Ask a Student
Want to know what it’s like attending Story Institute? Have questions about the classes, and what to expect on a day to day basis? Talk to one of our previous students! Learn a little about each one of them, where they are from, why they got into acting and why they choose this Vancouver acting school.
Daniel Bellmond
Home Town: Kamloops, BC
Why did I want to become an actor?:
I decided to pursue acting because every career path I looked at other than acting seemed very boring in comparison and I wanted to do something I loved for the rest of my life.
Why did I choose Story Institute?:
I was considering a few different schools but during a school trip to Vancouver we visited Story Institute and it grabbed me. Every other school I looked at focused way to much on theatre and stage acting and I felt they wouldn’t properly prepare me for film and television acting nearly as well as Story Institute would.
Candace Friesen
Home Town: Lethbridge, Alberta
Maryk Horn
Andrea Hurtt
Home Town: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Why did I want to become an actor?:
I feel in love with acting when I was 15 years old. I was cast as the led in the school play. I continued with my acting until I was 21. Then I put it aside to focus on being a wife and mom. I touched base with my acting over the years with a Fandom related variety Show. For years I said I wished I could get back into acting, but I just didn’t have time.
When Michael brought up the suggestion of taking his full time program, I didn’t think I could make it happen. Not during a pandemic. But things lined up, and a few months later, was packed up, leaving my family, going to another country, and reaching for my long awaited dreams.
Natasha McKay
I’ve always been a performer, but what draws me to acting is that it’s literally the art of how to authentically connect to others, and yourself! I almost always walk away from acting classes with tools that translate to life skills in many scenarios – acting so far has made me into a better person.
I chose Story Institute because it has a unique schedule, so that you learn how to stack skills and constantly apply them to different mediums in the acting world. I also admire the sense of community that is engrained into the heart of the school, in the acting world and beyond!
James Plante
I decided to get into acting while I was in high school drama. I had my first out of body acting experience singing “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserable and in that moment I made the choice to pursue acting instead of working towards university hockey.
I chose Story Institute because it seemed like an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Talking to Michael and learning what the school was really about made me realize that Story Institute was the place I needed to be. I love that it’s not just based on talent but also who you are as a person. Story Institute is truly unique and amazing!