Finding Your Character Throughline with Kendra Castleberry

Recurring and series regular roles require flexibility, patience and extreme dedication from the actors portraying them.

Storylines can pivot suddenly, co-stars can come and go, character histories can be rewritten... and yet your character must remain true. That requires a strong sense of character identity.

This 3-week ZOOM class will focus on building a strong character profile as the throughline for long-term storytelling. You'll work on just one character for this class, but with a new scene each week.

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, KENDRA CASTLEBERRY is the Head CD at Castleberry Casting.  A TV, film and theatre enthusiast from a very young age, Kendra studied directing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before making the move to Los Angeles.  

Past casting credits include the indie feature Peace in the Valley (which just premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival), Facebook Watch’s Limetown, ABC’s Take Two, CBS’s Zoo, NBC’s Grimm, ABC’s Castle, CW’s Star-Crossed, as well as numerous other series, pilots and TV movies.

WEEK 1:

WHO AM I, AT MY CORE?

Kendra will cover:

• The Givens: What truths has the script and/or breakdown provided?
  
• Where did you come from?
• What matters to you?
• What do you desire?
• Scenework: Your first scene will be sent to actors 24-48 hours prior to class. Actors will read 1-on-1 with Kendra in front of the entire class.

WEEK 2:

WHO AM I, IN RELATIONSHIPS?

Kendra will cover:

• Who are you to others?
• How do you communicate?
• How do you fight?
• How do you love?

• Scenework: Your second scene will be sent to actors 24-48 hours prior to class. Actors will read 1-on-1 with Kendra in front of the entire class.

WEEK 3:

WHO AM I, TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD?

Kendra will cover:

• How do you navigate your environment?
• How do you move?
• What is your role in the world?
• Where do you find strength and weakness?
• Scenework: Your third scene will be sent to actors 24-48 hours prior to class. Actors will read 1-on-1 with Kendra, but in front of the entire class.

You will have an opportunity at the end of each class to ask questions, so as to address specific concerns and gain further understanding of the day’s lesson.

Please note: It is required that actors who sign up for this class be able to attend all 3 weeks. Each actor’s takes of their scenes will be taped for their personal records and review. No video or audio recordings of any other portion of the class (lecture, redirection or feedback) are allowed.

Class is limited to 12 actors.

NOTE: This class is for actors 18+ (no minors). It is required that actors who sign up for this class be able to attend all 3 weeks. Each actor’s takes of their scenes will be taped for their personal records and review. No video or audio recordings of any other portion of the class (lecture, redirection or feedback) are allowed.

DISCLAIMER: This workshop is a learning experience. It is not an audition or employment opportunity. As such, when this class is over, Kendra will NOT be taking home, nor be given access to your headshot, resume, or any of your promotional materials.