John’s class was one of the first acting classes I took in Toronto. I came in as an extremely shy, very nervous, introverted person who didn’t have very much knowledge of the industry. I wasn’t loud, confident or comfortable with attention and I believed that who I was went against everything an actor was ‘supposed’ to be. It wasn’t until John gave me one of the greatest pieces of advice which finally allowed me to feel like I belong. He told me that I, Tanu was a shy person, and that was completely okay. “If you are shy, be shy. If you are loud, be loud. If you are confident, be confident. Be exactly who you are as a person, as long as you can allow yourself to be brave as an actor”. …It still gives me goosebumps.

Now years on, John’s class is one I always intermittently come back to. He wears his heart on his sleeve and inhibits a real honest human openness which instantly creates a safe and comfortable atmosphere for you to explore your artistry without needing to focus on a perfect end result. He meets you where you are and takes on board personal goals and preferred material that you the actor choose to approach. I always leave his classes feeling mentally healthier and more importantly having gained deeper insight into myself and the way I work. Also, he’s just a hella cool human overall! Thank you John, for always welcoming me with open arms and making space for me; shy Tanu the brave actor.

Credits: (Umbrella Academy)