Zak Barnett Studios trains what it calls the whole self: craft and career built alongside the person doing them, a philosophy Barnett developed over a decade of teaching before opening his own La Brea Avenue studio with the late master voice teacher Dwayne Calizo. The studio claims more than 250 students who have worked as series regulars, its own figure, but one consistent with its visibility in young-Hollywood casting circles.
The ladder is explicit: CORE, an open-enrollment foundation working five television genres, leads to intermediate on-camera and craft rooms, then advanced scene study, whole-self improvisation, and an invitation-only MASTER level, with placement by reel, resume, and a consultation (booked with a $50 deposit that applies to tuition). Classes tier from young kids through adults. Published pricing runs $375 to $450 per four weeks standalone or $399 to $625 on membership plans that bundle coaching credits; 16-week hybrid immersives, including a verticals-and-film program riding the short-form drama boom, run a published $3,500, and summer brings week-long young professional camps at $1,000.
Commitments are real here, twenty weeks for standalone classes, a year for memberships, so read terms before signing. February and July 2026 immersives were enrolling at verification, with most classes reported at capacity.
Techniques taught
- Eclectic / multi-technique: Schools that draw on several lineages and fit the tools to the actor, not the reverse.
- On-camera technique: Camera-specific craft: frame awareness, stillness, commercial and film/TV set behavior.
- Improv and sketch: Improvisation and sketch training: agreement, spontaneity, and ensemble play.
Class types
Enrollment and schedule
An interview is required before enrolling. CORE is open enrollment; intermediate/advanced classes audition or invitation only (submit reel + resume); new students book consultation with $50 deposit applied to tuition. Schedule: Weekly ongoing classes; 16-week immersives MWF 10:30am-1pm PT; YPAC camps M-F 10am-4pm PT summer. Duration: Standalone class = 20-week commitment; memberships = 1-year commitment; immersives 16 weeks.
Audit, trial, or intro class
$50-deposit consultation is the entry path; no free audit advertised
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone class (per 4 weeks, 20-wk commitment) | $375-$450 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| Membership (per 4 weeks, 1-yr) | $399-$475 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| Premium Membership (per 4 weeks, 1-yr) | $549-$625 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| 16-week immersive (Verticals & Film / Vertical Format Lab / Guest Star) | $3,500 | source 路 2026-07-16 |
| YPAC summer camp (1 week) | $1,000 ($2,000 both weeks) | source 路 2026-07-16 |
Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.
Instructors
- Zak Barnett, CEO, Founder, Master Teacher. Moved to LA 2005; taught ~a decade at another studio before opening ZBS
- Michael Connors, Director of Adult Programs. BFA SUNY Purchase
- Martha Gehman, Teacher. Daughter of Estelle Parsons
- John Lavelle, Teacher. Drama Desk Award recipient; Broadway
- Amy Reece, Teacher / casting director. Co-founder Perry/Reece Casting
- Susan-Kate Heaney, Teacher. NYU Tisch
- Christian Durso, Teacher. MFA University of San Diego
- Gabrielle Elyse, Teacher. Disney/Nickelodeon credits
Location
Questions actors ask
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When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- ZBS homepage, accessed 2026-07-16
- ZBS Classes, accessed 2026-07-16
- ZBS Immersives & Camps, accessed 2026-07-16
- ZBS Memberships, accessed 2026-07-16
- ZBS Team, accessed 2026-07-16
- ZBS Acting for the Whole Self page, accessed 2026-07-16
Researched 2026-07-16, last verified 2026-07-16. Facts above come only from these sources. Anything we could not confirm is simply not shown. Report incorrect information or claim this listing if you represent the school.
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