(Jean) Shelton and the Studios was responsible for much of my development as an actor.”
– Danny Glover, Actor Alumni, 1970s
It had been several years after I’d written “Ghost World” where we were trying to get it “Greenlit”. I decided it might be a good idea , while waiting, to learn something about how to talk to actors (since up until then I’d only done Documentaries). Francis (Coppola) told me he’d sat in on Jean’s classes to ‘brush up’ now and then. I figured if it was good enough for Francis, it was good enough for me. So I went and asked Jean if I could sit in the back and watch some of her classes, and she was kind enough let me do so. I think that helped me quite a bit in figuring out how to direct actors for my first film.”
– Terry Zwigoff, Filmmaker Alumni, 2000s
Jean Shelton is a glorious acting teacher.”
– Harold Clurman, Guest Faculty
Jean and Bob have created a serious place for actors on the west coast.”
– Stella Adler, Guest Faculty
If you care anything about my work, go see Ms. Shelton perform.”
– Horton Foote, Author
Shelton Studios is a studio committed to the artistic development of their students, where they are taught to follow their vision with integrity and passion. In my work as a Documentary Filmmaker I feel that my experience at the studio has been not only helpful, but inspiring.”
– Lourdes Portillo, Filmmaker Alumni, 2007
I am so grateful to have discovered Shelton Studios. Unlike others, their focus is on the artistic craft of acting as a means to serve humanity through the truthful telling of its stories. Something inspires or stirs me in every class. Beginning on a whim, I’m now a dedicated student, owed largely to the passionate teachers and the effective methods they suggest. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
– Arif Husain, Actor Film Actor, Program 2009
Jean Shelton is one of the great teachers; she puts her heart and soul into every class, and what a big heart and soul it is.”
– Rob Epstein, Director Alumni 1980s
For eighteen months before directing my first feature film, Thousand Pieces of Gold, I studied with Jean Shelton, who wove me, the lone student director, into her classes for student actors. I learned so much from Jean and from those actors – about how to communicate with actors, how to break down a script, and most of all, how to love the process of directing actors. With Jean and her acting students, I built a foundation that I use to this day.
– Nancy Kelly, Producer Director, Alumni 1990s