"I completely and highly recommend David and Chad to any storyteller out there ...I have learned more from these workshop classes than I have all four years of college, which my major was film, television and theatre performance."
~ Grant Langdon, Actor
"David's and Chad's training gives actors the confidence, outlook, and tools to consistently bring out their best, even in pressure packed situations."
~ Matthew Kyle, Actor
DAVID DALTON, Lead Coach
David has 30 years of Improv, acting and coaching experience. He has worked in the Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles markets, landing roles in over 70 plays, 50 commercials and several TV episodes, such as Friends, Diagnosis Murder, The Journey of Allen Strange, and Easy Money. He has worked with Dennis Hopper and Nathan Lane as “Larry” in the feature film Swing Vote and just finished his recent supporting role as Howard in the The Inner Room (2011) David’s also a graduate of HMI Behavioral Science Center in southern California and has been in private practice for ten years as a Certified Behavioral Coach specializing in relationship dynamics. As an acting coach, David helps the actor to understand their own creative process and shows them how to stay clear and focused on the path toward achievement. In auditions, his combined expertise gives him an “eye” for individual and ensemble casting.
CHAD SCHNACKEL, Camera Coach
Chad has worked in the entertainment industry for over 10 years as an actor, director, producer, and writer. He received his BFA in Film Production with an emphasis writing and directing from the University of Colorado at Denver and continues to work around the Denver area. He executive produced a feature film in 1998 and has since produced and directed more than 12 short films as well as several featurettes. He co-directed “The Interrogation”, which won best creative short at the New York Film and Video Festival. Chad continues to write, produce, and direct films as well as commercial spots. He also helps cast local and national spots. As an acting coach, Chad brings a unique filmmaking perspective into the actors craft.
WELCOME
THE COACHES
WE BELIEVE...
... you need a productive support system. No matter where you live and work as an actor, there will always be "pockets" of artists who settle for mediocrity in their work and have come to believe "this is as good as it gets". You should seek to surround yourself with those who are a few steps ahead, who are driven by their passion, who aspire to greatness and inspire others to do the same. DSSW is not the "end-all-be-all" of your training; we're just here to keep you from settling for less, and prepare you for the next level.
... you must be willing to play without a safety net. Learn to step out of your comfort zone. Learn how to fall down, laugh and pick yourself up. Be willing to fail. Sometimes, falling back a few steps means you get another chance, but with a running start. Sometimes in class, our students really suck ...and it's a good thing.
... In the business of Acting, you are your own product, your own service. Like any other product or service, you have to keep up with the development of YOU; always improving your skills and adapting to new strategies.
... that as acting coaches, we need to work harder than our students, harder than other coaches, and strive to be the best at what we do. We cannot expect our students to be at their best if we are not at ours. Set your bar high and that is where we'll start.
-David Dalton & Chad Schnackel
Mission Statement:
We strive to raise and maintain the level of professional standards within our film acting community one actor at a time. To help produce success-minded professional actors that can compete in any market.
We're not your traditional acting studio. Our actors are not taught, they are trained and coached. What's the difference? We challenge them with practical real-world application. It's not enough to just learn how to act; we place a lot of emphasis on the tools and practice that get you the work and keep you working!
Our Philosophy:
Serve the Story. Actors are co-storytellers. An actor's job is to manipulate the audience; to get them to think and feel a certain way about each character and moment within every scene. We train and condition the actor to have a quick and intuitive understanding of each scene and the characters involved. An actor must first learn how stories are told in their respective mediums and genres`, which makes character choices easier and more purposeful. We encourage each actor to see what they do not as right or wrong, good or bad, but rather in terms of what works and what does not work within the story.
Our Approach:
In order for you to succeed outside the classroom, you must first have an opportunity to "fall-down" inside the classroom. We assess each students creative process and ability. We take the time to know what you are able to handle, then we challenge you. Most importantly, we teach you how to laugh as you pick yourself up, then we push you to move forward. We are motivational, but we're NOT going to stroke your ego or coddle you ...and we're certainly NOT going to lie to you about your progress.
What Separates Us from the Rest?
FREE CLASS AUDITS
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT!
8:00pm - 10:00pm
(non-participation)
Seating Limited, so
Email or phone in your reservation!
303-669-3860
Here at DS StudioWorks, you will find the best on-camera acting classes in Colorado. Acting Coaches, David Dalton & Chad Schnackel, are experienced actors, writers, and filmmakers, and have earned the reputation as the top acting coaches in the state of Colorado. David & Chad own and write for the internationally known MockSides.com, one of the largest online resources for actors. As experienced Casting Directors for Dalton/Schnackel Casting, they are known as the coaches "that really care about actors and their careers". With David & Chad's experience combined, they bring a wide range of valuable insight to their film and TV programs.
Actor's scene work is video taped then uploaded to our password protected web page for playback and review. All scripts are custom-written for each individual student.
