The Imagined Life (Brian Reise)

The Imagined Life, founded by Brian Reise, is one of the longest-running and most distinctive acting studios in Los Angeles, offering a unique imagination-based approach to acting that stands apart from the Method, Meisner, and other technique-centric training that dominates the LA market. Reise has been teaching his approach for decades, developing a methodology rooted in the belief that the actor's imagination — not personal emotional memory, not intellectual analysis, not sense memory — is the most powerful and sustainable tool for creating vivid, specific, and emotionally truthful performances. The studio's approach draws philosophical inspiration from Stella Adler's emphasis on imagination over personal experience while extending that principle into a comprehensive training methodology that gives actors practical tools for creating rich, detailed inner lives for every character they play. Over its years of operation, The Imagined Life has built a devoted following among LA actors who find that imagination-based work produces more creative freedom, more sustainable emotional results, and more artistic satisfaction than approaches that rely heavily on mining personal pain or difficult memories. The studio's longevity in the competitive LA training market speaks to the effectiveness and appeal of an approach that prioritizes creative exploration over psychological excavation.

The training at The Imagined Life centers on developing actors' imaginative capacity to create vivid, detailed, and emotionally resonant circumstances for their characters without depending on personal substitution or emotional memory recall. Classes focus on scene study enhanced by imagination exercises that teach actors how to build rich sensory environments, create specific and compelling character relationships, and generate authentic emotional responses through the power of detailed imaginative engagement rather than personal emotional trauma. Reise's methodology includes techniques for constructing detailed given circumstances that go far beyond what the script provides, creating sensory-specific environments that the actor can inhabit physically and emotionally, and developing the kind of vivid inner life that produces spontaneous, genuine behavior in performance. The approach is particularly effective for actors who need to play characters and circumstances far removed from their own experience, as the imagination-based methodology does not require personal analogs for every dramatic situation. The training also addresses on-camera technique, audition preparation, and the practical skills actors need for the LA market, always grounding these applied skills in the imaginative foundation that gives performances their specificity and depth.

Enrollment at The Imagined Life is open and welcoming, with classes available for actors at various experience levels who are drawn to the creative, imagination-forward approach that distinguishes the studio from more technique-heavy or psychologically intense training environments. The studio offers ongoing scene study classes at multiple levels, with students progressing as their imaginative skills develop and deepen, as well as specialized workshops that focus on specific aspects of the imagination-based methodology. No formal audition or intensive interview is required to begin, reflecting Reise's inclusive philosophy that every actor can benefit from developing their imaginative capacity regardless of their starting point or prior training background. Classes are available at various times throughout the week, and the ongoing format allows students to develop their skills progressively over time rather than through short-term intensive bursts. The accessible enrollment and welcoming atmosphere make the studio particularly appealing for actors who want a creative, exploratory training experience without the intimidation or gatekeeping that characterizes some LA studios.

The training experience at The Imagined Life is characterized by a creative, exploratory atmosphere that encourages actors to take imaginative risks and discover surprising, unconventional choices that more analytical or technique-bound approaches might suppress. Reise's teaching style is warm, insightful, and focused on drawing out each actor's unique creative potential rather than imposing a rigid methodology or set of rules that all students must follow identically. Classes involve scene work performed after extensive imaginative preparation, with Reise guiding actors through the process of building detailed inner worlds and then observing how that imaginative work manifests in spontaneous, truthful behavior in performance. Feedback focuses on the richness and specificity of the actor's imaginative engagement — whether the sensory environment is vivid and detailed, whether the character relationships are specific and emotionally alive, and whether the imaginative work is producing genuine behavioral responses rather than indicated or performed emotions. The studio community reflects the creative, open-hearted approach of the training, with students supporting each other's imaginative explorations and celebrating the creative discoveries that emerge from the work.

The Imagined Life attracts actors who are drawn to creative, imagination-forward approaches to performance and who find that more analytical, psychologically intense, or technique-heavy training environments do not align with their natural creative process. The student body includes actors who want an alternative to Method-based approaches that rely on personal emotional memory, performers who struggle with the emotional mining that some techniques require and want a more sustainable and creatively liberating approach, experienced actors seeking fresh inspiration and new tools after years of training in other methodologies, and creative individuals who see acting as an extension of their broader artistic imagination. The studio is particularly appealing for actors who have found that heavy reliance on personal substitution has become limiting — either because they have exhausted their personal emotional resources or because they want to play characters whose experiences are fundamentally different from their own. Reise's decades of teaching mean that the studio community includes actors at all stages of their careers, creating a multigenerational learning environment.

Class fees at The Imagined Life are deliberately reasonable by LA standards, with ongoing class fees typically ranging from approximately $300 to $800 depending on the format and level. The accessible pricing reflects the studio's commitment to making quality, imagination-based training available to actors at various financial levels without the premium costs associated with many of LA's more commercially prominent studios. The ongoing class format provides a cost-effective way for actors to maintain consistent training over extended periods, which is particularly important for imagination-based work where skills develop gradually through sustained practice rather than intensive short-term study. Private coaching sessions may be available at additional rates for actors who want personalized attention for specific projects or auditions. The value of the training lies not just in its direct applicability to professional casting situations but in the long-term creative enrichment that a stronger, more developed imagination provides to every aspect of an actor's work and artistic life.

The Imagined Life is an excellent option for LA actors who resonate with imagination-based approaches to performance and who want a creative, exploratory training environment that develops their artistic capacity without the psychological intensity of emotion-driven techniques. The studio is particularly well-suited for actors who have found personal substitution and emotional memory work limiting or unsustainable, performers who want to develop their ability to play characters far removed from their own experience, and creative individuals who see acting as an exercise in imagination rather than confession. If you need structured technique training with clear methodological steps, a more systematic studio will provide greater clarity. If you want high-intensity, career-focused audition training, a more commercially oriented studio will better serve your immediate professional needs. The Imagined Life works best for actors who value creative freedom, artistic exploration, and the development of a rich imaginative life as the foundation of compelling performance.

Develop a daily imagination practice outside of class — spend time each day creating detailed, sensory-specific imaginary environments and scenarios, building the imaginative muscle that the training depends on and that grows stronger with consistent exercise. When preparing scenes, invest heavily in creating detailed given circumstances that extend far beyond what the script provides — the richer and more specific your imagined world, the more spontaneous and truthful your behavior within it will be. Practice the imagination exercises with different types of material, pushing yourself to create vivid inner worlds for characters whose experiences, backgrounds, and circumstances are dramatically different from your own. Use your developing imaginative capacity in your everyday life, noticing and enriching your sensory experience of the world around you as practice for the detailed observational and creative skills that feed compelling performance. Complement your imagination-based training with practical on-camera and audition technique work, ensuring that your rich creative process is supported by the technical skills needed to translate imaginative depth into effective screen performances.