Testimonials

Dave Tillman

"I've been studying at the studio for almost two years and I have to say it's been an amazing growth experience. Coach Banks encouraged me to participate in the 3rd Annual LA 1 Minute Monologue contest. I had resistance at first out of my own insecurities but with Coach's encouragement I wrote a monologue that ended up placing me in the top 10. Later that year I was asked to do a monologue during an audition, thank goodness I had that one prepared. I booked that job. I have booked not only another acting job with that same company but they have hired me to write multiple projects for them. I am so grateful to coach and to my fellow students in the studio for helping me realize my professional aspirations."

Jenn Gotzon

"Clay Banks is one of the best coaches I've worked with. I came into the studio with two conservatories of acting training under my belt but didnt know how to simplify, be subtle, trust my gut and just 'be' on screen. After a year of working hands on with Clay, he got me to trust my instincts and allow the performance to percolate moment to moment in the subtle nuances captured from the electricity our souls convey through our eyes and facial mask. The first film I worked on while working with Clay was Ron Howard's Oscar-nominated Frost/Nixon as the Presidents daughter Tricia. Ron's cinematographer Sal Tortino brought the camera in for extreme close ups during an emotional upsetting scene and as the cameras pulled in, my performance was emotionally full effortlessly with a confidence that Clay taught me through his classes (as the tears rolled down my face reaching out for my daddy's hand to hold on). The next film after Frost/Nixon was Stained where I was so honored to receive an award for the emotional raw and subtley work Clay taught me how to do in my performance. From the work, casting director Bill Dance compared me to Meryl Streep because of the character transformation and the emotional effortlessness he saw. This was all because of Clay teaching me his process for film acting. Thank you Clay. You are and always will be a dear friend to my husband and me."

Doonby, Frost/Nixon

Barry Alexander

"Clay has the uncanny ability to look deep into each actor and find exactly what they need to raise them to the next level, regardless of where they are when they enter the studio. It is truly a customized training."

Kimberly Durrett

"I've trained all over LA for many years and after a year and a half of training with Clay, I can definitely say he brought out the best in me as an actor. I feel so much more alive and connected to my scene partner and my material when I'm on set because of the tools he's given me to work with. The Clay Banks Studio is at the top of my list. Clay knows what he's doing."

General Hospital, Hewlett Packard commercials, Life, Love, and Other Four Letter Words (wtih 24's Glenn Morshower)

Dan Amos

"In the year-and-a-half since I joined the studio, I've gotten a great manager, signed with a top commercial agent, booked several commercial and VO jobs, been invited to join mainstage performance groups at Improv Olympic and starred in two webseries. Not only has Clay "dialed me in" to work with nimble creativity and deep range on camera, he has given me the confidence to go out and make things happen in my career."

Secret Millionaires

Noel Kachaturian

"I've been with Clay now for about a year and I have grown leaps and bounds as an actor. Coach really gets you focused and in the zone. Every class is a new experience and you grow a little more each week, really learning the craft. This past year, I was fortunate to be Taft Hartleyed and also landed a commercial agent, Lewis and Beal. Really looking forward to growing even more as an actor and creative being."

Joseph Bertot

"Clay always maintains focus and instruction on the fact that this is a business. That the most important product we possess, is our own unique, beautiful, personality. Clay finds a way to help each actor (student) take the magical traits they're born with and helps us integrate them into each performance, making every choice a truly original and compelling choice."

Dexter, In The Valley of Elah

Collin Sutton

"I have studied with Clay Banks for years. In this time I have grown from nothing into a professional actor. One of the top skills I have taken from his teaching is the ability to cold read which is vital to every actor. I have landed agents, casting directors and ultimately work as an actor using this and the ability to work on camera."

Dionna Chambers

"Coach Clay is amazing. He helped me not only with developing my voice and presentation as an artist but also challenged me to the point where nothing less than success followed!"

Chadd Stoops

"I'm captivated by Clay's way of teaching, his direct approach, his vulnerability and his willingness to make sure YOU as an actor, and as a person, understand what you need to grow in to become the best you can be. Clay makes sure you leave the class knowing that regardless of what you need to 'work on', YOU ARE THE ASSET."