Meet Sonya Macari | Actor – Founder of Creative Acting Studios

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonya Macari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When the pandemic hit actors in general couldn’t physically attend a professional acting class or meet casting directors in person. And of course there are many acting classes available throughout Europe providing excellent general training, advanced practical stage and screen courses and workshops. However most of these schools don’t offer the opportunity to connect with award winning LA based creatives under the same roof. Creative Acting Studios is equipped to provide MasterClasses with renowned creatives who will help actors to command their audition. Actors will be encouraged and supported and will have the opportunity to practice their craft in a safe environment with the goal of feeling empowered within their transformative change. Those who seek to gain a competitive edge in terms of auditions etc will be attracted to the insights that CAS will offer. CAS also offers free talks. We just had 4x Emmy winner casting director John Frank levey ( ER, The West Wing, Shameless, Animal Kingdom) talk about acting and the business with well over 200 actors on zoom. Among other events we also have actor ‘Doug Jones’ ( Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy, The Shape Of Water) for a very special free inspiring talk April 1st. Doug is one of the most original actors working in Hollywood today and regarded as one of the most versatile and hardest working actors in Hollywood.

What should our readers know about your business?

Prior to the pademic hitting i was narrating a project in a studio in North Hollywood and I was also set to travel back home to Dublin for a few weeks to shoot a film. All of that went by the way side as we were put into an official lockdown. Like most people i didn’t know what was next.

Through my actors union SAG-AFTRA I had then seen an advertisement for an Entrepreneur /Business program.

I applied with my idea of an online actors studio. Just 20 participants were chosen. I’m happy to say I was one of the 20. My business ‘Creative Acting Studios’ is now up and running well over a year. It’s a platform dedicated for actors all over the globe, giving them access to masterclasses, workshops and talks with casting directors, agents, acting coaches and many other creatives from Los Angeles.

Actors can gain that unique, personalized insight directly from creatives living and working in the entertainment industry here in LA. I usually schedule the events on a Saturday at 10am which is 6/7pm in countries like Ireland, Italy, France and England. We have actors zooming in for classes from all over the world and of course from The U.S also.

A lot of time and effort goes into the setting up each class. The marketing and then the execution of each Masterclasses and Talks etc. But I love every minute of it. There’s so much satisfaction especially after each event, and the actors walk away feeling more confident, resilient, and in turn more free. They are inspired, motivated and their gifts are being embraced.

At CAS classes, we try our best to teach the actors how to have a lasting career and staying power in this industry. The lifestyle and sacrifice it takes to be an actor can be intense, it takes courage and bravery. We take risks on a daily basis.

The illusion is that when you break a barrier in this business, it gets easier, but that’s not really the case. It gets different, more complex, it gets harder and you’re up against a lot more. Our mission to to teach the actors to be better, to work on the craft, so when opportunity knocks, they’re ready.

I’m lucky I have the privilege of making this one of my jobs and the way I see it is I’m giving actors an amazing opportunity to work with renowned creatives from the Industry in Los Angeles from the comfort of their own homes. I’m giving them the opportunity to grow as actors and at the same time I’m also getting to learn new things about this business myself, which I absolutely love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With so many amazing sites and attractions to visit, deciding on the best things to do in Los Angeles can be a bewildering task. If it’s your first visit, you may be inclined to beeline it to Hollywood, but you want to see the museums as well as the cliches, Silverlake, Beverly Hills and Malibu to name a few.

A Stroll through the stunning gardens at the Huntington Library is a first! its close to home so it’s a handy magical spot for us. I would fit in the Broad Museum downtown LA, they have an Infinity Mirror Room which is pretty cool. While we’re downtown The concert hall and home of the LA Philharmonic designed by famed local architect Frank Gehry is pretty breathtaking.

Lacma Museum is also a great experience. A Hike to Eaton Canyon Falls is in my opinion one of the best hikes. There a A 50-foot waterfall located in an easy-to-access canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains. I love to cook so a trip to one of the many farmers markets for fresh produce is a must! There are many remarkable restaurants in LA, by the Arts district you can find some trendy delicious spots and cocktails in super-hip Silver Lake is always an experience especially for people watching!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Colin and my wonderful kids, Evie and Leo for they are the very definition of unconditional love and support. My agent Mariko from Minc Talent who works very hard and is incredibly enthusiastic and encouraging not to mention an amazing lady. The wonderful community I am developing throughout my business Creative Acting Studios is also very gratifying to me.

I’m forever grateful to all of the actors who have taken classes and of course to all the incredible coaches, casting directors and creatives that have collaborated with me on my platform. They are the reason my actors get guidance and the motivation to better themselves and feel inspired and grow as an actor.

Website: https://www.creativeactingstudios.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativeactingstudios/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativeactingstudios