studio’s full of talented actors — but the real magic is how kind, curious, and supportive they are. This town can feel isolating and competitive, but watching our actors grow together, tape together, land jobs together, and become lifelong friends… that’s the best part for me.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’m actually starting to look right now, so open to suggestions!
But my experience says that finding the right question is what helps the right answer appear. Too often, we don’t know what help we actually need. We just feel “stuck.” Some people need a therapist. Some need time management, Some need a Career Coach. And on and on. But the first step is getting clearer on the question or problem you need to mentoring.
Personally, once I could articulate my WHY I feel more empowered asking for help. My confidence and clarity helps other people know how to help me, and pretty soon we find a good fit.
Pricing:
- Acting Class: $275 / 1 month (4 classes)
- Audition Coaching: $60 / 30min, $120 / 60 min
- Career Coaching: $120 / 50 min
- Consultation: $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheNorrisStudio.com
- Instagram: @TheNorrisStudio
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2416676/
Image Credits
Main shot taken by Jacqueline Patton. Class shot taken by David Chan. All others I took.
