Actor, Director, Teacher, Writer
Shari Carlson
Director, Actor, Teacher, and Entrepreneur
Shari Carlson is the definition of an entrepreneurial spirit, always open to new moments, new adventures. Shari's latest endeavor as Director of Photography for the independent feature film Knocked Up, which she also directed, shown at the Cannes Film Festival 2007, demonstrates her mastery. Knocked Up is an example of what can be accomplished with talent, commitment and desire, the founding principles of her coaching. Shari’s choice to constantly grow and develop as an artist has magnified her ability to coach many gifted and talented people. As casting director for a number of feature films, Shari had the chance to work on projects with such luminaries as Francis Ford Coppola. These experiences enabled her to gain insight into the demands on actors and what they need to reveal to be cast. Shari also founded several small businesses, including Imaginative Productions, a new independent production company, Write-On and Aerobics on the Rebound. To top this all off, she has even performed with and trained elephants, which levels the playing field when training actors!
Establishing a Community of Working Artists
Shari Carlson is an ever-present influence in the local acting community. In addition to running her extremely successful performing studio for over 20 years, Shari was Vice President of Encore Theater. She co-wrote, produced, and directed An Evening of Music and Laughter, which was a joint benefit for Glide Memorial Church and Encore Theater. This benefit raised over $8,000. Based on both the artistic and financial success of that event, Janice Mirikatani asked her to direct Glide's major year-end fundraiser, A House of Miracles, an event which was attended by over 2,000 people, and raised over $100,000. Shari also co-wrote, produced, and directed the original award winning music video Forever which was written by and starred Dan Belzer. Her recent films include An Artist’s Work, a documentary on the well known San Francisco painter VEERAKEAT, Molly Malone and a Dog and a Bone, and Dangers of Tobacco. The latest in a series of productions is the film After Always. Slated for production is a documentary produced by Imaginative Productions to be filmed in China. A series of Critic's Choice staged readings benefiting Encore Theater was extremely well received by the local community. Shari’s creation of these readings exemplifies the innovative approach she takes in bringing fresh concepts to the community while providing work for talented individuals. Shari is scheduled to direct the original play Knocked Up, by Tonya Foster, opening September 2008, at the Studio 300 Theatre in San Francisco, where she directed Rabbit Hole in November of 2007.
Guiding the Individual Within a Group Setting to Become the Master of their Instrument
Shari's guiding principles are based on the concepts of personal commitment, honesty, truth, empowerment, self-actualization and choice. By guiding actors to discover their own personal unique instrument, Shari helps them utilize their creative expression. She has been nicknamed the Oracle, and is often referred to as an Awakener, like her childhood hero Robert Frost. Many of her students credit her with turning their lives as well as their careers around, having found within her studio a safe environment to develop their talent, craft and expand their creative insight and experience.
Philanthropy and Art
Shari Carlson has successfully produced several projects using her studio's skilled performers. A benefit performance involving many of the “Boys” in her studio, Boys Night Out, raised over $2,000 for Casa Hogar, an orphanage in Mexico. This was followed, of course, by the “Girls” performing in Girls Night In, also benefiting Casa Hogar. To address the tsunami disaster in Asia, the Shari Carlson Studio was proud to assist in producing the benefit A Celebration of Life, where VEERAKEAT donated his private collection of 20 paintings, raising over $45,000, held at the San Francisco City Hall with Mayor Gavin Newsom attending. This contribution was hand delivered directly to Thailand, where the proceeds were used to build and complete the San Francisco Children’s Center.
Beginnings
Shari grew up in Hollywood and has developed a world view from a perspective like no other. Passionate about beauty, the arts, music and performing, Shari dedicates every waking moment to the understanding and development of the simple and intricate act of performing.
Conscious Awakenings
Shari is blessed with her three children. She thanks Jeff, James, and Heather for all that they have taught and continue to teach her. With the addition of Shari's six grandchildren, they are her most important and constant reminders of our need to keep choices conscious.
