TOM ON TEACHING:
"I find it inspiring to work with actors in a classroom setting, away from the hustle of the business, where we can take our time, immerse ourselves in the material and come to the work organically rather than rushing to results. It's important for actors to get up and work every week from wherever they are in the rehearsal process. It’s exciting to get to know actors and figure out their patterns, their blocks and explore what keeps them from sharing themselves in their work. So often a breakthrough in the microcosm of class leads to a breakthrough in the macrocosm of someone’s career and life.”
TEACHING INFLUENCES:
WYNN HANDMAN, RON VAN LIEU, KIM GILLINGHAM.
Tom O’Brien is an award-winning writer/director and dedicated teacher from Boston Mass now living in Los Angeles. Tom’s films have screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, New Hampshire Film Festival, Vail Film Festival, Provincetown Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival, among others. His first feature, Fairhaven which he wrote, directed and starred in with Chris Messina (Sharp Objects, Mindy Project), Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story), and Rich Sommer (Mad Men) premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Fairhaven was a New York Times Critic’s Pick and was released theatrically and on VOD.
Tom's second feature film, Manhattan Romance which he also wrote, directed, and starred in was distributed on Netflix worldwide. Manhattan Romance stars Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice, Fantastic Beasts), Caitlin FitzGerald (Unreal, Masters of Sex), and Gaby Hoffmann (Transparent, Girls).
Tom wrote and directed the critically acclaimed online series OM CITY which he created, produced, and stars in with his wife, Jessie Barr. OM CITY won Best Web Series at the 2018 New Media Film Festival, is a Tribeca Film Festival Selection, a New York Times TV Critic's Pick, a Vimeo Staff Pick, voted Best Web Series by Decider.com, and a USA Today “Web to Watch”.
Tom has taught acting and screenwriting for over a decade. He began his wildly successful scene study class in New York City before moving to the west coast where he’s continued to nurture a flourishing community of actors and creators who are passionate about craft and creating their own work.