Instructors
Forrest Dream Studio provide the best art education resource with professional Hollywood teacher and faculty team.
Lana Young
Class: Acting
Lana is an actor, voiceover artist, director, and coach. She got a late start in acting after receiving her M.A. in Acting from the Arts Educational School London in her 30s, but now she is currently recurring as Dr. Mary Osder in Fox’s hospital drama The Resident. Her career work includes the recurring roles of Inez Trujillo in AMBITIONS (OWN), Dr. Lopes in Tell Me a Story (CBS All Access), Mrs. Douglas in The Vampire Diaries (CW), and many more. She believes that each actor is a unique being who learns in a certain way and thrives in a certain environment. She recognizes that every actor is different and she will take the time to learn how to best serve her students.
Lauren Velasco
Class: Acting
Lauren Velasco is an American Actor, she has been trained at CSUF for 4 years, and she is known for Ghost of the Sad Clown (2010) and Gawkward (2014).
Other films she participated: Sorority, The Death, Pageant, Morning Solitude, A Vampire Tale.
Theatre experiences: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, KIng Lear, Blood of Mecbeth, The Tempest, A Chrismas Carol and more.
Andrea Gwynnel
Class: Acting
Andrea Gwynnel is an accomplished actor, director and teacher who has performed all over the world. She has been working for 6 years at the Independent Shakespeare Co. For 5 years she was the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Chrysalis Stage where she produced, directed and dove into iconic roles. Andrea has worked as an on set Dialect Coach with Emmy and Oscar winning actors for both stage and screen. She’s been teaching Acting and Accent Reduction for 10 years at UCLA Extension and for 6 years was adjunct faculty for the Fullerton College Theater Arts Department where she taught acting, speech, and directed several plays. Andrea received her MFA in Acting from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Melissa Kirk
Class: Acting
Melissa K is an award-winning actress, singer, and director, who is certified as one of the top instructors in the nation. She has won multiple Best Actress Awards from the Inland Theater League for plays such as the west coast premiere of, esteemed playwright, Charles Evered’s two-person play called “Class” and “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” She was featured at the Cannes Film Festival as a leading actress and has acquired quite a fan base in the video game world for her leading role in Machinima’s movie, “Left 4 Dead.” Along with acting, she won Best Female Artist and Best Female Performer with her band, “Black Velvet,” at the Independent Music Awards and two of her original songs, “Fight Fire” and “Magic” placed #3 on the Top 40 Mainstream Independent Music Charts.
Soojin ivory
Class: Vocal
Soojin Ivory is an experienced singer and vocal teacher. She graduated from Dongduk Women’s University in music performance in Seoul, South Korea. She has released four single albums, one gospel band album and participated in one Original Sound Track album for a TV drama as well. Soojin has 6 years of teaching experience and 10 years of performance experience. Her teaching style varies based on the student’s goals and progress. Soojin is bilingual and can teach in both Korean and English.
Kristine Porfert
Class: Dancing
Kristine is a dancer from Riga, Latvia. She was trained in Hip Hop, Popping, House and Urban Choreography. She is familiar with Waacking, Vogue, Locking, Krump, Breaking, Jazz and Island Fusion dance. She is also a member of a professional dance company – Culture Shock San Diego. She has won the 2nd place of World of Dance Lithuania Qualifier, and the 2nd place of International Choreographers Competition.
Sam Allen
Class: Dancing
Sam Allen is a graduate of University of Southern California. He studied and performed with the American Ballroom Theatre and the Harkness Youth Ballet. Sam has choreographed feature films and national commercials for companies such as Nike, Almond Breeze, Canon, and Doritos. He has also choreographed music videos and live tours forartists including Keith Urban Todrick Hall, Mya, and more. Sam has received various awards including Best Choreography at the United States Tournament of Dance Nationals. He loves telling stories through creative movement and his expertise invarious forms of dance enable him to guest teach and choreograph all over the world including Japan and China.
Ka Laam Chan
Class: Dancing
Ka Laam specializes in Classical Ballet, Contemporary, K-pop, Salsa/bachata, Jazz, Heels, as well as partner dancing
She has earned certifications in dance from the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet in Hong Kong and graduated with honors in Theater and Dance from CSUDH
Ka Laam has trained under Galen Hooks, Tina Landon(previous Janet Jackson’ choreographer), Antonio D’Byod(pervious principal dancer in Alvin Ailey’s Company), John Todd, Kenneth Walker, Jeff Hendrix, and has performed in different events such as The American College Dance Conference, The LA Bachata Festival and College dance concerts.
Kevin Litrow
Class: Guitar
L.A. native Kevin Litrow's LITRONIX is a music machine inventing irresistible futuristic pop songs. He infuses warm analog electronic synthesizers, organic guitars, multi-layered loops, and boxed beats. He recorded and released the first single Are You New Age? as a seven inch, including a side-b remix by legendary electronic pioneer Sensations’ Fix. Kevin has shared the stage and toured extensively with acts such as Ariel Pink, Broadcast, The Kills, The Gossip, Peaches, Blood Brothers, Ian MacKaye, Prince Rama, Blok Party, Best Coast, and Mum with his past bands Dance Disaster Movement, N.O.W., 60 Watt Kid, and Radar.
Emiliano Almeida
Class: Drum
Mr. Almeida is a professional drummer, percussionist, music producer, DJ and teacher, with more than 23 years of experience performing, recording, teaching and touring.
-Latin Grammy winner with Bajo Fondo Tango Club (2002)-Drummer and co- producer.
- Coachella music award with Sin Fronteras (2003)- Drummer, producer, arranger.
- Oscar winner with Emilio Kauderer with the movie “The secret in their eyes”(2009)-Drummer -Private drum teacher 1989 to date.
-Drum teacher at Yamaha music school (Buenos Aires) 1995 to 2001.
- Rhythm teacher at Beat Lab Academy-electronic music production school. 2016 to date.
-Session work for labels such as Sony, Warner, Universal, Interscope, etc.
- Composer work for major video game companies like Ubisoft and EA games.
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Tim Rachbach
Class: Drum
Tim Rachbach grew up in Tucson, AZ where he began his love affair with drums at the age of 7. As a member of the Tucson Jazz Institute throughout middle school and high school, Tim had the opportunity to tour jazz festivals in Europe with a big band and placed 1st in the Essentially Ellington competition. He moved to New York City in 2013 to attend Manhattan School of Music (BM ’17) and also performed at many clubs as a freelance musician. Additionally, as a member of the New York Youth Symphony, he performed in São Paolo, Brazil. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Tim is working on a new record, teaching students, and playing gigs. His debut jazz record, Under One Moon, is available now on Bandcamp and streaming services.
Michael Shu
Class: Become a YouTuber
Michael is a born storyteller and tech head, Michael started to educate himself in filmmaking theory and technique in 1991. Before graduating high school, he had already garnered multiple state filmmaking awards as he experimented with many personal and professional projects. Michael majored in Psychology at the University of Southern California along with his degree in Cinema-Television. Out of college, he studied the art of Steadicam Operation and gained experience in Los Angeles studio production. Michael founded Onyx Cinema and started teaching through New York Film Academy in LA, as well as produced his entertaining informational YouTube video channel.
Nick McDonald
Class: Become a YouTuber
Nick has been an independent film producer for approximately 4 years, after graduating college with a B.A. in Documentary Film. He has worked at a personal and professional level, producing content designed for various internet platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook etc. and during that time he has developed a deep understanding of what creates engaging content, and how to reach an audience with that content. Nick’s favorite thing to do however has always been teaching, and he is excited by the chance to combine his knowledge of film, with my love of instruction, to help grow the next generation of content creators.
Jan Linder-Koda
Class: Vocal
Jan is an award winning singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and artist developer. Her class is designed to improve artist abilities on and off the stage as well as giving the clientele first-hand knowledge of the industry while increasing their creativity. Backed by an extensive musical background debuting with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by world renown Eugene Ormandy and continuing her career singing with Leonard Bernstein, Jan went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Education in Opera from Combs College of Music. Jan has developed herself as a singer-songwriter, producer, actress, artist developer, activist, and proud mother. Her commitment to the arts and her appreciation for future performers of the world continue with her grace, positive influence, and steadfast dedication.
Abe Song
Class: Music Production
Abe Song is a music producer, composer, and pianist. He received his BM in Music Composition and Theory from Boston University.
With a classical and jazz background, he produces and performs in many different styles. He is as comfortable composing an ambient orchestral track for meditation as he is with producing a trap beat for a rapper or producing a lofi jazz hip-hop track for a coffee shop. He has played piano for 20 years and has performed at hotels, restaurants, and cafés around LA.
He has played piano on live recordings with Amber Liu and Junoflo. He has also worked with the composer Nathan Wang.