Award Winning Actress and Film Director

Kristen H.

Hi there. My name is Kristen and I am a teacher of film, directing, acting, writing and producing. As an alumnus of Rutgers' University MFA program, member of SAG, award-winning filmmaker and theatre producer, my collected work in theatre and film has made me a sought after teacher and tutor. As a working actress and filmmaker, I understand the needs of the future, and how important it is to teach students the foundations to maneuver between endless possibilities. I believe in the power of positive outcome.

As a SAG actress, I've appeared on shows such as Transparent and acted in feature film Fairlane Road on Netflix. My performative theatre experience has led me to perform on stages such as The Actor's Gang, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Secret Rose, and The Guthrie Theatre, where I practiced many different methods and techniques: Meisner, Linklater, and Comedia Del Arte. These methods formed the foundation of my film work where identifying the story, conflict and character became second nature. As a teacher, I follow in my mentor’s footsteps, demonstrating exercises from Uta Hagen’s, Respect for Acting. I have continued working with companies such as Stuart Rogers in Los Angeles and The Elite Theatre Company in Ventura where I teach basic acting on camera with an emphasis on the audition process.

My crowning achievement, however has been producing and directing my first feature film, Sonny Boy, now making its rounds into film festivals across the nation. While teaching at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, I had the pleasure of working with students of all cultures and backgrounds, (including vets), communicating the importance of inclusion and diversity in acting. I focused on collaboration and shared opinions while creating a safe classroom environment, similarly to my experience at teaching at STAR education. I will help my students engage at any level in the fundamentals of film and theatre.