Michael McClendon...actor/director/writer/coach...
OVER FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE ON STAGE, FILM, AND TELEVISION
COACHING FOR WORKING AND BEGINNING ACTORS
Ongoing classes and coaching in the mid-Tennessee area. Come in for a single brush-up or continuing classes. Specializing in individual coaching, to enhance your special talents.
Stage actors, learn film technique; film actors, polish your audition and on-set techniques! Every actor receives specialized attention. Join my actors as they develop careers on film and stage.
For details, please email me from the CONTACT page.
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CAMERON ARNETT (Actor @ CameronArnett.com, Producer/Director @ CamyArnett.com, BYOBB.tv)
There's only one word to describe Michael as a Coach, Screenwriter, Actor or Director; Excellence! It was great to not only work with a director who knew what he wanted, but also knew how to get you there. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
SEAN O'BRYAN SMITH (Award Winning Composer, President/Founder of Anam Multimedia www.anammultimedia.com)
Michael McClendon is an absolute joy to work with and a consummate professional. His ability to inspire while allowing for artistic freedom is world class and his schools are second to none.
NANCY STAFFORD
(Actor/Producer/Writer; Matlock, Heaven Bound www.nancystafford.com)
Michael McClendon is one of my favorite screenwriters. His imaginative story-telling and great characters make all of us actors want to line up just to work with him!
MATTHEW LYDA (The Walking Dead, Footloose, Let's Be Cops, 42)
All I can say about Michael is that he's a joy to work with and to get direction from. Very detail oriented and knows how to bring out the best in you as an actor. He's certainly got his head on straight when it comes to this business and anytime I need good advice, he's the absolute first person I think of and has never failed in helping me figure out the best answer for me personally, no matter the situation. In not so many words... Listen to this man and you'll be all the better for it. Trust me.
JOIVAN JIMENEZ (Actor, model, musician, comic, worship leader...seen in GQ, ESPN, Super Bowl....)
Michael McClendon is one of the biggest reasons why I am acting today. In 2012, I was honored to become one if his students. Months after one on one sessions with Michael, he invited me to audition for one of his films. His training would later land me my first supporting role in the award winning film Stand Your Ground. I am extremely grateful for Michael. For his friendship and tenacity. He not only believed in me, but he helped me create my comedic character Justo, who is now making tens of thousands of people laugh all over the world.
DONICA KNIGHT (Singer, Actress, Recording Artist www.donicaknight.com )
I cannot express how thankful I am for taking acting classes when I first started in the entertainment industry. Being a professional singer you have to act on stage, talk between songs, give interviews, perform in music videos and be able to "flip the switch" which is a tool Michael teaches to understand the separation of your real life from your career life. The show must ALWAYS go on! Coach Michael helped develop the confidence I needed to believe in myself which ultimately cracked the shell I built around me. I highly recommend Michael McClendon because not only is a great coach but he is a wonderful person and friend that CARES! He is there every step of the way and will always continue to support you, love, and give you highly educated advice when needed.
MARK MANCHA (The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Johnny, No Child Left Deprived www.imdb.me/markmancha )
Coach Michael was my very first acting coach. I wanted to be the next Disney kid. That’s all I ever saw myself doing. But, thank goodness for Coach Michael!! He stretched my acting skills and we discovered a theatrical actor waiting to be found. I learned how to break down a script, create a story for my character (not just memorize lines), and truly live my character. He never treated me like a kid. I was a professional actor! Today, as an actor in Los Angeles, I still hold the techniques and actor values that I learned 6 years ago with Coach Michael. I HIGHLY recommend learning from the best, Coach Michael McClendon!
SANDRA ELISE WILLIAMS (The Notebook, The Shunning, Hot Summer Nights)
My introduction to Michael was in 2012 on the set of Stand Your Ground, which he wrote and directed. He hired me and had me on the set working in the same week. What could have been solely a stressful situation was lessened by his manner of both permitting freedom and sharing guidance for each scene. It is a fond memory and I made a friend in the process. I visited his class and saw seriousness in bettering each actor's stance, all the while having fun.
BRANDON CANTILANG (The Game, Medea's Witness Protection, The Solomon Bunch)
Coach Michael has had a huge impact on my acting career. He is one of the few people who noticed and believed the potential in me, and eventually wrote my very first monologue. With his help and advice, I got a lot of callbacks and bookings in my acting career. He is a spectacular acting teacher and if you join his class you won't regret it.
L.A. WINTERS (Actor www.imdb.me/l.a.winters)
Michael McClendon is a storyteller of the highest caliber, his script writing and collaborative approach to directing are an actor's dream. Working with him has been a career high-point and absolute joy. Much more to come from this authentic and heart driven artist.