We recently connected with Diane Christiansen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Diane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

When I was 12 years old I decided to become an actress. When I turned 13, I decided to be a professional dancer as well. I made a formal announcement (a public declaration) to my family one day at Sunday dinner. No one stopped eating except my Dad who offered “Get your head out of the clouds and eat your dinner!” I guessed at that point there would be no support for my decision and I would have to find resources to support me. So I did.

I knew then that I was here to perform for a living and from that point on everything I did was to secure employment as a dancer or an actress. Rarely do 12 year olds know this, I felt very lucky, Eventually my family and my mentors completely supported me and so did my guidance counselor in high school who said “If every student had your confidence, I wouldn’t have a job! I have no doubt in my mind that you will do just as you wish.”

I auditioned for the Radio City Rockettes at 17 and was accepted, so my career in show business began.

There were times in my life when I needed to work regular jobs for one reason or another, but I always knew my purpose. I made it my Life’s work to channel my gifts wherever I could be paid to do so. I was a very ambitious and resourceful young lady and I’m still a risk taker, I believe some of us thrive in that mindset, but it’s not for everyone.

NEVER did I dream that I would wind up being the #1 acting coach in Hollywood!! I’ve held that title for 32 years now and have a thriving studio. I’m in business with my very talented daughter, Tess Christiansen-Sklena and we both really love what we do even more than performing. That all unfolded very organically and accidentally. I’ve found more fulfillment as an acting coach than I did performing, directing or producing and I’ve had an amazing career.

There are more outlets for acting than most actors realize, and those skills can serve someone a lifetime if applied to various circumstances.

I feel incredibly blessed to do what I love and plan to do so for Life, I love actors and working with actors is so satisfying and rewarding both creatively and financially. Championing them to their dreams serves me just as much as reaching their goals serves them. My daughter agrees with me and so do the wonderful instructors we have had the good fortune to hire in the course of our 32 year studio.

I guess you are either cut our for a Life of Risk taking or not. There were lean years, but I hung in there even when there was no money in site! You must have Faith, drive, lots of creativity, generosity, vision and patience to thrive as an artist. One also needs to reinvent when necessary.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I case we haven’t crossed paths prior to this interview, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Diane Christiansen, and I’ve owned the ‘Christiansen Acting Academy’ for nearly 32 years, We are a premier acting school for kids, teens and adult actors in Los Angeles. We branched out even more into a virtual version of our Award winning studio during the Pandemic and continue our master classes in both mediums. I began teaching in 1992 and have had the good fortune to be on the path with some pretty amazing talents in that stretch of time. We are a method based academy with a focus on preparing talent of all ages for A List careers in Film, TV and on Broadway. I am an Actors Studio actors myself and feel I have really made a difference with not only the techniques passed on from the sensibilities of method acting, but also the skills I have gained from my many years as a professional dancer with organizations like The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and the Bluebells in Paris. Staging, producing and showcasing actors has become my own special sauce – our signature trait, our Brand, and we do it right 3 times each year in our signature Agent workshop and showcase – SCREEN TEST LIVE! Anyone can audition and those that are accepted enjoy prime exposure to the leading A-List Agents and Managers in the Industry. We guide actors to the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in our business, training them not only to Become actors delivering Emmy, Oscar and Tony award winners and nominees, but also how to navigate the business. We prepare them in every way necessary to succeed and we love doing so!! My daughter Tess and I and our gifted instructors are proud to say we have a 90% signing ratio in our very popular showcases for the actors who are scouted at Screen Test Live, although we have built our studio brand on the wildly successful Acting classes and private coaching we provide as well as consistent exposure to leading casting directors and top Agents and Mgrs in the Nation as well as Los Angeles. We’ve had the honor of training and showcasing some of the hottest talent in the Industry, such as Hailee Steinfeld, Miranda May, Niles Fitch, Chloe Cherry, Joey Luthman, David Henrie, Jason Dolley, Kay & Danielle Panabaker and Mason Alexander Park to name a few.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I always tell my actors that the most valuable quality you can have in our Industry is flexibility. I encourage actors to develop a fluid personality for a myriad of reasons. You will be asked for redirects, contractual options, for booking dates to be moved around, for Directors to change their minds while working on set or in the theatre. It’s always best to not get too attached to ‘your way’. I’ve seen careers end when actors and singers couldn’t bend or adapt or collaborate.

Nothing has driven that home for me more than enduring the Pandemic as a business owner.

I must have walked around in circles for a week when we were suddenly in lock down and quarantined. Asking myself “What are we going to do?” Our 31 year studio had been thriving in person and we had only used Skype for private coaching and audition prep. I had never conducted a class on Zoom or taught that way in groups.

Finally my daughter Tess (a millennial), and my business partner, came over and sat me down and said “You’re learning how to teach on Zoom!” I can’t even begin to tell you how confronted I was, anything technical was out of my comfort zone. But I knew it was the only way to maintain what we had to offer. So I learned!! Once I felt confident after that first session, I contacted all of the Agents and Managers we work closely with and offered one week of free classes to their clients and to all of our current students. Those classes filled to the brim very quickly and eventually produced long time students who have stayed with us! Tess even came over for my first class and co-piloted my Zoom skills. That was one of the greatest personal acts of adaptability I had ever experienced. After all – I’m a Baby Boomer!

It turned out to be really wonderful and now we offer our award winning classes both online and in person.

So keep in mind that one moment of flexibility and/or creativity on your part can elevate everything you’ve been doing for years to a whole other level of success.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

As far as resources go, I really wish I had known when I was a young actress that mailing in your Agent submissions was a waste of your time and money. That is not how actors get signed by the A-List Reps you want in your career.

There are a number of unknown Agents or small new Agencies seeking actors on social media, actors access or publications like Backstage asking for submissions from actors seeking reps.

Don’t waste your time.

The best way to sign with a great Agent or Mgr is to showcase with a reputable studio or coach. Believe me, that is where you want to invest your time and money.That is where they go to scout new talent! If training is included, you’re in even better hands. Suitable Reps want actors who are aligned to people with connections. The best use of your valuable time is used finding studios like ours who have been showcasing actors to talent scouts for nearly 32 years….very successfully. We have a 90% signing ratio each time we do Agent showcases, which is only 3 times each year. And the A-List attends every single time. Ours is an ‘audition only’ 4 night workshop and showcase on Zoom and we find the best actors of all ages and levels to showcase.

“SCREEN TEST LIVE” is open to actors ages 6 to adult and we are in awe of how many actors are signed there. Many of the reps that attend often mention that we are the only showcase they even to. They know actors & singers must audition to be accepted and we offer those 4 nights for a very nominal fee. We love actors and one of the most exciting things we do each year is showcase the very best talent we can find to present to the A-List in a well produced, creativity driven show online!! Plus it’s really fun!!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ChristiansenActingAcademy.com
• Instagram: The Christiansen Acting Academy
• Facebook: The Christiansen Acting Academy
• Other: Google Business – The Christiansen Acting Academy

Image Credits
Our studio photographer – Mia Sklena.