Janet B. Milstein is an actor, award-winning acting instructor, private acting coach, best-selling author, and series editor. She has published fourteen books for actors, written/co-written screenplays and plays, directed and produced both theater and film, and cast numerous projects. Janet received her MFA in Acting from SUNY Binghamton in New York and her BA in Theatre with Distinction from the University of Delaware.
Janet has an extensive acting background in both theatre and film. She has performed in plays and films in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Milwaukee and more. In addition,
Janet has been teaching acting privately, at studios and schools, and in workshops around the country for the past 15 years.
Her film Not Scene (which she wrote and directed) was produced by Filmmakers in Action and her co-written, award-winning film Power Singles (which she also performed in) was produced by Hourglass Films. Janet, along with collaborator Barbara Lhota, co-produced and co-wrote the short film Blindsided (which Janet also performed in). Janet also Wrote, Produced and Directed the short film The Sleepover in association with Je Suis Talent and Glass City Films. Most recently she co-wrote, directed, and produced Meredith's Magic Wand with her new film company Bold Vision Films.
Janet is the Founder of the Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup & Festival and Bold Vision Films. Janet is a co-organizer of the film group Filmmakers In Action. She is a co-founder of Fearless Flicks. Janet is also a member of Women in Film and the Chicago Acting in Film Meetup. Janet has represented her publisher, Smith and Kraus, Inc. at conferences such as The Association for Theatre In Higher Education (ATHE), The American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), The Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA), and Florida State Thespians. Janet was a founding member and the Artistic Director of Symposium Theatre Company in Chicago.
Janet is listed in The Book: An Actor’s Guide to Chicago under Acting Coaches. She can also be found on www.smithandkraus.com under Meet Our Authors and on Amazon.com at Janet B Milstein's Author Page.
Most recently, Janet co-wrote, produced and directed Meredith's Magic Wand for Bold Vision Films. She also wrote, directed and produced the short film The Sleepover with Fearless Flicks. She is currently cast in two upcoming feature films and she founded the film group The Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup & Festival. She also is busy submitting to film festivals as a co-producer on her film Blindsided. Additionally, she is working on her one-person show, Phone Sex Girl, with director Gina Buccola.
Current News & Projects
- I am currently teaching acting classes with Je Suis Talent. I recently taught a new exciting film class in which the students participated in an independent short film shoot! The film is called The Sleepover. The actors did a wonderful job and learned so much on set making the film! The next film class and shoot will be starting soon! Class is limited to 6 students so contact me asap if you're interested in learning more!
- I recently founded The Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup & Festival. The mission of the group is too create more roles in film for women that break from the restricting Hollywood standards. We recently produced our first film, Meredith's Magic Wand!
- The film Blindsided now has a website, Facebook page, Trailer, IMDb Page and some fun Behind-the-scenes footage! Please check them all out, LIKE the pages, and if you can donate any amount to get the film into more festivals, you get cool prizes and our undying gratitude!
_____________________________
- The film Spoiled, which I acted in, directed by Carter Martin is currently entering the festival circuit. Please LIKE the page and check back for updates.
________________________________
- The feature film Normal, written/directed by Nicholas Richards, which I was cast in is in post-production. Check out the cool trailer and LIKE the page.
- I will have a reading in April of my long labor of love - my 1-person show - with the help of my wonderful director, Gina Buccola.
- I am currently teaching a Wednesday night small group scene study that is going amazingly well! I will be starting another group on Tuesday nights.
- I will be teaching a Getting Started in the Business seminar soon so contact me asap if you are interested.
- I'm busy private coaching as always!
_____________________________
I can hardly keep up with all of my students' recent bookings!
Congrats to student Jimmy Chung for getting cast as a day player in the feature film Contagion starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet & Jude Law! Jimmy was also cast in the films She Wolf!, The Box and in a recurring role on the webseries Reels! In addition, Jimmy did Voice-over work as the lead character Wang in the animated film, The Vagrant Philosopher! Jimmy and I are also cast together on an upcoming feature film!! Spectacular job!
A big congrats to student Josselyn Joanem for getting cast in the L.A.-shot film Leaving Atlanta with Ben Vereen!! Josselyn also recently was cast in the L.A. TV Pilot, BLUE MARBLE GANG!! In addition Josselyn recently signed with Encore and Big Mouth! She also booked two print gigs for American Girl! Fantastic work!!
Congrats to student Dillon Kelleher for getting cast in 14 student films!! Dillon was also cast Nothing Without A Company's upcoming production of the play Drunk! In addition, Dillon booked a series regular lead role on the webseries Reels! He is cast with fellow student Jimmy Chung! Amazing work!!
Congrats to student Nicole Dionisio for getting cast in 2 student films! In addition, Nicole recently got cast in a new Sketch Show! Way to go!
Congrats to student Kyle Dal Santo for getting cast in the feature film, The Color of Blood as well as the films, Voice of the Vespers, Dedicated and Game of Chance! Great job!
Congrats to student John Joanem for getting cast in the lead role in the student film The Violinist!
Congrats to students Dyan and Diego Oliver for landing a print job on the front cover of Chicago Parent Magazine's Feb 2011 issue!! They did a fantastic job on the shoot and are featured in a video on the website as well! Way to go!
Congrats to busy student Tanya Cooper for booking 3 recent commercials for iSino (Blue Lake Casino Hotel), Columbian Condominiums, and Context TV!! She also booked a series of fitness videos for iEnforce Fitness and was cast with fellow student Dillon Kelleher (above) in the short film Falling!! Awesome work!!
Congrats to student Vickey Ippolito for getting cast as Diana in the play Lend Me A Tenor!! Vickey also was cast in the short film, L.A. Storm-Zombie Hitman! Great job!!
Congrats to student Anthony Litterio for getting cast in 3 films!! He was cast in the lead role of Sam in Sam I Am, as well as playing roles in the films Sick Day and Fading. Way to go!!
Congrats to student Charlita Williams for getting cast in Red Tape Theatre's production of Church/Pullman, WA!! Great job!!
Congrats to student Chadwick Ford for booking his first catalog print job! Spectacular job!! And here's to many more!!
Congrats to student Kristin Wurzel for getting cast in the filmsHumans vs Zombies and Aberrant Skies! Great job!! Congrats to student Dana Anderson for getting cast in numerous print jobs and industrials in such a short time! Fantastic work!
Congrats to student Kourtney Thomas for getting accepted into the BFA Acting Program at Roosevelt University!! Amazing work!! Way to go!!
Congratulations to student Ricky Staub who has been busy assisting Oscar-Nominated Producers Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer on films such as M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender and Devil!
