Simply the finest actor organization I have ever seen. I have been a guest speaker many times and have found talented actors who have eventually become clients of mine.
— David Ziff (V.P. Commercial Department – CESD, LA)
Alumni
Maggie Grace (Taken Trilogy) · Masi Oka (Hawaii 5-0, Heroes) · Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story) · Christopher Gorham (Lincoln Lawyer, Ugly Betty) · Merrin Dungey (Shining Vale, King of Queens) · David Meunier (The Equalizer, Justified) · Chelsey Crisp (Fresh Off The Boat) · Tamara Braun (General Hospital) · Kurt Ela (Side Hustle) · Elaine Loh (Dynasty, Gossip Girl) · Mark Gantt (Oceans 11, The Bannen Way) · Jennifer Marsala (Taken, Homeland) · Roxana Ortega (Archer, The Casagrandes) · Amir Talai (American Dad, Harold & Kumar) · Shelley Dennis (The Conners) · Ron Hanks (Chef Swap, Golden California)
Founder — Kevin E. West
SAG-AFTRA Service
- TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee
- Chair – L.A. Organizing Committee
- National Disciplinary Committee
- National Organizing Committee
- Vice-Chair, L.A. Conservatory Committee
- L.A. Technology Committee
Kevin E. West is the Founder of The Actors’ Network and a veteran television actor with 70+ credits including Guest Stars on The Righteous Gemstones (HBO), Hawaii 5-0, Criminal Minds, Bones, Castle, CSI: Miami, Justified, Leverage, Lost, 24, Desperate Housewives, NCIS, Alias, CSI, and dozens more (IMDB) as well as starting his career as a in Stand-up Comedy.
Kevin is recognized Nationally & Internationally, since 1991, as the #1 opinion leader on the business of acting speaking at: WGA, SAG-AFTRA, UCLA, and A Date with Hollywood panel (Swedish Film Institute-Stockholm). The Actors’ Network is the most endorsed actor’s business organization in the U.S., with consecutive BackStage West “Reader’s Choice” awards (06/07). Alums include Maggie Grace (Taken), Chris Gorham (Lincoln Lawyer), Chelsey Crisp (Off The Boat) and Emmy Nominee Masi Oka (Heroes).
Kevin also created the interview series, ActorBizGuru, #1 online educational resource by BackStage West and Co-Authored the audio CD, The Actor’s Guide to GETTING THE JOB and ‘Coming Soon’, The Director’s Voice!
The Actor MBA
The business of acting is essentially the most undereducated — and least understood — aspect of the acting profession worldwide.
In 1991, Kevin E. West founded The Actors’ Network, an award-winning actor business organization in Los Angeles aimed at doing just that — educating actors on the business of show business.
Coaching Options
History
May 1, 1991
The very beginning of what would become The Actors’ Network. The first meeting was held at the apartment of Kevin E. West and his sister, located at 3928 Carpenter Ave. #206 just across from the Carpenter Ave. elementary school, in Studio City, CA.
January 6, 2010 — The Bannen Way
Lifetime member Mark Gantt is the vision behind The Bannen Way, a Sony Pictures Television production. Mark Gantt executive produced this series alongside Jesse Warren. Co-stars: Vanessa Marcil, Gabriel Tigerman, Michael Ironside, and Robert Forster. The show officially premiered on Crackle.
April 18, 2012 — Laurie Records
Laurie Records (CCDA) has been in Commercial casting since 2004. In 2009, Laurie opened her own company. She casts all types of Commercials and has broadened her horizons to include Network web content, Television Hosts, Web Series, Industrials, and Films.
April 4, 2013 — Michael Sanford
Michael Sanford (CCDA) is one of the top Commercial casting directors in L.A. and a repeat guest of The Actors’ Network. He opened Sanford Casting in 2000 and has an office in Atlanta. He shared in winning a 2012 Artios Award for Feature-Studio-Independent comedy with Heidi Levitt for The Artist.
The Director’s Voice
At a glance, the construct of directing can feel somewhat simplistic based on “how-to” books, guided apprenticeships, or that popular seminar. The one consistent truth is that almost every director can find themselves challenged by finding the words, visual, or mechanism to “trigger” a desired performance from an actor. Coming soon, Kevin E. West delivers a practical methodology for directors that you’ve never seen!