People I Met in Acting Class
Jeffrey Pendo
In the depths of Hollywood, between a Gold’s gym and an experimental photography studio, I walked into a driveway filled with plastic chairs. Framed plastic panels formed a T-shape against the edge of the property, and propping them up were two recycling bins filled with stones. After being warned by a lady to always bring two copies of a scene or risk being charged 24 cents per copy, I made my way to a chair, pulling it into the shade.
We started with introductions. There was Stefani, an executive at a music festival in Florida who was well-acquainted with Dr. Miami. Then there was KJ, a former Canadian Football League dancer who introduced herself as “a triple threat.” There was a bartender, a high schooler, an aspiring Bollywood actress, a woman who bragged about her Meisner and Adler training, and a Tiktok influencer. When I said I was from Pasadena, they laughed.
I was told to plant my feet more and to follow my impulses. The teacher reassured me that I had good impulses, but I just needed to follow them. I thought about that as I drove home on Los Feliz to the 5 to the 2 to the 134 to San Rafael.
We started with introductions. There was Stefani, an executive at a music festival in Florida who was well-acquainted with Dr. Miami. Then there was KJ, a former Canadian Football League dancer who introduced herself as “a triple threat.” There was a bartender, a high schooler, an aspiring Bollywood actress, a woman who bragged about her Meisner and Adler training, and a Tiktok influencer. When I said I was from Pasadena, they laughed.
I was told to plant my feet more and to follow my impulses. The teacher reassured me that I had good impulses, but I just needed to follow them. I thought about that as I drove home on Los Feliz to the 5 to the 2 to the 134 to San Rafael.
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Jeffrey Pendo (Pomona '24) enjoys writing, acting, and writing about acting.
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