[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: How would you determine whether or not you wanted to manage an actor?
Lynda Goodfriend, Actor/Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles: How would I determine whether I wanted to manage an actor? Instinct. I would usually go on my gut.
When I started out, I would read them, see how good they were.
After a while, I realized that wasn’t such a part of it because I coached my actors. I love coaching. I love coaching actors because to me it’s always the puzzle that you want to solve.
How can you help them?
How do you help them be believable?
What can you give them?
Every actor wants something else.
What works for one isn’t going to work for the other.
I could say let’s try some substitution. I could say let’s try some inner monologue.
Just think of what you’re saying in your head to that person.
Some things work sometimes, not the other times.
It is trial and error.
But for managing, I managed for about 22 years. When I started I was teaching acting. I had a lot of my students in class that said:
I can’t get an agent.
or
My agent doesn’t send me out.
I would see them in class and think they’re pretty good actors.
After a while somebody said:
“Can you manage me?
I’m not a manager. I had managers. I didn’t think managers did a whole lot of good for actors. The ones I had had not.
So I said,
“Nah, it’s not my thing.”
And finally I had somebody go,
“I will help you if you don’t have time. I’ll make the phone calls. I’ll help. I need you to manage me.”
So I said,
“Let me give it a try.”
I found out I loved managing because I had come from being an actress.
I became a manager because I wanted to do for them what I had wanted somebody to do for me. So I coached all my clients because that was really one of my strong suits.
After a while it was just instinct.
-Was there something about this person?
-Was there some charisma?
-Was there some passion?
-Was there something where when they walked in the room, would I turn my head?
-Did they want it?
-Were they brave?
I think that was usually how I started taking on clients.
With coaching, I feel like that helped me.
Most of my clients had done very little. But that really helped me bring them up to a certain level…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
Our gratitude to Anthony Leone for crafting this set! And a special thanks to Christopher Pettoni for his work behind the scenes and making this possible!
About:
Lynda Goodfriend is the Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles Lynda Goodfriend received her BFA from Southern Methodist University and did her acting study with legendary masters Lee Strasburg and Sandy Meisner. She has appeared in numerous shows on and Off-Broadway, including Good News, West Side Story, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Boyfriend. For eight seasons, she played Richie’s (Ron Howard) girlfriend, Lori Beth, on the legendary sitcom Happy Days and guest-starred on shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Vega$. Onscreen, she’s appeared in Pretty Woman, Taxi Driver, The Front, Nothing in Common, and Beaches. She founded the award-winning Actors Workout Theater in NoHo as well as the Actors Workout School. Behind the scenes, she has also worked in talent management, even opening her own firm, and has directed several television projects.
CONNECT WITH LYNDA GOODFRIEND:
About:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
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