What I liked
Besides agreeing with Matt’s specific approach to directing on a whole, I absolutely loved doing hands-on directing in the class. Working on blocking, finding intention in movement and staging, and bringing out stories and moments that aren’t on the page through the act of directing. You actually work on your scenes, in a theater, the way you would rehearse your show.
What I didn't like
My only hope is that there might be a couple actors on hand to take over the roles in the scripts. While I dove in to act myself in other peoples’ scenes (and it was incredibly helpful for me, and had no negative impact as we all got a chance to direct), I think proper actors would have more in-depth responses to the direction.
My overall impression
Matt’s experience in not only directing, but directing for theater specifically (which in LA is less common than you’d think) shows in this class. He has great instincts backed up by tons of experience, so what can you lose? I am absolutely happy with the time we spent in this class. Part of it was lecture-style with Q&A, and a larger part was a hands-on approach to tackling scenes we brought in. Matt is engaging, energetic, and an enthusiastic teacher with a natural style that only comes from years of experience. If you’re a beginner and need to know what the heck a director does, or you’re a vet and need a refresher in the world of theater (me), this course is a no-brainer. Take it!
