Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Meindl.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started in theater in New York in the 90’s (!) and moved to LA like so many people do. I was acting and writing and directing and — twenty years ago this year (1998) — I felt there was this need to re-imagine acting and bring new awareness into this new century about creativity, the artistic process and acting training. It — like everything — continues to evolve and transform to meet the time we are living in, and yet I feel so often the approach to acting is still stuck in a by-gone era that is not only obsolete but also doesn’t fulfill the demands of what actors face in today’s world.
So 20 years ago, I began teaching out of my apartment with just 6 students and it’s grown from there into an international movement and we now have seven schools around the world – including London and Sydney. It’s not just an incredibly inspiring place to teach actors, it’s also an incubator of new forward-thinking philosophies, and a community of artists based on the ethos of possibility, social awareness and consciousness.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is a smooth road, but that’s why it’s interesting. LOL, I mean, as musician Seymour Bernstein says, “The struggle makes everything.” I have found that to be true.
We have this weird fantasy and fairy-tale narrative that creating and making art and success is like skipping down a path full of daisies. I actually have found it to be incredibly complex, dull, fascinating, terrifying, maddening and banal; soul-crushing and spirit building.
All at the same time. It challenges our faith and our determination, our patience and resilience; while at the same time, hopefully, forces us to examine why we want to make art. Why we are here doing this right now. Why do we attempt to create things that perhaps leave the world just a tiny bit better or more beautiful or thought-provoking?
No other animal does that. We do. Humans do and have been doing so since the beginning of time. Making things to make life feel as if it’s a little less of a struggle. Art, in many ways, is undervalued in our society – but to me, all of it — our entire lives is an expression of our art.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop – what should we know?
Our philosophy of training thousands of actors all over the world comes from the belief that each of us is interesting and has a unique story to tell. Everyone is a story-teller.
Everyone has a personal autobiography that’s inspiring and strange and beautiful and bad-ass. We help artists understand that they don’t have to change themselves first to be worthy of love or work or a job or a career or success – that actually, in spite of our flaws and imperfections and fears – we are capable and complete as we are.
It’s actually because of these flaws – that we’ve been incorrectly taught that we have to get rid of or are a liability – that make us who we are. I wish I had been taught this when I was 22. It would have saved me years of self-loathing and hiding who I truly am.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’ve just moved into a new studio in the heart of Hollywood and will be finishing up renovations this summer. I’m so excited to have a space that’s all our own that can just be this inspiring center for all kinds of artistic expression.
We will continue to expand to other cities and countries and help actors realize their full potential not just as artists, but as people. I personally am finishing up my 4th book and I have two feature films I wrote and directed that are in post-production right now and feature an almost entire AMAW cast.
I want to continue to work with my tribe of people exploring creativity in ways that are new for all of us. To be able to work and create with people we love is the highest form of creation, I believe. And perhaps one of the reasons we are here.
Contact Info:
- Address: 905 Cole Ave, Los Angeles 90038
- Website: anthonymeindl.com
- Email: assistant@anthonymeindl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amawstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyMeindlsActorWorkshop/
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