The Coaching

Who Can Become an Actor?

At KinoSpring, we believe that anyone with a passion for storytelling can become an actor. Talent helps, but what truly sets actors apart is their drive and continuous improvement. Our Drama Coaching services guide beginners and seasoned performers alike on their journey to becoming more confident on stage.

Le Havre First, the World Next: We offer coaching primarily in Le Havre, where face-to-face interaction allows for a personalized, hands-on experience. Expanding to remote or international coaching is a future goal, but our roots and focus remain local for now.

Justin Durel, founder of KinoSpring and partner of DragonChiffchaff, brings over 30 years of experience in storytelling and character creation, and 15 years in scenic humor, comedy of manners, and stage direction. His rich background and unique approach, combining psychology and performance analysis, make him a strong mentor for aspiring actors and storytellers. Justin’s philosophy emphasizes that every actor starts as a storyteller and that everyone has a story worth telling.

Personal Journey: Justin’s deep understanding of audience psychology, drawn from years of self-study and analysis of French comedians, allows him to share methods that help actors feel at ease on stage and connect deeply with their audience.

What is Drama Coaching?

Drama Coaching at KinoSpring goes beyond simple acting lessons. We focus on developing your presence both on and off the stage by mastering body language, tone, expression, and understanding audience psychology. Whether you’re preparing for a theater performance or stepping into roleplaying, we tailor each session to your goals.

Our Roleplaying Integration: With our partner, DragonChiffchaff, we incorporate roleplaying games into our Drama Coaching sessions. Roleplaying helps actors think quickly, respond naturally to changing situations, and embody characters in immersive ways. It’s a unique approach that can prepare you for both live theater and spontaneous improvisation.

For those purely interested in acting or roleplaying, DragonChiffchaff is the ideal destination. However, KinoSpring offers a more comprehensive coaching experience that combines these skills with script doctoring, consulting, and more.

What is Script Doctoring?

Script doctoring at KinoSpring is about refining stories and bringing your vision to life. Justin Durel offers thoughtful guidance on the structure, pacing, and character development of your script, ensuring your narrative is clear and compelling.

True Experience: Justin has provided feedback to aspiring playwrights, helping them polish their drafts. He offers generous insights into improving their storytelling without compromising their creative voice.

Our services focus on taking the heart of your script and enhancing it for the stage or screen, with an emphasis on preserving your unique style while addressing any structural weaknesses.

What is the Difference Between Roleplaying and Acting?

Although roleplaying and acting have similarities, they serve different purposes. Roleplaying is more improvisational, requiring participants to react in real-time within a collaborative storytelling environment. Acting, on the other hand, follows a scripted performance that requires emotional precision and consistency.

At KinoSpring, we use roleplaying as a powerful tool to enhance improvisational skills, flexibility, and quick thinking. This technique allows actors to practice building characters, mastering dialogue, and thinking creatively.

Theater of the Mind: Justin believes that roleplaying is an affordable, flexible form of creative expression that can happen anytime, anywhere. Many actors excel as roleplayers, and vice versa, showing that there is a natural link between the two forms of storytelling.

Can Roleplaying Lead to Acting?

Many talented actors begin their journey through roleplaying. At KinoSpring, we encourage aspiring actors to explore roleplaying as a low-pressure way to develop skills like empathy, character depth, and quick decision-making.

While we don’t have formal success stories of students transitioning from roleplaying to theater, Justin Durel firmly believes in the value of this path. He has seen countless examples of actors and roleplayers crossing over between the two forms, with both benefitting from the experience.

The Partnership with DragonChiffchaff

KinoSpring’s partnership with DragonChiffchaff allows us to blend roleplaying with traditional drama coaching. This collaboration creates a dynamic experience for actors who want to explore both structured performance and improvisation. Whether you’re looking to dive into roleplaying or enhance your stage presence, our joint workshops provide a holistic approach to performance training.

If you’re focused purely on acting or roleplaying, DragonChiffchaff offers specialized sessions just for that, either remotely or locally. Here are some links to explore:

• DragonChiffchaff English Site
• DragonChiffchaff French Site
• DragonChiffchaff Bulgarian Site