FACULTY
we are working actors
Our Faculty of over 30 instructors are all actors working regularly in the industry today. This ensures the competitive relevance of all training at our studio.
Dean Armstrong
Studio Founder and Director, Dean is an actor and coach for performers in film + television. Some of his clients include Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries), Perry Mattfeld (Shameless, In The Dark), Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Devon Bostick (The 100), Kaitlyn Leeb (Shadowhunters), Marshall Williams (Glee), Kevin O’Leary (Shark Tank), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Daytime Emmy winner, Brittany Allen (All My Children).
Dean maintains an active commitment to the support and development of aspiring and established talent across North America with services in Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York.
Dean also serves as a screen test advisor, pre-production and on-set acting coach for various networks and feature film production companies including HBO, SHOWTIME, HULU, NBC, DISNEY, BET, SHAFTESBURY, DISCOVERY, PARAMOUNT, and ALLIANCE ATLANTIS. Dean’s collaboration, in this capacity, has not only influenced the critical acclaim of many stars, but his direction has also served as the basis for casting and the subsequent development of national and international talent.
Salvatore Antonio
AAS Artistic Director and Lead Advanced-level Instructor, Salvatore Antonio graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada (where he also taught Acting for Camera). He's been acting professionally for over 25 years, and has been nominated for a 2020 ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance in Film, and a 2019 Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. In addition to his acting career, Mr. Antonio is also a published and internationally-produced writer, who was named a Finalist for the Governor General's Award for Literary Drama. Most recently, he was a Story Editor/Writer for the Emmy-nominated 'Schitt's Creek'.
Lara Jean Chorostecki
Lara Jean Chorostecki is an actress and coach with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Known for her versatility and craft, her career has explored nearly every genre both in front of the camera and on stage. She is a graduate of the Birmingham Conservatory (Stratford) and holds a Masters in Classical Acting.
Jesse Griffith
Jesse is an Instructor, classically trained actor with a BFA from Ryerson Theatre School and most recently, a Casting Director. In 2018, Jesse opened Jesse Griffiths Casting (JGC) with the goal of combining his passion for the arts, knowledge of local talent and the desire to develop and nurture the next generation of artists.
Kaitlyn Leeb
is known to audiences for her recurring roles in CBC’s Heartland and ABC Shadowhunters. Her many other television credits include lead roles in Lifetime’s The Hazing Secret, recurring roles in BET’s Single Ladies, SyFy/Space’s Bitten, City TV’s Seed, Rogue and Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Sarah Gnocato
Sarah Gnocato is known for her role's in eOne's "The Millenials", YTV's second season of "Undercover High" and Tribeca Film Festival’s official selection “Bunker Burger.” She has been in the TV and film industry for over a decade, when she transitioned from stage, after years of theater training, including five years at Oakville's West End Studio Theater. Sarah has trained at Second City over the past 7 years, performing on the Second City stage and participating in the Big City Improv Fest where she received recognition as a prominent female improviser. Sarah’s enthusiasm and passion for the craft is what drives her current roles, and helps her constantly cultivate a love for the work.
Robbie Kay
Robbie Kay has worked in film & television for over 15 years, starting at a young age in Prague. He has experience with every theatrical medium in a wide range of environments, having shot in England, USA, Canada, Italy, Greece, Czechia and Belgium to name a few. Projects like Pirates of the Caribbean, Once Upon a Time and Heroes Reborn round out an impressive resumé. Robbie has worked one to one with many reputable actors in the industry from ages 16 to 65, frequently resulting in bookings. He has the ability to elevate any performance and unlock material, identifying exactly what work needs to be done.
Laura Nordin
Laura Nordin is an actor, an award-nominated director, and an award-winning producer. Currently based in Toronto, she is originally from Vancouver, BC. Laura holds her BFA from UBC and her MFA from the joint program between Harvard’s American Repertory Theatre Institute and the Moscow Art Theatre School. In 2010, she co-founded Filmcoop Inc. as a means to collaborate with and encourage filmmakers to realize their creative vision.
In 2016, the CFC approached Laura to produce the short dramatic film CLEO which went on to premiere at TIFF 2016.
Select Acting credits include: Darken: Before the Dark (series), God’s Baboons (feature), Ecstacy (feature), Murdoch Mysteries (TV), Angels and Ornaments (Hallmark TV Movie), Assassin’s Creed: Unity (Video Game), The Strain (TV), The Listener (TV), Pontypool (feature).
Select On-Set Coaching credits: Ghostwriter (TV – Winner Daytime Emmy Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series), Verizon (Commercial), Zelle (Commercial).
Select Directing credits include: OutsideIN (Winner Best Web/Pilot Las Vegas Film Awards 2020), Joey (co-director, CFF 2020), Love Sarah (Nominated for Best Director at both Action On Film Festival 2019 and at Hollywood Dreamz Film Festival 2019),