I've lived most of my life in the land of hustle. Geographically, that's NY, LA, and TO. Specifically,
it's in the eye of the entertainment storm. I started out in the “hotbed” of
acting at the The Actors Studio in New York. Anyone
who denies that title is unaware of theatrical history, for history it was and is. I am more
than proud to have been an integral part of it in its heyday, where Laurence Olivier sat among us, a few
rows from Marilyn Monroe, and a few rows back from them were the other “somebodies”, and finally, us “nobodies”! I progressed from the twice weekly acting
sessions with Lee Strasberg to being one of a handful of women in the Directors' Unit headed by
Elia Kazan. I was ultimately invited by Edward Albee to succeed
him as Moderator of the Playwrights’ Unit, where I had the privilege of bringing actors’ exercises to the
writers there, one of whom was my mentor, the
late great James Baldwin. Hard work was never so much
fun!
Later, I was
invited to “spread the Word” in Canada. I wrote theatre/film reviews for the Toronto Star and became the
first film critic on Canadian television (CBC). There is a long list of “firsts”,
but at the top was the opportunity for me to create and conduct “The Ensemble
Workshop” (under the auspices of the National Film Board) for writers, actors, directors,
and producers based on the principles of The Actors Studio.
After becoming known as a "Star Coach" for having taught Kevin Costner,
Bruce Dern, Louis Gossette Jr., Michael Ironside and many more, I was asked to extend my teaching to include everybody from teachers, to lawyers, to business
executives - and even one stockbroker (who happened to be a woman!) Out of all this exploration
and growth, I decided to write a book and share my discoveries. The title says it all: "Actors'
Exercises for Everybody!"
Alongside grants, nominations
and awards, I'm also proud of always having been a devout activist: for civil rights, women's rights, animal rights; and against
the Vietnam war, the first Gulf war and the Iraqi war. Growing up in the South, I learned a profound statement:
'Someday,
there will be a war, and no one will come.'
And finally, one of the FIRSTs of which I am truly proud - being the
creator of the award-winning "Marineland and Gamefarm: You'll have a Whale of a Time" commercial which ran succesfully
for 7 years, thereby becoming the first woman director to "kiss a whale"!
For more about
Janine's adventures as an "Star Coach"/Master Teacher, Host/Interviewer/Moderator, Film Critic, Director/Writer,
please visit:
