The Study

ABOUT THE STUDY

At The Study, we work with a modern, practical approach to Uta Hagen’s technique.Hagen’s work is all about truthful, human behavior under imaginary circumstances — using real, grounded observation to build characters that feel alive. Through her exercises in Respect for Acting, you’ll start to understand yourself more deeply, and you’ll learn the building blocks of character work and scene study.

THE SCHEDULE

Week One - Foundational Exercise As Self

Week Two - Foundational Exercise As Character + Scene Study

Week Three - Scene Study + Deep Dive

Week Four - Presentation of Foundational Exercise As Character + Scene

THE PREP once registered

Read your "Confirmation Email" completely

Follow the steps on the email to prepare for your first session!

Rehearse Rehearse Rehearse

Show up on time ;-)

For returning students, note 'one-on-ones' are no longer happening. please review your confirmation email for details!

BREATHE

This may seem like a lot, and it is, BUT this curriculum truly is an eye opening approach to self and character development that you can seamlessly apply to every stage of your work - audition to action.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Hey! I'm Amanda Bird, founder and artistic director of Noisy Nest Play Space and The Nest.

When I founded Noisy Nest in 2012, my vision was to create a space where wandering artists could find refuge, community, and access to meaningful education and resources—without the intimidation, inaccessibility, or exploitation so often found in the established machine of exploitative acting classes and workshops in LA.

What began as one-on-one coaching sessions for actors—audition prep, deep script work, and on-set support—eventually grew into The Study in 2022, a formal training space rooted in craft, collaboration, and curiosity. It's been an honor and a privilege to witness the growth in confidence, artistry, and purpose of every actor who walks through our doors.

In 2005, as a young actor in Los Angeles, I experienced the full rollercoaster of this profession—overwhelm, anxiety, and yes, moments of real joy. Submissions, prep, auditions, rejections, more submissions, bookings, script work, and the demands of being on set—it felt endless and often ungrounded. Then a mentor introduced me to the work of Uta Hagen, and suddenly, everything clicked.

Her approach changed my life—both as an artist and as a human being. Uta’s work gave me a framework of accountability to self, and a deep sense of responsibility to character and story. That foundation is now the heart of everything we do at Noisy Nest.

I’m endlessly passionate about the builders of character and story—and I can’t wait to witness what you bring to the work.