Mark Evans Studio

Summer has a way of pulling us into pause mode, right? Slower mornings, spontaneous weekends, and a gentle permission to take our foot off the gas. And while rest is absolutely essential (more on that in a second), summer can also be one of the most quietly powerful times in your acting journey. Many of you have heard me say ‘do the quiet work’. Chip away at your craft and your career and let the rest of the world do its thing. At Mark Evans Studio , you all know that Collaboration Is Key . And that collaboration isn’t just with scene partners or coaches - it’s with yourself. Your inner artist. Your future goals. Summer is the perfect time to check in with all three.  Here’s the truth: showing up this season doesn’t mean pushing harder - because nobody wants to do THAT in this heat and humidity. It means getting curious . What does your creative spirit need right now? Maybe it’s a reset. Maybe it’s a small challenge. Maybe it’s simply giving yourself permission to reconnect with th...

Take a moment. Ask yourself honestly - “What does being a professional actor mean to me?” Not what you think it’s supposed to mean. Not what someone once told you. But to you . If your first thoughts sound something like “If I’m talented, I’ll be discovered” or “I need to get an agent first,” you’re not alone. These ideas are everywhere. But they’re mostly myths - ones that can hold you back and keep you stuck. The truth? Being a professional actor isn’t about waiting to be chosen. It’s about taking ownership. About showing up, even when no one’s watching yet.  Professionalism = Strategy + Consistency + Craft. Let’s start with the talent myth. You’ve probably been told you’re talented. That’s great. But talent alone isn’t a strategy. It’s a foundation - but without structure and direction, it doesn’t take you far. The actors who build careers aren’t always the most talented in the room. They’re the ones who take action. The ones who decide where they want to go, who they want t...

As actors, we are in the business of feeling - honestly, deeply, and in real time. But expression doesn't begin in the voice or the face. It begins in the body, with breath. Students hear me say all the time “drop out of the upper quadrant” - meaning let’s get you into your body. One of the greatest challenges we face is learning to allow emotional truth to move through us without tensing up in resistance. This is a physical act more than an intellectual/mental one. Human instinct tells us to brace against uncomfortable feelings. We tighten our shoulders when we feel exposed. We hold our breath when we're afraid. We shut down when we're overwhelmed. This makes perfect sense in everyday life. But for actors, this instinct can block everything. If we grip against the feeling, we grip against the moment. And suddenly, we’re ‘pretending’  instead of living truthfully. You can sometimes get away with that. I've seen many people on stage performing the play, but I believe, p...