Testimonials

The following testimonials are actual emails sent, by students, to Mr. Mitchum, casting agents and casting directors after attending seminars and classes he has taught.

FEEDBACK FROM HOUSTON'S SEMINAR WITH

BENTLEY MITCHUM AND JOE NAPOLITANO

(for this seminar, I brought in Director Joe Napolitano as a guest)

Hi Bentley, How's it going? This is Jennifer Guhlin, I was in your last workshop in Houston. I wanted to tell you that I loved the workshop, I totally understand what you were saying and I think every actor should take a class from you because you really made everyone understand what they were doing and I have a lot more confidence in my acting now. It was so much fun watching everyone stepping out of their box and just going for it. I wish I could go to your class everyday.Thanks for coming to Houston and I will see you in Austin.

Thanks, Jennifer Guhlin

It was GREAT, Bentley! You are tremendously talented and creative. It was such a pleasure to study with you. I look forward to taking your classes in Houston. It was also nice that you and Joe worked so well together. Thanks very much for both the workshop and any feedback.

- Linda Carter

Bentley, I so enjoyed your workshop this weekend, I just had to tell you. WOW!!! I learned soooo much and had a great time. Thanks for coming to Houston and for being such a great teacher. It was an added plus to also have Joe here, with his diercting expertise. I hope to take your classes in Houston. I'm ready!! Thanks again, Carolyn Babb

_______

........ as you know, took Bentley Mitchum and Joe Napolitano's workshop this past weekend. All I can say is WOW!!!! Fabulous, and they were both so positive with their critiques, while at the same time making us see how our scenes could work better. It was invaluable having Bentley (actor and teacher), as well as Joe (director). I've never seen the director's point of view in person 'til now. Thanks for your input on their workshop. GREAT!! GREAT!!

-Carolyn

Bentley, The workshop was the best; I learned so much. It was great to work with you and Joe. Pass this on to Joe.

-Susie Coward

FEEDBACK FROM AUSTIN'S RECENT SEMINAR WITH

BENTLEY MITCHUM

(for this seminar, I, again, brought in Director Joe Napolitano as a guest)

I have never experienced a more pleasurable and truly intensive acting workout than with Bentley and Joe. I have taken several acting class, workshops, and seminars over the past few years. This one was by far the best class for the an actor that needs to take their craft to the next level. I really enjoyed your class and the technique you used. It was very helpful and an honest portrait of a real set experience. I want to continue taking your classes... I guess I was under the stereotypical Hollywood impression that directors didn't care about the actors. You have changed that for me. I felt very comfortable and I trusted you in making the best judgments. Acting is not an easy job, but knowing they're directors like you out there make me feel good. Thanks for all your help... Caution, the class is for serious actors only!

-CC Stinson

Hey Bentley, I just wanted to express how helpful the workshop was for me, and what a great time I had! Through your help, I was able to fully realize my objective in the scene I worked on, and therefore, reach a new level of meaning that I had never experienced before. As an actor I had never been able to cry before, but using the techniques I learned in your workshop I was able to get to that level.Thank you so much! I really appreciate all of your time and help! Thanks again for a great workshop!

- Kelsey Higgs

Hi Bentley, I just wanted to drop you a note to say how glad I am that I attended your Actor's Workshop. It was a wonderful experience. I picked up some new insights from your comments and perspective. Your choice of scenes kept it not only educative and challenging but also entertaining. To top it all, your friendly and upbeat vibes made the workshop so much fun. Thanks,

-Sumit

FEEDBACK FROM PAST SEMINARS AND CLASSES FROM

ATTENDING ACTORS

I would like to personally endorse this workshop. I had the pleasure of taking a similar workshop with Bentley and witnessed incredible growth in all of the actors. For those of you who are serious about film work, I think this is an excellent choice.

- Liz Atherton Talent agent in Austin - Ciao! Talents

Dear Bentley; I attended your Maine seminar . I am the Asian actress who did the scene from Chasing Amy. I thought I would pass along a quote from an e-mail I just sent to my agent about your seminar. "I recommend Bentley Mitchum highly: he is knowledgeable, personable, talented, passionate, funny, and very down to earth. He embodies those qualities which I like best in a teacher: knows his stuff; likes to teach; really wants his students to learn and succeed; is passionate about what he does; gives his all. I know Hollywood gets a bad rep for BS, but Bentley Mitchum is the real deal. And he really is very funny!" I should also add that you are blunt about the business without being unkind, and that you encourage and empower your students rather than push them down with how much you know that they (we) don't. Your seminars are informative, inspiring, energized, and fun. You provide your students with not only information about how to become successful, but tools they can actually use to get there. And you do it with wit, energy, talent, empathy, and passion. I am now (thanks to you!) very interested in pursuing more study in the Roy London Technique and would love to attend another of your seminars, especially one that focused on scene study. If you have a mailing/e-mailing list of current and upcoming seminars, I would love to be on it. I have to confess that at first I was a little bit leery of attending an "LA" seminar, but you came highly recommended, and my agent said she'd lend me the money to do attend, so . . . and I am so glad I went. Thank you for your talent, your interest, your fearlessness, your energy, and your generosity. I wish you all the best in all of your present and future endeavours. Sincerely,

-Shondra

Karen - What a blast!!! I have never before done anything like that in my life... What a hoot!! Exhilarating, scary, unabashed, informative, and just plain FUN. I have a confession to make; I still have your clip- board and pen; I realized it after I got home. My head was so far in the clouds that I didn't realize it until then. Sorry! Thanks again for the opportunity to meet you and Bentley and share in the insights presented. - David

The seminar yesterday was VERY insightful. I was pushed to places I have never gone before. Bentley doesn't nudge, he shoves!!! I will certainly re-analyze everything I've learned over the past 2 days and put it to good use. - Allyssa

Dear Bentley, Just a note to thank you again for coming to Maine, and for your excellent presentation. It was not only very informative, but exhilarating and enlightening. I also want to thank you for your patience with me (a real novice), as Annie in Bull Durham. It was my first attempt at acting, and you were very helpful and understanding. Now if I can only put your message into practice and let loose a little! Best regards, Linda

The Acting Workshop was a wonderful and enlightening experience for me. The interaction with Bentley and the other participants was very interesting. I learned a lot, and am already looking forward to another workshop. Thank you again for a great informative weekend. Best, Paul

Subject: Feedback from the mother of Zack Atkinson re: Bentley Workshop

Thanks for letting Zack know about the Mitchum workshop. He had a great time and said he learned a tremendous amount of valuable tips.

Karen, Wanted to thank you for sponsering Bentley this past weekend. Had a great time, I found the acting scenes and information very enlightning. Gregg Trzaskowski

Karen , Thank you about telling me about the seminar, I totally enjoyed it, and found it very instructive as well. - Rich

Hope you made it back home without too many problems. I just want to drop you a quick note to say "Thank You" for coming to Portland. You were a big help to me. Best Wishes, Ron

Dear Bentley,

In short, I was totally inspired by everything you did and by the incredible person that you are. Your workshop was a career and life changing experience for me. There are very few people in this world who can affect me the way you did. I am addicted to the idea that I can learn to have that same affect on others. People have already noticed a change in me. IÕm only sorry that some of my good friends in the acting community missed out. I have not even been able to put into words for them what your workshop has done for me. Even so, they are interpreting my exuberance and they want what I have. Come back to Austin Bentley. The serious actors here, and I, need you.

- Step Rowe

 

Just a quick note to let you know your lessons didn't fall on deaf ears. Thanks to you, I have 2 bookings, 1 in the wings, and, after 3 auditions this weekend, I'll have more. See ya soon

-Alan B.(part 1)

I just scored my third speaking role in another film project. For the latest one, they didn't even do a call back. Just called and offered. Thanks again.

- Alan B.(part 2)

We announced the new seminar at Women in film and Pazzo mente I hope it draws a crowd. Millie was in first place at Pazzo last night with the monologue you taught her YIPPEE

-Bob

Hi Linda! Please say hello to Bentley for me and let him know that he has definitely made a difference in my acting career. When I was in LA I was short on cash, but Jay Bernstein (whom gave me the scholarship to go to LA to study with Ivan Markota at VanMar Academy, mentioned below, and later with Howard Fine) was gracious enough to recommend and pay for my classes with Bentley. In the short time I was in LA I believe I left quite an impression on many casting directors, my agents, manager, and some directors and producers. I can honestly say much of the improvement I made and the work I got while I was out there I owe to Bentley and his unique teaching style. He is definitely one of a kind. AND he is such a humble, down-to-earth, nice guy. He is so unlike the stereotypical LA acting coaches that it's hard to believe he knows his stuff like he does. I consider it a privilege to have had the chance to work with him get to know him while I was out there. Hope you're doing well. Take care & God bless,

-Dan Bunch

Hi Linda, I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I enjoyed the seminar that Bentley Mitchum put on. Thank you for allowing me to participate. He was awesome to say the least. I learned more in those 2 days than in the previous 10 years. I'd love to do another class with him. I hope all is well. Thank you. Take care.

-Kara Lifka

Good afternoon Bentley, I wanted to thank you for the class this weekend. You are amazingly talented in what you do. Have a wonderful week.

-Raquel F.

It's Kevin Norton. First, I want to thank you sincerely for your seminar this Fall in Dallas. I think you're a great teacher, I learned a hell of alot, and what really impressed me (sincerely) was what I perceived to be an honest (and caring) desire to pass on valuable info. and teach struggling actors. (I stress honest, 'cause as we all know, LA and honesty aren't great bedfellows! - you seem to be above some of the LA BS, and thankfully!). I wanted to send you an email after the seminar to thank you for your inspiration to me personally, and in no small measure, you did help me greatly. Not that I'll ever make it, but I'm trying, and enjoying the hell out of the process. I do LOVE to act - like you said, even auditions are fun - it's a chance to act (I've quoted you on that, hope you don't mind!). Thanks again, Bentley, Sincerely,

-Kevin Norton

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for coming this weekend. I can't tell you how much I got out of the class. I've been in a sort of depression as far as my acting is concerned the past few months, but I think this is what I needed to get my shit together. Getting off my ass, you might say.

-Layla Price

Thanks for asking me to attend the workshop; I enjoyed it, and found it very informative. I'd be up for scene study seminar with Bentley in the future. Did you have any particular dates/locations in mind?

-Bryan

I thought the weekend was great. The information was very good. I was most impressed with the first portion dealing with appearance. This is the first time that someone has mentioned how important it is to work on your appearance. It would seem almost a given but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked and it was good to hear. I also liked how to break down a scene. I have used parts of it in the past but not all of the parts. I also enjoyed the feedback when we got up to work. Bentley was very positive and patient with each person. It is important to me to be built up in a workshop and not torn down and deflated. The stories and jokes were great and timed just right to keep people interested. The frequent breaks were great because most people can only retain information in sections of 60 minutes. Overall two thumbs up, way up! I hope this is helpful. If you want to talk in person feel free to call. Thanks again,

-John Frazier

Dear Linda, Bentley Mitchum's seminar was wonderful. I do hope he can come back so that others may also have an opportunity to participate in his techniques. Best Regards. Love,

-Stephanie Robards

Thank you for coming to Austin to give your workshop. I loved it and learned so much. I could see a big difference in the scenes when you redirected them. I spoke with the director of that independent film I told you about this morning. We're suppose to go to San Antonio and shoot some scenes on Wednesday. I will definitely be using what you taught us this weekend! Hope you come back to Austin and teach us some more. Thanks again for a great weekend!

-Leslie Holtzman

Thank you for coming to Oklahoma City and teaching many important lessons of showbusiness. Your breakdown and critique of the scenes will be applied in films and auditions to come. I will carry all of the information with me and use it. My appreciation of your honesty will remain close along with your philosophical impressions of scenes that are close to real life.

-Bridget Hart

This is Tracie Foster from the seminar in DeSoto. I would be more than interested in another seminar! I wanted to send you a thank-you. So, let me take this time to say... Thank-You! You are so motivational; your class pumped me up about more than just acting, it also helped me in my everyday life. I could be wrong, but it sure seems like you get great pleasure in sharing your knowledge with other people; that is a special quality and one we all get to benefit from. I hope you are doing well and I look forward to seeing you soon; please keep me informed. Thank You,

-Tracie (part1)

I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful workshop in the end of Feb. I have had several auditions(theatre not film) since then and man have I improved. I got cast in two of the shows but had to turn them down due to schedule conflicts. Another show I auditioned for I didn't get cast (for one thing I was too young), but another director, who knows me, was watching and said she sees a difference in me. I told her about the workshops and she said, "You were good before, but now you've got an edge". That's exactly what you said this technique would give us! It was good to see you at the Hall of Fame party. That was my first marketing experience! It was fun. Well, take care and please e-mail me with upcoming workshops, even if they are somewhere besides Texas. Thank You,

-Tracie Foster (part2)

Hi, thanks for replying to my last e-mail. I have more news: the lady who saw me audition and said I had an edge, asked me to come to her auditions for How I Learned To Drive; so I did and I landed the role of Lil Bit. I'm so glad you're coming back to the Dallas area, unfortunatly, I don't think I can attend this workshop, because I have a show(not How I Learned To Drive) on Sat. afternoon from 12:00-1:00. Maybe I can work something out so that I can come to part of it or at least stop by and say HI. I would feel like I'm missing out if you were here and I didn't get to be involved. Bye for now, hope to hear from you soon,

-Tracie (part 3)

Bentley, Thanks again for bringing your inspiring presence to Texas. Whenever you are here, the possibilities seem endless. Since your class, IÕve enjoyed some successes. I landed the lead in a film based on the musical RENT, and I knocked everyones sockÕs off at a workshop. I had a chance to see some of your films. YouÕve really practiced what you preach! I donÕt think you realize how much your reputation has been built since your last seminar in Austin. I truely believe if you planned another trip to Austin to teach, you would have no problem signing people up for it. You remain the person who has most inspired my life so far. Someday, IÕll find a way to give back.

-Step

(STEP ROWE AFTER ATTENDING SEMINAR 2nd TIME)

I just wanted to shoot you a quick note because I've received several phone calls at work (Casting Works LA) requesting information about your seminar. I guess the word is getting out from those who've taken the class. I've put in some calls to get people's e-mail addresses, and told them that I would let them know about the next seminar. I realize that it probably won't be for a while because of your schedule. Just keeping you posted,

-Step (part2)