Directing Actors (Jun. 2020)

As an acting coach, Lisa Robertson has built a premier reputation working with a slate of cutting-edge performances in film and television that speak directly to the cultural zeitgeist. Lisa is also on the map as an award-winning emerging director.

Current coaching credits include: Alexis Bledel for her Emmy-award winning role in THE HANDMAID’S TALE (Hulu; ); Logan Browning’s NAACP Best Actress nominated series lead in DEAR WHITE PEOPLE (Netflix), also THE PERFECTION opposite Alison Williams; Ashleigh Cummings opp. Ansel Elgort in THE GOLDFINCH and her lead roles in NOS4A2 (AMC) and WESTSIDE (NZ). Lisa also coaches lead and supporting roles in PEN15 (Hulu – Emmy nom); THE L WORD: GENERATION Q (SHOWTIME); WESTWORLD (HBO; Emmy winning); GOD FRIENDED ME (CBS); AMERICAN PRINCESS (Lifetime); Ron Howard/Brian Grazer’s, MARS (NatGeo); MORTAL ENGINES; and WARRIOR (Cinemax).

A protégé of acclaimed acting coach, Larry Moss, other favorite coaching credits include: MUNICH; RENDITION, (Cannes Chopard Award for Breakout Performance); Eddie Izzard’s series lead in THE RICHES (on-set) as well as OCEAN’S THIRTEEN (on-set), VALKYRIE; the Russell Crowe starring feature, TENDERNESS (on-set); also, THE TWILIGHT SAGA; THE PACIFIC; THE STONING OF SOARYA M (title role, Mozhan Marno); BOSS; MAD MEN; UGLY BETTY; BROTHERHOOD; THE OC (numerous roles); THE SHIELD; THE SOPRANOS; POST GRAD (Alexis Bledel). Her full list of credits runs to the hundreds.

Lisa enjoys longtime working relationships with acting alum of her Studio including Leonardo Nam, WESTWORLD (HBO) and Dawn Lyen-Gardner, QUEEN SUGAR (OWN).

As a writer/director Lisa was selected for the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Her short film, COMMERCE qualified for Academy Award consideration, and is a top 50 All-Time Bestselling Drama Short on iTunes.

With her feature screenplay, COMMERCE, she received Film Independent fellowships recognition in the Academy Awards’ Nicholl Fellowship and the Page Awards.  

Lisa now mentors directors in FIND’s feature film Directing Lab. This year, she also advised alongside Liz Hannah (THE POST) in the AT&T HELLO LAB filmmaker incubator.

Ryan is a writer/director who most recently created a five-part digital series for MACRO called RE-DATE, which is currently in development for TV.

His short before that DROWNING premiered on PBS, and took home the Imagen Award for Best Short. He is a proud alumnus of Film Independent's Directing Lab, Project Involve, the FOX Comedy Apprenticeship & Global Director Initiative, Ryan Murphy’s TV Directing Mentorship, and AFI’s Directing MFA program where his thesis OJALA won a student DGA Award.

For the last six years, he's been the creative lead of The Academy's (aka. The Oscars) docu-series Academy Originals, where his work has won two Gold Clio's, a CommArts Ad Award, and been a Webby Nominee.