The Actor Factory is a training studio. We are not a talent agent, we do not represent actors, and we are not a casting director. Our director and founder is a casting director in his day job, but we do not actively seek and procure work for actors. We can help you find an agent, but we do not represent actors in any way.
The Actor Factory is not a school and does not offer diplomas or certificates of completion.
Also, no piece of paper will signal to a casting director that you can act, and there is not a license required. Rather, The Factory is a studio; a place where actors can continue to flex their muscles in ongoing study, much like in Los Angeles or New York.Check our website for special promotions for taking multiple classes or enrolling multiple family members. We do have payment plans available.
At The Actor Factory, our a la carte approach allows you to select classes based on your specific needs and skill level. Whether you're looking to start with basic acting training, enhance your auditioning skills, or improve your improv abilities, the program is designed to cater to you. If you need more basic acting training first, maybe that’s the best place to start. If improv training is your weakness, start there. The program is designed with you in mind. Our goal is to provide a tailored experience, allowing you to start with the class that aligns with your current strengths and areas for growth.
We understand the financial commitment classes and camps require, and to assist, we offer flexible payment plans. The remaining balance can be conveniently paid in two installments. See more information in the payment policy section. If you have more questions, please fill out the contact box or text us to with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
At The Actor Factory, our payment policies are designed to ensure a smooth and sustainable learning environment. With small class sizes and limited seating, our commitment is to provide an affordable experience with a tight profit margin. Experiencing a high number of last-minute dropouts puts a strain on our resources and jeopardizes our ability to continue offering quality classes.
Think of your class enrollment as securing a seat to an exclusive event – your spot is guaranteed. Similar to concert tickets, if unforeseen circumstances prevent your attendance, it's your responsibility to find a replacement for your spot. While we do offer options similar to ticket buyback plans, if you can't find a replacement, the payment responsibility rests with you. This approach ensures fairness to all participants and helps us maintain the integrity of our small, personalized classes.At The Actor Factory, due to our small class sizes and limited seating, we require full payment in advance to secure your slot in the class. Payment can be made conveniently using either a check or any major credit card. Please note that a $25 service charge is applicable for all returned checks.
For certain classes and workshops, a non-refundable deposit is required in advance, and this information will be clearly indicated on the website where the event is advertised.
Acting is a continuous process, much like flexing a muscle. It begins with an individual's decision to follow their dream of acting, and at The Factory, we understand the importance of ongoing training. Many of our classes are designed to be continuous, allowing actors to flex, tone, and craft their acting muscles over time. There is a start date, but no end date, reflecting our commitment to the perpetual growth of the acting craft.At The Actor Factory, our small class sizes and limited seating necessitate a specific refund and cancellation policy. Once a class session has started, refunds will not be given.
For cancellations made after registration but before the first class, a refund of all refundable payments will be provided, minus a $35 registration fee, as long as the cancellation occurs no earlier than 7 days before the start of the first class. If the cancellation is made within 7 days of the first class, The Actor Factory reserves the right to offer no refund.
If you need to cancel your seat and find a replacement or if The Actor Factory fills your seat from a waiting list, a refund of the class price, minus the $35 cancellation fee, will be issued once the replacement's payment is secured. While we make every reasonable effort to fill seats, we cannot guarantee it.
If The Actor Factory is unable to offer the class or workshop, a 100% refund of the enrollment fee will be provided.
Please note that this policy can be superseded by other policies advertised on the website. Some guest instructors may have different policies, and we honor their wishes. Any variations will be listed in the description of the advertised class or workshop.
Cancellations must be made in writing via email. We cannot accept phone messages as cancellations. If you need to cancel a class, send an email to Chris and copy it to Leah@actorfactory.net with the subject heading 'CANCEL.' Include the name of the class, instructor, start date, your name, and contact information.At times, The Actor Factory may need to close or postpone classes due to specific events, conditions, or schedule conflicts. Before attending any class, students should check the website for real-time updates on class status. Immediate updates can also be found on our X account @ActorFactory and Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheActorFactory.
Regularly-Scheduled Closures:
Valentine’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween
There will be no classes on Sunday nights of The SAG Awards and The Academy Awards. The Actor Factory will also shut down production for the week of Spring Break (for Oklahoma Universities) and the weeks leading up to and including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, as well as the Wednesday-Sunday of Thanksgiving week.
Inclement Weather:For certain ice, snow, and severe weather conditions, The Actor Factory may shut down classes on a per-instance basis. Check Twitter or Facebook feeds for class status in questionable weather, and ensure to check your email before heading to the studio.
Instructor Professional Conflict:As our instructors are working professionals, there are instances when an instructor may be called out of town or onto set with short notice. In such cases, class will be postponed, students notified via email, and updates shared on X and Facebook.
Closure Make-up Policy:For fixed-length sessions ending in six, eight, and twelve weeks, in the event of a Factory shut down, an additional class period will be added at the end to fulfill the agreed-upon and promised class total.
At The Actor Factory it is not only expected to be in class on time, it is mandatory. There is an old saying for actors: If you can’t be on time, be early. There's nothing worse than an entire film crew waiting for an actor to show up on time. Being on time is a crucial industry habit we instill.
In nearly all cases, latecomers will not be admitted to class. However, if an unforeseen circumstance arises, students are requested to call The Factory and inform the instructor. Repeated tardiness, however, will result in the student being asked to arrive on time or not at all, with no refund or credit given.The use of cell phones and texting is strictly prohibited during class. We kindly request students to turn off their cell phones or set them to vibrate to ensure an uninterrupted learning experience.
At The Actor Factory, we cultivate a productive and professional environment for dedicated actors of all ages to study, learn, and thrive. Instructors are empowered to make decisions regarding students whose behavior is counter-productive or unbecoming of a Factory student. Any instructor can, at their discretion, remove a disruptive student from class, with or without prior warning. In such cases, no refunds or credits will be given.
Immediate suspension from all classes will be enforced for any student exhibiting violent or threatening behavior toward Factory staff or fellow students, with no opportunity for return and no refunds or credits provided.
Similarly, any student found using, in possession of, or dispensing alcohol or illegal drugs on the premises, or leading up to or during class time, will face immediate suspension from all classes, without the possibility of return and without any refunds or credits given.An April 8, 2016 article in The Hollywood Reporter exposed the sometimes questionable business practices of certain Casting Director (CD) Workshops in Los Angeles, exposing some to be merely 'pay-for-play" opportunities. In L.A., a "CD workshop" is when a casting director of a TV series or one with several film credits comes to an acting studio and lend their knowledge, insight and expertise about the audition experience. They then see actors perform prepared scenes and hopefully offer constructive feedback, provide coaching, and help develop the actor's technique. They usually happen on one night for 3 hours or so.
Some of these workshops, however, are taught by CDs that have no ability or gift for teaching. They are there just for the check. They also have a closed-door policy and will only consider actors for their casting projects if those actors have taken their workshop. 20-25, maybe as many as 30 actors, perform for this CD in a two-to-three-hour session. They might get an evaluation form scribbled with some notes, but there is little to no valuable takeaway other than just meeting that CD and showing them what you can do and hope they call you in in the future.
There are guidelines set forth by the Casting Society of America in how a workshop can be taught and what can and cannot be done. There are also laws in Los Angeles governing these workshops, making sure actors are not charged a fee to audition.
On Friday, April 15, The Casting Society of America released a statement, informing the industry of a committee formed to investigate and regulate CD workshops in Los Angeles. This press release in its entirely is included below: (arrow to view full release)
Los Angeles, CA (April 15, 2016) - The Casting Society of America today announced several appointments to its Board of Directors and its Workshop Committee. The announcements were made by Richard Hicks, President of the Casting Society of America.
The newly elected members of the CSA Board of Directors are Danielle Aufiero, Leah Daniels-Butler, Amanda Lenker Doyle (associate), Whitney Horton (associate), Sara Isaacson and Marci Liroff.
The continuing members of the Board, who are at the midpoint of their two-year terms, are Kerry Barden, Russell Boast (newly appointed Vice President), Richard Hicks (President), Ivy Isenberg, Matthew Lessall (newly appointed Co-President), Charley Medigovich (associate), Rich Mento (newly appointed Secretary), Claire Simon, Mark Simon (Treasurer), Kim Marie Swanson and Bernard Telsey (New York Vice President).
The continuing members of the CSA’s New York Chapter Board include James Calleri (Treasurer), David Caparelliotis, Jessica Daniels, Joy Dewing, Rachel Hoffman, Rosalie Joseph, Stephanie Klapper, Cesar Rocha (associate), Tara Rubin, and Susanne Scheel (associate).
The CSA Board also established a Workshop Committee. The Workshop Committee members are Amanda Lenker Doyle, Richard Hicks, Matthew Lessall, Marci Liroff and Kim Marie Swanson.
The CSA Workshop Committee will seek to preserve and enhance the educational value of casting workshops taught by CSA Casting Directors and Associates in various forums. The Committee will also foster increased awareness and understanding among CSA members of the Casting Workshop Guidelines created in collaboration with Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.
“CSA Casting Directors and Associates are among the industry’s foremost authorities on the alchemic aspects of casting and acting. It’s an expertise which they generously share in various educational settings. This newly established Workshop Committee intends to ensure that all CSA members fully understand and abide by the Casting Workshop Guidelines wherever they happen to teach,” said Hicks. “We have begun to explore the creation of new, officially-sanctioned CSA programs to broaden access to casting education, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”
About the CSA
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The Casting Society of America (CSA) was founded in February of 1982 with the intention of establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the casting field and providing its members with a support organization to further their goals and protect their common interests. CSA currently boasts more than 700 members. CSA Casting Directors and Associates work around the world, with members based in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Africa. The CSA is a global resource for producers, directors and creative teams seeking casting professionals, while promoting the image of casting directors and associates worldwide, engaging in a number of charitable activities, and supporting its members by sharing important and helpful professional information. For more information on the Casting Society of America, please visit CastingSociety.com.
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Chris Freihofer, Owner & Founder, here-
Like any industry, connections are vital. But paying a certain sum should also come with value. If you have taken a day-long or weekend training session with one of the industry guests brought to The Actor Factory from Los Angeles or New York, you already know those guests all have a desire to help actors grow. They have the gift of teaching. They have a passion for mentorship. They hope to coach. They have insight into the casting room or on set or in the agenting business and they have a devotion of sharing that information just as someone shared with them when they were coming up. You might notice in that press statement one of those CSA board members, and a member serving on the new Workshop committee, is Marci Liroff, who has visited The Actor Factory many times.
What does this mean for The Factory?
Though the Los Angeles laws do not apply in Oklahoma, The Factory should be an extension of the industry and adhere to the same guidelines as LA. As a proud member of the CSA, all training I perform at The Factory falls under the CSA guidelines. If anyone has taken my audition class, you know it's a lot more than just watching people perform and moving on.
It's also widely known that local actors do not have to take my class in order to be seen or considered for projects I am hired to cast. Freihofer Casting, a separate entity from The Actor Factory, brings in many people that have not received Actor Factory training, and even holds a giant open call once a year.
Intensives at The Factory
As mentioned above, the word "workshop" in L.A. means something different than what has been defined as a workshop in Oklahoma. But to save confusion from the industry at large, I have decided to disassociate with the word "workshop" in all future Actor Factory communication. A quick look at our website will reflect that. Because what we offer at The Factory are not "CD Workshops", as offered in L.A. From now on, all guest training that span a day or a weekend will be known as an "intensive." Because that's what they are: concentrated, serious, information-packed training from qualified and experienced industry professionals with the gift of teaching.
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We value our guests that leave their homes and travel to far-off Oklahoma to share their experiences and offer their coaching. And we value our students looking to get to the next level with their craft.
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These intensives offer our students the opportunity to get insight and real-world coaching they would never otherwise experience so far removed from "out there".
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They also begin to see these professionals as people, which hopefully make future auditions or meetings a little bit easier.
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Factory Policies
Have more questions?
Need some clarification? Don't hesitate to send us a message here or reach out to us via email.