The Actor's Foundry

You want to learn about yourself, acting, and life? Go here. It’s that simple.

The premier acting school in the lower mainland. Matt Harrison and his staff are an inspiration in both acting world as well as life.

Excellent course. Matthew's techniques offer an invaluable insight for actors of any level. There is a treasure trove of lessons, excercises and a thriving online community.

THE APPROACH What makes Matthew Harrison one of the top acting teachers in the world -- with students spanning all 5 continents, and with waitlists over 1/2 a year long -- is his deep, multifaceted, and nuanced approach to not only the craft of acting, but the art of life. Matthew believes that acting is a vocation, and like every other vocation on the planet, the observable results (landing the plane, performing on stage) is only 1% of the whole endeavour. The other 99% is prep. And so, when they yell ACTION, the actor's job is done, and all that remains is to surrender to the scene. One of the biggest game-changers at the Actor's Foundry is the concept of counterpoint: how everything in our universe has an inverse. Matthew relentlessly emphasizes the necessity of playing both the character's point (their objective) as well as their counterpoint. Otherwise, the scene will fall flat, feel contrived, and perceived as inauthentic. It will look like 'acting'. In addition to the concept of counterpoint, Matthew has a framework which he calls the Life Triangle, comprising intellect, emotion, and action. And since acting is the art form of life, with these 3 legs of the tripod as a solid foundation your acting will look like life. Matthew's comprehensive approach to script analysis, emotional prep, and focus is a tool, a Swiss Army Knife an actor can utilize for any scene, big or small. In addition to in-person classes (and Zoom in the era of Covid), the Foundry's Online Campus is a plethora of invaluable resources. Countless hours of videos on virtually any topic pertaining to the craft and the industry, including auditioning, acquiring agents, joining unions, East vs West Coast opportunities, vocal work, emotional work, script analysis, character arcs, working with directors, overcoming ego, and hundreds more topics. And for those ready to take the next step, Matthew also has hours and hours of lectures on the business of acting -- constructing 5-year plans, 40-hr workweeks, etc. To top it all off, Matthew has the unfathomably generous policy of welcoming all Campus members to audit classes for FREE! This has given countless students a massive head-start prior to official enrolment in class. THE ESSENCE Matthew has unmatched reverence for the craft of acting and treats every student -- new or returning -- with fresh enthusiasm and passion. He has deep, genuine compassion and creates a safe space for his students to flourish, beckoning them forth towards their fullest potential. Matthew believes that as conduits of story, what we do truly matters. That it is through story that we learn to have empathy for one another, find meaning in life, and bring about real change. He teaches that what we do as artists is more than entertainment. It's powerful and potent. That our courage to explore the fringes of existence -- deep moments of grief, anger, joy, and pain -- permits the audience to safely experience what frightens them, and perhaps even inspire them to grow from it. IN CONCLUSION Matthew equips his students with an arsenal of skills instrumental to success. He completely demystifies industry dynamics that so many actors find enigmatic and frightening, and teaches them to plan for success. He doesn't allow his students to hide behind self-sabotage, or turn check-out mechanisms into crutches. He holds everyone to the highest standards, insisting on his 'PHD Triangle' of Passion, Humility and Discipline. Matthew's extensive knowledge of philosophy, psychology, music, etc., enriches his mastery of the craft, yielding a mentor in a league of his own. It is a privilege to get to work with a teacher whose students are Marvel superheroes and leads opposite Oscar nominees and Hollywood A-listers. The debt I owe Matthew I can only repay over multiple lifetimes, but I will try my best to within this one. It is an honour to know this man and to grow from his teachings. And it's comforting to know, whatever the future brings, that I've been trained by the best of the best and left not even an iota of my destiny to chance.

Love the material taught from Actors Foundry. There are different teaching methods and ways to deliver information. I have tried different teachers and instructors and for me, I found Matthew Harrison's approach the most easy to understand and apply. Others may not have the same experience. I suggest if you are an actor seeking classes to audit different classes to see if their teaching style matches your learning style.