Today we’d like to introduce you to James Johnson.
James, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came to Atlanta like many, with dreams of becoming an actor. I went to class, I got the perfect headshots, I put every high school play on my resume, and I finally got an agent. I was ready for Hollywood, but to my surprise, Hollywood didn’t come. I was on my third student film that will never see the light of day when I realized, I should do it myself. I never liked the concept of waiting for an opportunity anyway. I gathered some actors and started making short films. They were extremely bad at first, but after years of shooting, we won awards for them. I even ended up working for Netflix, Sony, CW, etc. in production on the shows I was waiting to be cast in. I saw how it all works. Now I want to help other actors pursue their dreams of starring in their own films.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This industry is infamous for how tough it is and creating Actors Clubhouse was no different. I started building it in 2019 before the pandemic hit, so I was forced to pause until people felt comfortable meeting in person again. I would like to say that it got easier from there but it didn’t. The day of our grand opening, one of the instructors dropped from the program forcing me to restructure our entire offering. None of this is easy but much like the resilient actors I serve, I press onward.
We’ve been impressed with Actors Clubhouse, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Actors Clubhouse is a subscription-based training studio offering classes, self-taping, and event space for actors. We are unlike any other acting studio in Atlanta because actors can get multiple courses under one subscription. Typically, actors pay per course. Our team is made of working actors and filmmakers with insight on the current state of the industry. We want readers to know that Actors Clubhouse was built for those who love going to class but can’t afford training every day.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Atlanta is continuing to grow, with more production studios being developed every day. There are more than 30 network shows filming here at any given time with more than 200 Indie projects happening outside of that. That is just Atlanta, when taking the southeast as a whole into consideration, those numbers grow exponentially.
Pricing:
- $228 for 12 sessions a month
- $210 for 9 sessions a month
- $180 for 6 sessions a month
- $45 for 5 self-tapings a month
- Space rentals upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: anactorsclubhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anactorsclubhouse/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anactorsclubhouse
