Congratulations on ten years to everyone at The Factory!

A Forward by Chicago Casting Director Sarah Clark

With all the love in my heart, happy anniversary to everyone at The Factory! I am so proud of you all!

Let me start by saying that Chris Freihofer didn't want to let Darryl and I do any of this for The Factory because - for some reason - he doesn't want the recognition he deserves. It's a good thing I'm not great at following instructions because, with so many people's help, we received amazing feedback and we have to share it. Darryl did most the work, so if you're mad, blame him, Chris.

I took my first class at The Factory in 2009. When it wrapped I begged Chris to let me take out the trash and scrub the toilet in exchange for classes. He said no...until I badgered him for weeks until he caved. I'm so happy I did because it led me to the career I have now. Scrubbing toilets led to a casting internship, being a casting assistant, and eventually, a casting associate all because Freihofer took pity on the pint-sized weirdo who wanted to take out the trash. Now, as a Chicago casting director, a proud member of the Casting Society of America (thanks to him), and running my own on-camera studio, I can say that none of this would have happened without The Factory. 

I managed and taught at The Factory for over three years where I watched actors come in, take classes, and get better and better. Freihofer will never grasp how much this studio has done for me and hundreds of other actors. The Factory isn't easy to run, especially getting so much content content, but Chris kept pushing and continued to do amazing work for the Oklahoma film industry. From the safe space - seriously, you have no idea how bad some acting studios are - to the INCREDIBLE teachers that fill the classrooms, The Factory is the best possible place anyone could train - in any market. 

Oklahoma and Oklahoma actors are very lucky to have The Factory. Here's to ten more years, more work, and a better acting base for Oklahoma. 

Love the former toilet scrubber, 

Sarah Clark, CSA

PS. Below, we asked people to tell us why The Factory was important to them and if they had any birthday wishes. Your students really showed up. Buckle up, Chris.