At the Academy of Cinema and Television we pride ourselves on the quality of education we offer in on-camera acting. That quality education starts with our award-winning program. From there our amazing instructors take over. Our instructors are the best in the business, their goal is to nurture each student, and give them the tools required to succeed in the entertainment business and the business of life. We strive for our students to learn the craft and skill of on-camera acting, but we also want them to improve their ability to speak well in front of groups of people, carry themselves in a professional manner and improve their overall self-esteem. We feel strongly that this "personal development" is a direct residual effect of a student learning on-camera acting in an Academy of Cinema and Television workshop, that is built on a foundation of insightful curriculum, semi-personalized instruction and masterful teaching techniques.

The Academy of Cinema and Television has very strict standards for our teaching staff. First, it is a requirement that our teachers have a college degree and an equivalent amount of training in on-camera acting, theatre and overall experience within the industry. Our teachers are not only great instructors but they are also professional actors, singers, dancers and models themselves. Our instructors not only teach an award-winning program, but also teach from personal industry experience, which makes all the difference.

The Director of the Academy of Cinema and Television is just such a person. Jack E. White has worked for Warner Brothers Studios for over 11 years. He has assisted Producers and Production Managers on numerous films and television projects. He has worked on such feature films as: Demolition Man, Fearless, Lethal Weapon 3 & 4, Dennis the Menace, The Fugitive, Batman Forever, The Perfect Storm, Space Jam, Little Giants, Space Cowboys, Dave, Three Kings, Ocean's Eleven, Swordfish, The Time Machine, A.I., and Practical Magic.

He has also worked on TV Shows such as: ER, Sisters, Gilmore Girls, West Wing, Lois & Clark, Murphy Brown, Drew Carey, Friends, Veronica’s Closet, Living Single, Jamie Foxx and
Everyone Loves Raymond.

Acting Instructor Jimmy Flowers is an accomplished actor, writer, acting coach, and producer. In less than a year (from August 2005 to August 2006), Jimmy appeared in more than 12 films, including starring roles in American Bomber, Life Room, The Domain, and Angels, Devils, and Men. In 2006, he also produced Yesterday’s Tomorrow, an independent film that involved more than 150 actors and 13 locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Plus, he contributed his voice to the role of Mr. Lee in The Controller, a CGI and live action feature film.

In early 2007, Jimmy appeared in the films Thug Passion and R.E.M. 2. Currently, he is the co-writer and co-star of the television series The Unjust, which is being filmed in Phoenix. He is also scheduled to play the lead role in the horror film Machined 2.

On stage, Jimmy has appeared in more than 13 plays. In addition to playing the title role in The Nerd, Jimmy received an AriZoni Award nomination for his portrayal of Billy Bibbitt in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and a Prizm Award for his performance as Renfield in Dracula.

Prior to working full-time as an actor, Jimmy graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Arizona State University.

Jimmy’s IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2180486

Acting Instructor Trish Blaine relocated to Arizona from the East Coast in July of 2007 to continue her film career and expand her production company, TB Productions.  Fresh off the acclaimed success of her first fully self authored and produced stage play, armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Performance and Technical Theatre, and riding the growing wave of notoriety and publicity from her first completely independent film project, she accepted a position with the Academy of Cinema and Television and headed west.

In addition to working with the Academy, she is currently in production on a self authored feature film, Forever 27, and producing a variety of independent film projects from her Tempe studio.

Modeling Instructor Camille Sledge (the daughter of Debbie Sledge of the singing group Sister Sledge) began singing and writing melodies and songs as a child. She developed a love for modeling by being surrounded by the entertainment industry all her life. Her background includes modeling on runways around the world including shows for Chanel, Armani, Betsy Johnson and many more.

Camille recently became the 1st Philadelphian cadidate to win the Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant. In 2003, Camille was the fisrt Afro-American woman to reign in 10 years! Now relocating to Arizona to be nearer to her family, she has continued to model and has her own company (CVNY international) producing and choreographing fashion events whenever she can, as she developes her new album, 'The Free Somebody' to be released independently in 2009.

Acting Instructor Kerry Keepers is a working actor and has been teaching all ages in the Phoenix area for 10 years. He began his career in entertainment in 1990 at the tender age of 36. Kerry worked in research and development for aerospace companies like McDonnell Douglas and Parker Hannifin in Southern California, got tired of the commute and the corporate humdrum so he called it quits to chase a dream.

After graduating from broadcasting school Kerry worked in radio for a few years as an evening disc jockey. In 1994 he found a mentor and began his professional acting career. Since then Kerry has performed in dozens of national and local commercials, appeared in an episode of America’s Most Wanted as well as the TV Movie of the week, Point Last Seen. He has performed in several films including A Home at the End of the World, The Last Weekend, Haunt Back and Red Fish, Blue Fish. Kerry is also a voice-over artist.

Kerry’s theatre credits include Rough Crossing, Street Scene, Romeo and Juliet, as well as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Kerry owns Pistols and Petticoats, a dinner theatre troupe which has been regaling audiences for eleven years with the western comedy, Murder at the High Noon Saloon. He directs and as well as performs in the production. Kerry has a passion for the business which becomes evident as soon as he’s in the classroom, on-camera or on stage.

Kerry has an in depth knowledge and interest for the Old West and western film. He travels with the re-enactment portion of Pistols and Petticoats to places like Yuma, Prescott and Tombstone and performs both historical and hysterical live productions. You can also find him working as a cowboy at Rawhide.

Kerry has a very comprehensive and intensive teaching style and has been proud to see many of his students enjoy success in the business.

NEW YORK CITY TEACHER BIOS & BACKGROUND

Film Class - TV-3

Karina Arroyave has lived in New York City since arriving here from Colombia at age 1.  She studied acting at LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts and later with Anthony Abeson and Lori Peters.  Her comedic training consists of improvisation classes at both The Groundlings and Acme Theatres in Los Angeles, sketch comedy at The P.I.T. Theatre in New York and comedic acting classes with Richard Klein.  Her film and television credits include a supporting role in the acclaimed, Oscar-winning film CRASH, 24, Flawless, 187, Falling Down, Lean on Me, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Judging Amy, Without a Trace, Chicago Hope and Law & Order.  Karina made her stage debut as Marisol in Jose Rivera’s Marisol at the Louisville Humana Festival.  She appeared on Broadway as Frederica in Jane Bowie’s In The Summer House at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre and regionally as Barbara in Eduardo Machado’s Once Removed at both the Long Warf and Merrimack Rep Theatres.  Her most recent theatre role was portraying Lucial Cortes in Jose Rivera’s School Of The Americas at the Public Theatre.  She has also just finished writing her first penned play, Wonder Woman Wears Raggedy Ann Pajamas.  She is currently represented by Peter Strain Associates, Inc.

Soap and Sitcom – TV -2

Tom Wiggin recently celebrated 31 years in show business. As an actor, his numerous credits include starring roles on Broadway (Grease, Bobbi Boland); on Prime Time TV (Breaking Away, Law & Order, Iron-Jawed Angels-HBO, Texas); and on Daytime TV (As the World Turns, Another World) for which he garnered two Soap Opera Digest Awards nominationsas Kirk Anderson.  He recently played Whitey Ford in the ESPN mini series The Bronx Is Burning, completed filming the role of Andrew Barksdale in an independent movie, Exposed,  and just wrapped filming an independent short, The Banker and the Baseball, in which he played Mr. Meir, the Banker.  As a writer, Tom’s screenplay, Gift of the Robin’s Nest, wasoptioned by Greystone Films and he recently completed a new screenplay, The Band Is Called…Scream!!, which is in development at Goldilocks Films in New York. He also wrote for the daytime dramas Another World and As the World Turns. Tom co-hosted and produced a travel video called Ultimate Destinations and produced a series of radio news shows for colleges called Big World. He is currently developing a political game show called Across the Aisle.  Tom is the proud father of two daughters, Anna and Eliza. He lives in Connecticut.  He is currently represented by Don Buchwald & Associates.

Commercial Acting – TV-1

Brian McManamon has performed extensively in New York at such theaters as MCC Theater, The Ensemble Studio Theater, Youngblood, P.S. 122, Target Margin, Harbor Theater, and The Lark.   Regionally as the title role in "Hamlet" at Burning Coal Theater, "American Buffalo" and "Skylight" at The New Repertory Theater, "Single Lives" at Boston Playwrights’ Theater and the world premiere of "The Three of Cups" at the Provincetown Theater Company.  And around the world, including Caryl Churchill’s opera "Hotel: Eight Rooms" directed by Mark Wing-Davey at Oxford, "Misalliance" with Theatre by the Blind in Zagreb, Croatia, and the Fringe First Award winning production of Rolin Jones’ play "The Jammer" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.  Brian has performed in the films "Carl," “All Hands On Deck," "Mothers and Sons," "The Crucible" starring Daniel Day Lewis and commercials including "Bed, Bath and Beyond" and "Dunkin Donuts." Brian has studied acting at The Chautauqua Institution, The Arts High School at the Perpich Center for Arts Education and the British American Drama Academy (B.A.D.A.) at Oxford University. He received a BFA in Acting from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.  Brian has taught actors at New York's School for Film and Television, The Dwight Edgewood Project at Yale University, as well as private coaching. 

Commercial Acting – TV-1

Wendy Ehring career began as a theatrical actress, performing in over 30 shows, both musical comedies and dramas such as Godspell, Grease, Oliver, Company, Damn Yankees, Funny Girl, to name a few. Transitioning from theatre to film and TV successfully began a few years ago and she has been seen in the films The Plan, Little Fugitive, Jealous of Late Night Talk Show Guests, The Last Stand-Up, in several television appearances including MTV’s Viva La Bam-Vito’s Date, NBC Pilot Welcome to the Family, WE Channel’s Cinematherapy, Miracle’s Boy’s-Woman in the Street directed by Spike Lee, and has recently done several voice-overs including Am I Worthy an animated superhero video and Rockland County, an on-going internet soap opera, proving that it is never too late to begin a new page in life.  Wendy Ehring began her teacher career in 1982, primarily focusing on early childhood education teaching creative drama and music.  Several years later she began teaching acting to pre-teens and teens, focusing on musical theatre and improvisation.  Other workshops she is frequently hired to teach include, scene study, monologue, and on camera classes for TV/Film.  Wendy believes that the creative arts help children in many areas including self-expression, creativity and imagination, furthering their overall development into adulthood.

PROVIDENCE, PHODE ISLAND TEACHER BIOS

TV-3 Film Class
Kristina Shook

Kristina started out as a child model in New York City. She earned her BA in acting/writing on full scholarship at Sarah Lawrence College, where she began her long journey into writing and performing one-woman shows. She has performed her solo shows in NYC & LA. She earned her Master’s degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Spanning as an actress and writer, Kristina has had a treasure trove of experience.  She co-created the TV show pilot “Rocky Mountain High”for Oscar-winning director Peter Werner. Her commercial experience includes; modeling for Victoria Jackson, as a face model for Hydroderm, acting as a boisterous wife for Hungry Man; and many more. She was featured in the PBS promotional series “Evolution”for director Mark Mothersbaugh, and in various independent films which include HOLLYWOOD DREAMER, BARREN, and NURSES. She has written acting joke sketches for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Extensive voice-over narration work can be heard on her website www.kristinashook.com. She is currently at work on filming 100 one-of-a-kind characters and writing three new TV pilots. She has taught drama, dance, monologue writing and solo show workshops in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her mentors are Bobby Moresco and Paul Haggis-the Oscar winning team of the movie CRASH. She lives in both Boston and Los Angeles and is a member of WIF, AWD, SAG, FIN. =

TV-2 Soap and Sitcom
Doreen Collins (Vanacore)

Doreen started her showbiz career at the tender age of 8 in front of 20,000 people with none other than Diana Ross and the Supremes.  She’s been an active member in SAG, AFTRA, and AGVA for over 20 years. Doreen has performed Off-Broadway, on television, film and radio with credits such as the original sitcom pilot “A Fine Mess”, as a co-host for “Big Fitness” on the PAX channel, and various other shows on Lifetime, USA and ABC. Commercials that Doreen has been seen in include clients such as Stop & Shop, Tucker Anthony, Pizzeria Uno, Just for Men, Mass. Tourism, New Hampshire Lottery, Providence 1st Nite, Boston Globe, Scott Towels, AIG Insurance, 99 Steakhouse, and Mohegan Sun.  She’s done stand-up, tradeshows, and paid practical jokes to name just some of her repertoires. “BOOZICAL: The Muzical – The Unorganized Biography of Doreen Collins”, her most recent one-woman show has been performed throughout New England. Doreen was a theater major at New York University, studying under Stella Adler, and received her cosmetology license from The Robert Fiance School of Cosmetology (NYC).  She has been working with Charlie Hall and the Ocean State Follies since the turn of the century.

TV-1 Commercial Acting
Glenn Robert Brown

Glenn grew up in a small town in the northeast and began performing at the age of 8 years old, in several community and school theatre programs throughout his college experience. He has studied in Providence at the Perishable Theatre, 22nd Story Theatre in Rhode Island, then on to Boston where he worked with Carolyn Pickman, and in NYC with the School for Film and Television.  From there Glenn had made contact with personal manager Larry Folgo from Los Angeles and studied intensively on the west coast for a whole year before heading back east to attend AAA/ISMA Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Glenn’s film supporting and lead acting credits include INCLUSION, which one best feature at the North Hampton’s Film Festival), TRAPPED, SADISTIC, THE ART OF THE PICKUP, SARA, THE PUNDIT, to name a few.  His television credits cover experience in writing, producing and hosting various shows on NBC, ABC, A&E and the History Channel.  His hosting credits span from events like Monster Trucks and Extreme Sports Stunt Shows to radio shows with Ryan Seacrest and charitable events, such as a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser on Pier 63 in NYC.  He has been seen as a commercial actor for both print and television, including clients such as Toyota, Nextel, Moneygram and Bobs Stores. Glenn continues to enrich and develop his career in the entertainment business by creating his own projects, such as his latest venturing to create an entertainment style show that is being pitched to one of the major networks right now.  Glenn believes that if you work hard, staying humble and thankful, and continue to always network every where you go, that anyone can make a living in the business.

TV-1 Commercial Acting
Alex Fleming

Alex Fleming is an actor/model/comedian part-time and works full-time as the production manager of a Boston-area TV/Video/Web production company.   He has appeared on national TV, has held the lead spot in a SAG TV commercial, has performed several times at big Boston comedy clubs, and has done voice-over work and corporate acting for hire.  Mr. Fleming has worked as a model for GE Healthcare, Crest Toothpaste, JC Penny, and Amstel Light and other leading US companies.  He has executive produced multiple projects for numerous clients and has developed a health TV series for PBS.  Mr. Fleming teaches acting to adults and kids alike and produces/directs a daily web TV show with 12 adult actors working under him.

TV-1 Commercial Acting
Jennifer Salvucci

Jennifer has been an actress and children's acting coach in the Los Angeles area for six years. Upon earning her BFA in Theater Performance from Chapman University, with an emphasis in Acting for the Camera, she made the transition to the Los Angeles scene.  She went on to find success in all mediums, including stage, screen, commercials and industrials, with her most recent film projects screening at the Cannes and South by Southwest Film Festivals.  In addition to her acting credits, Jennifer has collaborated on many original children's musicals and has served as director, vocal coach, stage manager, and choreographer for several Los Angeles based children's theatre companies, as well as teaching her own curriculum in the public school system.  Since returning to Boston earlier this year, Jennifer has been keeping busy working for Boston Casting as their children’s improv coach, for The Watertown Children’s Theatre, both as a stage manager and as their lead drama coach for their upcoming vacation arts program, and as a private acting coach for children.  She has also been performing in two traveling productions; “Consent,” an educational collaborative from the Orpheum Theatre/Bay Colony Productions and in “Pocket Full of Tales’ Holiday One Acts”.  Jennifer continues to be astounded by the amount of creativity, passion and imagination that children bring to the performing arts and is thrilled to be part of the Academy of Cinema and Television journey!

FCP - Modeling
Courtney Jones

Courtney Jones is a Theatre Performance Major at Rhode Island College who, as a high school senior was accepted into NYSTI (New York State Theatre Institute). She has worked as a model for The Candy Ford Group and has been involved with modeling and promotional events throughout the greater Boston area. She has worked with Centra Talent as a runway model and dancer. Her on camera credits include; Showtime’s hit “Brotherhood”, on the CBS show “Waterfront”, and on the CW Network for “I am Paige Armstrong.” This native New Yorker also has many on screen credits, such as the film NICE GUYS, THE PITCH, HIDING HUMANS, THE BORDON HOME, HARMONY, and recently will be seen in Spyglass Entertainment’s 27 DRESSES starring Katherine Heigl released on January 18, 2008.  Throughout her performance career, Courtney has taken time to give back as an instructor, primarily in the performing arts and dance.  Charisma and a definitive stage presence, that's both alluring and heart felt has brought this young woman the opportunity, drive and desire to succeed on the silver screen and in the world of fashion and commercial print.