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Authentic Actors Scene Study
with Michael Malota
Always Act Authentic
Authentic Actors is a four-week scene study class rooted in one core principle: to be authentic is to have authorship — to own every word and moment as if it’s coming from you for the very first time.
The word “authentic” comes from the Greek authentikos (from authentēs — “one who acts with their own authority,” a self-doer and originator). In this class you stop impersonating characters and start creating truthful, living performances.
Class Details
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1 in-person class per week — 4 hours per session
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Small class size — Only 8 students (so everyone gets plenty of work time)
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Location: The Actor’s Parlor, Wedgewood-Houston area, Nashville
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Ongoing weekly classes, paid monthly
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Investment: $300 per month
We train actors to be more than just audition-ready — we train you to be screen-ready.
Class Format (4 Weeks)
Each student is paired with a scene partner and given fresh material.
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Week 1 — Cold read + moment-to-moment breakdown. We analyze context, subtext, and meaning, then explore honest emotional connection with your partner. No memorization required.
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Week 2 — Continued moment work with notes from Week 1. Less reliance on the page, deeper ownership.
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Week 3 — Dress rehearsal. Staging, optional costumes, mostly memorized (light script use allowed).
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Week 4 — Polished performance, ready for auditions or self-tapes. Filming is optional but encouraged for your demo reel.
Pre-Screening
All new students are pre-screened by Michael via phone or Zoom call. This ensures the class is a good fit for you and lets you get a clear sense of the work and the environment before committing.
Who It’s For
All levels are welcome — working professionals sharpening their craft or complete beginners taking their first steps. Our methods are simple, repeatable, and reliable.
“Each moment informs and gives life to the moment after it. If you are not present for these moments, you will be lost and inauthentic—relying on your ‘lines’ and mimicry of what you hope passes for genuine emotion. Say what you mean and mean what you say, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Ready to claim authorship of your acting?
Contact us today to schedule your pre-screening call and see if Authentic Actors is the right next step for you.
With over 30 years of professional experience in film, television, and theater, Michael Malota has had the privilege of sharing the screen with renowned actors such as Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway, Johnny Depp, Gabriel Byrne, and Clancy Brown. His work also includes appearances on acclaimed shows like Arrested Development and NCIS. During this time, he trained under the esteemed Los Angeles-based acting coach Andrew Magarian, spending decades alongside a steady stream of top-tier, A-list young actors—auditioning at the highest levels and continually refining his own technique.
Michael’s passion for storytelling and deep fascination with human behavior, combined with a dedicated study of philosophy, naturally led him into screenwriting, script doctoring, and coaching actors. Now based in Tennessee, he draws on all those years of experience, viewing them through his own lens and placing primary focus on working instinctually to experience the truth and authenticity within each moment.
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