Testimonials

“The classes and staff at YAW always help me grow as an actor and a person. The staff puts so much effort into helping each and every student grow. I am grateful for the option to do classes online. I feel like I’m learning just as much if not more and I couldn’t be more excited to continue my journey!”

“John is a wonderful teacher with a passion and knowledge of the craft. He is constructive and roots for us to keep improving our skills. Love that I am able to learn remotely – I’ve always wanted to take an acting class from LA and now I can say that I have – and will keep doing so!”

“For any actor that is interested in bettering themselves as an artist while also gaining meaningful insight of the industry, I highly recommend taking one of John’s workshops. He’s an incredible teacher who genuinely wants to see his students succeed and help them grow. I’ve been attending his classes for 3 years & I fall more in love with acting every time. Take his class, I promise you won’t regret it!”

“I loved the Active Interrogation workshop. I learned that if you have questions in your head you think the character is asking, it changes the way you say the line. John is a great actor and teacher. I got to meet industry professionals and work with different people I never thought I would. I highly recommend JDYAW. They offer so many classes with amazing and talented teachers who are fun to work with.”

“John is such an amazing coach! I love his active interrogation concept, it has helped me gain multiple callbacks and it makes me feel more attached to my work!”

“John D’Aquino has been a mentor to me. He and his staff have helped me and my mom navigate this business. I was lucky enough to book my first movie right after my first Camp Hollywood. Because of my training at camp, I was ready and confident to be on set!” Little Evil (Netflix)

“John D’Aquino’s coaches, classes, workshops, and camps helped me prepare and book my first feature film. Their classes are always fun, I’m always learning new things, and they’re far from boring.”

“Class with John is a breath of fresh air. I am originally from Kenya, Africa and after I moved to the US it has been hard to get on my feet in my acting career. After I met John and signed up for his class I learned a lot of tricks about how I can be very competitive. I feel very confident now! The classes are a lot of fun and very inclusive! Love it!”

So much of what I have accomplished is in at least some part owed to what I learned from John and Japheth. Camp Hollywood was especially important to my development because it prepared me for life on a professional set.

“John’s class is really fun. There is always something new, like a challenge. John is always there for you. No matter what class you are in you will always have a chuckle! The skills I’ve learned have really helped me on set, and increased my confidence as an actor.”

I received the best training I think I’ve ever had. The instructors and other students and insanely welcoming, helpful, and supportive. I’ve known the community for a couple months but they already feel like a family. I can’t wait to see the movie, I know it’s going to be incredible. I’ve had more fun than this whole year, and I’m definitely going back every year if I can! I also I got to have pet cockroaches, and that is always a bonus.

I am very grateful for the Virtual Camp Hollywood, it was a great opportunity to meet very talented fellow artists from all over the country. I learned so much. Our teachers were phenomenal and we all adapted seamlessly to create a fun and exciting learning environment.

Camp Hollywood was a blast! I learned so much about becoming a better actor at every level of my career. From making my resume professional to rocking the red carpet, I feel so prepared. All the teachers are so kind and knowledgeable about the business. I can tell my acting is at another level after this camp!

This studio provides students with a strong foundation of skills to make them feel prepared going into any audition or walking on to any set. The studio has amazing teachers that are committed to the growth and success of your child. I could not be more grateful to have these teachers’ support throughout the years.

John and his team certainly go the extra mile to provide nothing but the best for their students. Each lesson is personalized and encouraging. The instructors always find a way to challenge, support, and motivate students while putting them in the best position to shine. Highly recommended!

John’s online workshops provide an advantage for all actors. Working on how to perform in a virtual format gives students the ability to be prepared for live virtual auditions, allowing actors to be a step ahead of the competition. John knows the industry and knows how to guide his students to success.

I have been working with John for a couple years and am so glad that I have. I have learned so much about acting and the dedication and the time it takes. John is so passionate and dedicated to what he does and it shows! I would recommend his classes in a heartbeat!

An actor friend recommended John’s workshops to me and, after completing Procedural Drama and The Audition Reimagined, I cannot sing his praises loudly enough. John is quite possibly one of the finest teachers I have ever encountered. His knowledge, passion for the craft, and tireless effort to make you a better actor is invaluable, not to mention, highly effective. As a first-time actor, to suddenly be studying amongst extremely talented people was a bit daunting, but John quickly puts you at ease and made the process instructional and fun at the same time. I loved practicing the scenes outside of class with my partners via FaceTime. Learning to navigate the audition process via Zoom is imperative with today’s industry standard. Acting with a partner via Zoom allows you to get creative within a limited space (which is something that will make you stand out to Casting Directors later on!) I cannot wait to sign up for my next workshop. I think I just may be a John D’Aquino acting student for life!

As the mom of a young actor, I wanted to experience an acting class myself. WOW! I was not prepared for the amazing community of actors that I would meet and the level of training I would receive. One class has turned into 5 workshops, soon to be 6, and I find myself on my own journey into acting outside of my son’s. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

These classes are for people who are serious about wanting to learn how to read a script, actively listen to their scene partners, and make bold, emotional choices in their performances. The actors in class range from seasoned professional currently shooting projects, to new adults exploring acting for the first time. Anyone that’s serious about entering the world of acting, or upping their skill level, should take a class with John D/Aquino and his team.

The best part is the experience with the other actors in class who are totally supportive. Every time I enter a class, it’s like getting together with friends and doing something we love.

At a very young age, I fell in love with acting, and my parents decided to support my dream. They took me to Los Angeles, and I started classes at JOHN D’AQUINO’S YAW. “When I first enrolled I thought I knew a lot about acting but I quickly realized I was wrong! It took training with the coaches and constantly practicing to get the best out of me! It’s been less than two years and with their knowledge, support and coaching, I have booked important roles with Nickelodeon, Disney and most recently HBO Max. John teaches me to be bold. Shane teaches me to be authentic and Japheth teaches me to be unique. It’s important to refine your work to keep yourself sharp and ready for whenever an opportunity is presented. They’ve all taught me things that truly help when it comes to making my auditions more engaging. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have accomplished so far. I’m truly grateful for the whole team and what they’ve done for me. They are not only my acting school but my family!” “All That” (Nickelodeon)

I learned lifelong, useful acting techniques that will forever benefit my career. All of the instructors were very timely in their responses to any questions I had and genuinely wanted me to succeed! I look forward to exploring more of their courses and I am beyond grateful for the experience!

I have been with John for a year and a half now, and everything about working with him has been amazing! His techniques shed light on the inner workings of the actor in ways that I have never seen before. He has helped me and countless others find their way into the industry. Thank you John!